Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-03-17
VERMoNT# TELEGRAPH.


all over the land, have honored it with their
names; and he feels that he stands in their
strength. Hence it is, that he is able to
stand; whilst without this dependence, he
would be lettering and falling through his
inherent feebleness. You have heard the
story {, our countryman at the battle Of !
Y orktown, who, to use his expression,
fought on his own hook" There are some
such self-poised and independent Spirits
But the reformed drunkard, in respect to his !
conflict with the temptations of rum, is far |
from being one of them. In that conflict, !
and in his reliance on his associates in the
pledge, he is more like the coward soldier, |
who, but for his identification of himself
with his country's cause, and with the ten
thousands of strong hands and stout hearts,
that are supporting it by his side, would have
no stomach for the fight
Sir, men are not generally better than
their professed principles. Now, ask, why
so many members of the temperance society
got drunk q state the fact on my RESPONSE
bilily,) last new-years day? The tempe
rance pledge deceived them. To show how
! it works, see how soon the temperance soci-
ETY. made the drinking of ardent spirits un-
fashionable. And will not that power-the
power Of fashion-be tremendous, when ar
rayed as it Is on the side Of drinking ferment-
ed liquors If we retain the old pledge, |
believe the temperance society will prove a
curse instead ola blessing; for the men will
drink fermented liquors, feeling that they are
backed up by the authority Of the temper
+ ance society.
Suppose all the physicians in the state
should prescribe gin. No doubt it would fall
into universal disuse. Butwhat would be the
/ issue2 The implied sanction of all medical
men would be given to the drinking Of rum,
t and brandy, and whiskey, and there would
| be an instant and unprecedented zest TO
these liquors.
; Sir, the sober must come out and pledge
themselves publicly on the very same ground
/ where we wish drunkards to stand. Other
r wise the drunkard cannot have confidence in
= US, and we can do him no good. No Won
der the drunkard is slow to give US his conf
t dence. Confidence is plant Of slow growth
7 and difficult termination in the breast Of a
! drunkard. He has been so abused, and de-
D luded, and injured, and trodden down, that
e it is no wonder he is now reluctant to give
/ forth his confidence. But let him see the
= sober and the benevolent come fully up TO the
f tee-total pledge, and we shall subdue him al
t once. If the doors Of his confidence ever
turn on their unaccustomed hinges, it will
4 be when the appeal comes up to him from
= sell-denial, endured for his sake.
b But religion is appealed to, and we ar e.
: ferred to the example Of the Savior to sane.
e ton the use of wne-that Savior, whose re,
r, ligion is emphatcally the religion of self
: denial and who has established it as a prin
# ciple in the economy of his kingdom, tha
those who refuse TO become pupils in tina
4 school shall not be made the honored instru
l. ments Of accomplishing any great good. Ont
o great work which God has set before hi.
d children in this country is, the restoration
If salvation Of half million of drunkards
u they will not consent to make any Sacrifices
- for this object-f they will 60 ro&nd tn,
Re cross, l will not say they will be rejected O
y God, but | will say that he will not ALLOW
1t them to labor effectively in this enterprise.
In the village where reside, we felt year
}: ago. that this self-denial was required. w
= met it, | hope as Christians, and no frient
lie of temperance there continued to pollute hi
r lips with any intoxicating drinks. And CO.
re blessed us in making US the happy lnstru
,e ments ofreforming almost all our drunkards
le Now, DID WE DO RIGHT hear 70,
S answer, Eyes, in your circumstances, at
ut tempting to reform drunkards, YOU could no
- do Otherwise" Then | ask the people 0
re this city, and of other cities, whether, instea
E. of attempting to throw back upon the coun
ut try diluted and adulterated principle, to de
stroy our reformed drunkards, whether the,
,e ought not TO place themselves in the sam
e circumstances, BY attempting TO reform thei
is drunkards2
,e Now, shall the New-York State Tempe
T. rance Society give any countenance to tn
D. old pledge? hold not. 1t overIooks and sa
= crGces half million drunkards, and in tn
5, present condition Of society it is hostile t.
IS the interests of temperance. Instead Of pre-
Id senting il, hold it to be not only inexpedien
h but morally wrong to present it. There wa
ae a time when l could have conscientious
advised neighbor to ascend the Mississippi
v river by the help Of setting-pole. But VIII
le now could in good faith recommend tn
h snail paced scow in place Of the rapid steam
s boat? 1t is folly equally superlatve to hol
" up together the old pledge and the new
ID pledge, as if there was any parallel between
g the two in point Of utility.
h. The interesting and powerful debate wa
Of continued through the day, by Messrs. Mott
ID Tucker, Beman, WEIGH and Potter, Messrs
3. Green, Culver and Smith, Messrs. vii
ct kinsoD, Turner, A. Taber, B. r. Wood ant
ID others.
g Mr. Smiths resolution was then put, anC
carried without dissenting voice.
Ie CONGRESSIONAL.