Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-02-22

ana TO your benevolence, to secure thei
influence on your actions. We believe
that 6'nero!ence in the higher circles O
human society is to put an end to intern
perance in the world Gentlemen, will
you hasten the day, and do deeds worthy
OF your exalted and responsible stations
TO LEGISLATORS.
! You, gentlemen, are guardians of the
pubic Wea You are the contration Of
that Iawmaking power which, in this
land of freedom resides in the breast Of
every man: but which is delegated to
you, that it may be welded with wisdom
and effect. AS men whom the people de-
light to honor, and to whom they commit
their dearest interests, We entreat YOU TO
check the progress of those habits which
cause the largest part of alI.lOcal taxation
and that part of it too which is most I'm
righteous, the poor tax, paid by the non
vending anG non-drjnking citizens, to sus-
tam the curidity Of one class and the SEN
sual qualification Of the other. Society
is Certainly cut Of joint in this matter ;
aud we shall not cease our firm and ur-
sent appeal, until it is put in a more firm
and healthy position. We hold that the
whole system Of Legislation, which au-
thorizes and protects the traffic in intoAi-
eating liquors, is a violation of political
economy: a gangrene upon the body pol
tic, and cannot long be tolerated. where
there is due degree of knowledge and
of correct moral feeling If revenue is
the object Of the license system, why is
this article of commerce selected rather
than any other? If the purpose be 70
put 1t in the hands Of responsible men,
there is such total failure, that the laws
are disgrace to the statute book. They
make that to be legally right which is
morally wrong. They quiet the con-
sciences of thousands in business which
sends desolation through unnumberedfam-
lies, and fills almshouses, penitentiaries,
and yards with Wrctched victims.-
In our humble apprehension, Legislators
should never, under any circumstances,
license and sanction sin. So far as they
do 1t, whether it be gambling, or counter
feiting, or disposing of lottery tickets, or
rum selIlng-so far, if the law is not bro
KEN it will be viewed as right,-shiefded
at least from public odium. Be it their
work, their noble work, to defend the COM
munity from all such evils. And we say,
we entreat, let all sanctioning by law of
that abominabIe traffic which converts
fathers and sons into drunkards, and per-
petuatcs Intemperance in the land, be aban-
donod forever
TO MAGISTRATES, AND ALL LICENSING
OFFICERS.
On you is thrown the responsibility, by
many OF those whom we have respectful
" addressed. The laws, they say, are
good. They compel the magistrate to
license none. They leave it to his wis
dom and judgment. He has right to
license, and he has right to let it alone,
if he s, es it is not demanded by the public
good We appeal, then, to reason. We
carry our plea to the bar of public good.
We challenge the abettors the owners,
the patrons Of these establishments, TO
show that the bar-ro0m of a tavern, or
the alcohol apparatus of store, are, in
any true and worthy sense, public good.
And while they are making out their de-
fence, we will bring not arguments, but
facts. We VIII employ not able and eIo-
quent barristers. We will bring those
who cantestify in the tones of heart-brok
en- sincerity, and in the eIoquence of or
phans' tears: Every tippling-shop in the
land, is a public nuisance. There is made
the miserable drunkard. There may be
heard the MONDAY curse. There seen
the Midnight broil. There property,
health, time, conscience, domestic joy, life,
and souls are all sacrificed to the Internal
demon. You say honest men, reputable
men, sign the petition, and declare that the
tavern is needed but what is all this to
you, (bound to exercise your honest judg.
mcnL) when you know it to be otherwise.
You say you do nothing without Ger
rGcate Of character; but why aid and
abet an employment sure to enlist a e ass
of men who have shreWdness enough to
en5nare the weak, and baseness enough
TO place their own emolument in the sink
ing scale, while all that is dear in time and
eternity to the poor tippler; all that is
pure and lovely, and Of good report in So
ciety; all that is precious to his afflicted
tamil y, rises in the other. If the law did
mol require us to license, but only permit
ted US, we would let our arm fall from our
shoulder-blade, before we would do it.
TO MAN UFACTURERs AND VENDORS OF
INTOXICATING DRINKS.
Are you our brethren bone of our
bone, and flesh of our flesh; possessed of
all the sympathies of our nature! Or
are you sent from beneath, to curse the
world Alas you are the former, but
your business the latter. Strange anon
ally! The most wonderful exhibition OF
wrong practices to pervert the moral
judgment. We know, that not the riches
of India would temp. you to do your fel-
l. 4 - hot.