Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-12-27

the particular emolusnent or advantage oil
any set Of men who are a part only of that
Is the traffic in ardent spirits
licensed for the common benefit Of the com
munity2 Whom does it beneht2 1t may
Gil the purses Of the vendors. But they are
only a small part Of the community for
whose "particular enolument government"
and Of course laws ought not to be
instituted" To those who buy, this traffic |
is like the sale Of plague inFec'ion-death |
to the purchasers, and bereavement, and suf
fering to their families, while the commu-
nifty are taxed to sustain the widows and
orphans. And the comparison will hold
still further; for, alas! too often the vendors
themselves take the infection.
Again: "frequent recurrence to funda-
mental principles" such as the above, "that
government is or ought to be instituted for
the common benefit" &c, "and firm adj
herence to justice, moderation, temperance,
industry and frugality, are absolutely neces-
sary to preserve the blessings of liberty,
and keep government Free" and laws equal
"The people ought therefore to pay particu-
lar attention TO these points, in the choice of
officers and representatives, and have
right in legal way"-not merely to ask by
petition, but "to erdct due and constant
regard to them from their legislators-in
making such laws as are necessary for the
good government of the state" In obedi-
ence to the constitution, therefore, we Gre
cur to fundamental principles" and we fad
the authorized traffic in ardent spirits not
consistent with the great ED for which
"gopernment is or ought to be institut ed, "
and laws enacted, viz: " the common 6ene-
fl Of the people )" and we respectfully pc
tition our Legislature to have ga due and
constant regard to justice, temperance, in
dustry and trugality in making such laws
as are necessary for the good government
Of the State: wdask them, for the CON-
mon benefit of the people," to prohibit a
traffic which was justly regarded with sus-
picion at first, aud hence only permitted to
few, and those eft and suitable men," which
has existed since only by sufferance, and
which in any hands is found to be injuri
Gus, and only so, always and in all cases.
Once more let me quote the constitution
and will relieve you: erery person Nth
in this state ought TO find a certain RENE
: dy, by having recourse to the La1cs for all
injuries or arrongs arhich he may receio.
u in his person, property or chdracter."-
If strike a man and thus injure his person
J. by having recourse to The laos he f'sds {
n certain remedy" So if by swindhng,
e injure his property-or if I destroy his char
% acter, in either case, "by having recours,
e to the laws, he finds a certain remedy
= But did the constitution design to leave fe
n males and children without protection
e Does it throw its shield over the strong, an,
It leave the feeble unprotected And yet II
o what lato shall the injured wife hare re
/ course 10 find a remedy, when for paltr,
gain the dram-selIer destroys her husband
= reason and affection, and sends him home
e brute and a mailman, to abuse and beat bel
e and to threaten, and sometimes to endange
5 her hfe7 To what laps shall the injure
D family share recourse" to find Ger
e. tain remedy" when the head of that famil
n is by temptation beguiled away from hom
E aud induced to squander for naught, tina
D, money which is rightfully theirs TO share a
Id least, and which is needed for their susie
D. nance aud comfort? Is it no injury to them
re to be reduced to poverty7 And yet wher
OF is their remedy7 To what law shall tn
he Injured family have recourse, when tn
E. vendors ofardent spirits, BY making the hus
is band and father a drunkard, afix to thei
al characters the enduring and foul stigma G
rs being a drunkard's family7 Sir, we as
VI not that the constitution should Be violated
Of We ask only that its neglected principle
n should be needed by the Legislature an
al that statute be enacted which, in &C
'e cordance with the spirit and letter of th
u constitution, shall protect the hitherto IN
protected, and which by prevention sha
If provide an adequate remedy for injuries tn
= most severe, and WRONGS the most grieyou
n, injuries and wrongs affecting the person:
- property, and characters, not OF a few, but {
Ne thousands-not occasionally, at distant IN
no tervals, but continually. Whether The "put
be- lie sentiment" does demand such legisls
-, tive prohibition as We seek, will not no,
~ attempt to discuss. One thing is certain
:, The constitution cries out for such leeisI,
ID tive action. The only doubtful question
nd this, do the people wish it; will they sustai
L. the Legislature in acting up to the spirit an
provisions of the constitution, and correc
!, ing this enormous evil under which n
," land groans7