Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-03-31

Gus to me. Iwish to raise nv voice a.
galnSt these examinations and s4lf-exalta-
tons. have brought forward this sub |
stitute as the last effort at conc iliation y
| beg the convention will pause before
they take so important, it may be fatal, a
step. At such an Indictment season, when
our numbers are so small, when access is
so dlthcult, 1t seems unsuitable to press
through resolution so essentially chang
Ing the character of the society. This
convention can in no way be reg 1rded as
representing majority ofthe soci.ties.-I
beg them to pause, or at least to concede
so far as still to recognize the old pledge,
and where 1t is seen that it will do good, to
recommend its use.
Mr. Wilkinson, of Poughkeepsie, said
he was reluctant to ada another word to
this protracted discussion. He was glad
to see these efforts to conciIiate, and would
60 as far as he could consistently with
sound principle and good conscience in
the work Of Cancellation. We ought not
to forget, we cannot forget, that we have
acted hand in hand with our brethren in
this glorious cause And now if we could
meet on common ground would 90 for
it. And believe they would 90 as far as
: | would in Cancellation But we cannot
: meet on common ground. There is diff
ference between US, and while we both re-
: main where we are, it must remain. 1t
is law in hydrosta'ics, that the s.ream can
never rise higher than the fountain. And
Sir, the temperance cause cannot rise
higher than this fountain. There is an
o.her law Of nature, a law Of mechanics
/ that a body acted upon by two equal pow
J ers in opposite directions, will remain at
rest The plan proposed by the last speak
er seems to me to leave the temperance
: cause in that unfortunate predicament.-
2 They call on us to take this course out of
tenderness. Tenderness to whom? To
= somebody that is not here. There are
/ none here that wish it. Yet we are call
= ed upon to commend the man that drinks
r wine as the friend of temperance Sir,
= cannot do it. cannot believe my own
, convictions.
= The gentleman urges US to pause, be-
S cause the season is 50 inclement, and there
= are so few here except teetotaElers, and so
= many others are kept at home and have
d not an opportunity to act Sir, | would
n ask the gentleman to tell us how it hap
= pens that the teetotallers were not kept at
t home by the cold and snow! What is the
e explanation ofthis singular fact? Sir,
n can tell the gentleman, it is because they
$ have their hearts in the cause, and they dc
r not mind little hardship to promote it.
is 1t is true our numbers are not very large
1t but we have members from many counties
1t and from all parts of the state. Here are
e men from all the extremes of the state
is and from many intermediate portions
j. Here are men who have come all the way
l. from the eastern part of Long Island, al
IS their own private expense, in this inclem
10 ent season, on purpose to attend this meet
Of ing. And though | have not heard then
s. express their views, have no doubt they
g are teetotallers. At any rate, they go the
e whole length Of the journey, and believe
% they 60 the whole length of the pledge
r too.
le Now, Sir, let the question come W.
le are prepared for it. five are right, w,
st cannot go too FIR in doing right Wheth
N err the teetotallers have any majority here
n or ifthere are not more than ten, they ar
- bound to support the standard, and carr
is out their principles. feel no interest il
al this question, except for the good Of tn
Of cause lam a teetotIller, and have bee
is for years, from full conviction of duty
n | found could not preach temperance an
d, drink wine. | found that when dram
tie only little weak cIaret and Water, tn
as story went all abroad that drank brand,
n every day, and Ithen determined that i
D. future there should be no mistake abou
&c me. Depend upon it, Sir, the wine drink
m er retards the cause, no matter how exec
,r- lent he NAV be in other respects, or ho,
ks much engaged in this. We must com
70 to the point, and meet the question, an
sr- settle it, whether we will continue the O!
en- pledge which has been clearly shown t
er US to have made men drunkards, and keI
tat them drunkards, or whether We shall ;
in dept the higher standard, ofperfect purity
nv 1t has been over and over rung in on
all ears that it is unkind in US to press tn
ge point. Unkind, Sir, why? We do N
propose or wish to drive away or to eel
to sure any society or any member. 1t
en- unkind in them to charge US with dom
'rt it. We believe that the moment this soc
IN ETY. sends forth the new pledge, with di
of tinct and unqualified recommendation, tt
es- greater part of our societies will immed
ds. ately ado pit it. And for the rest, we lea7
ne them where they are. just as good ter
red perance men, aud in just as good standin
as as before, while we try, by an experime
red of this great measure, and by patient CO
ew tinuance in well-doing, to convert them
ord our side.
ig- LIDO not believe any temperance M
rm will 90 back from US. much less oppose l
ION for this. If they go back. it will eVin
on that they never were true temperance me