Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-07-31
E. p. WALTON AND son, PUBLISHERS.

/ rank with the Bcrriens and the Crawlords
of that state, became a common drunkard,
and II last wandering vagrant IN the
province Of Texas; and when begging Tor
a iOurpence to purchase his accustomed
dram, would weep like a child when this
miserable pittancc was denied him. Ills
lofty intellect was not sufficient to guard
him safe from the scare highly gifted as
he was, his reason yielded to the influence
Of appetite, and he became, in fact, q slave.
But, if he was in danger, who then among
US is safe
But the intellectual character of man
cannot be thus humbed and degraded,
without doing violence to his moral charac-
ter likewise. He cannot take single step
in crime without weakening the power Of
conscience. He feels in the outset that he is
doing wrong; that he is yielding obedience
to an unreasonable and foolish appetite, and
he cannot but despise himself for the act.
The consequences of his crime soon become
apparent; he soon learns that he must eth
er conquer his appetite or he must himself
be CONQUERED by t. The consequences Of
Welding 10 his appetite are Immediately felt
in his own soul; in the loss Of seli-respect
and Of sel-confdence. When man ceases
to regard HIMSELF it does not take him long
to cease feeling any regard for his wife and
children. They too are involved in his ca
lamlties; innocent sufferers for his misdeeds.
Perhaps he may not be aU lost like Satan,
he may have some lingering traces left of
his original innocence and purity and when
he thinks OF an accomplishing, aflectionate
wife, and his helpless babes, suffering the
consequences Of his brutal conduct, solely
occasioned by his Incorporate excuses, me
may shed some natural tears but he dries
them soon, and goes in search OF the con-
vivlal bowl to taste it once again. A las he
IS not his own master! No man can set
the limits 10 his own transgressons, and
say, 81 will sin up to this time, and beyond
it will not go, for sin, as well as holiness,
is a progressive work, and when once adj
mjtted to the heart, claims undivided emf
pire.
Temperance associations advocating the
principle of total abstinence from ardent
,spirit5, in some cases, and in others, from
all that can intoxicate, have been formed
and organized in many parts of our land.
It. is presumed that you are all acquainted
with their principles, and with the argu-
ments by which they are sustained. But
there are many to be found, who, tired of
the contest respecting the fundamental prin-
| cipes Of these associations, are now busy
M lifting their voices against the organize
ton of the associations themselves. The
! principles they advocate, may be sound
and good, they say--and they may have
been the means Of accomplishing good in
I the community-but still the eTistencc of
the association is an evil. Without stop
/ ping to ask how it can be possible for an
association, whose only effect upon COM
munity is a beneficial one, to be an evil, let
us enquire what are the objections most
commonly urged against it2
T The objection is not confined TO this as
ISOLATION alone Not only the Temperance,
but the Bible, the Missionary, the CCloni-
cation, and all other associations for benev-
client purposes, fall under the same obiec-
/ ton 1t is said they are all unnecessary {;
that the civil government is sufficient TO an
swes all the purposes Of these associations.
The objection supposes that if the objects
{ Of these associations are good, government
can and ought to effect those objects, and
consequently these associations are taking
the rightlul power of government out Gifts
hands Now all we have to ask of our op-
pOnents is that they will be consistent. Is
not ntemperance an evil ? Certainly; this
is granted. This evil has been ieariully
increasing in our community for many years
past, and threatened TO subvert the very
foundation Of our government This is
not disputed. If intemperance be an evi
Of such an alarming magnitude, it is ar
evil, which, if possible, should be prevent
! ed. This too is not disputed. But if il be
wrong for "A moral association to attemp
; the removal Of the evil, then the civil gov
ernment must attempt it by legislation, anl
our opponents to be consistent, must ute
, not word of condemnation. We shal
, not expect to hear from them a single lisl
I, respecting prestcrait, the union of churcl
: and state, or the subverson Of our liberties
I Should our legislature enact law, prohib
= Ting the manufacture and sale of arden
spirits as a common bcverage-tor this i
4 the only mO0e by which these admitte
y evils can be preventative should eXpec
TO find our opponents, unless they are them
-, selves the friends OF drunkenness, assidu
- ously striving to carry such law into el
lect But the moment such a law rs thi
i5 talked Of, the hue and cry is raised b
these sel-same opponents, "Om liberties ar
in DANGER" lntemperance seems by ther
to be regarded, as Gov. M'Dulfie regard
? slavery, "the cornerstone Of our repub
e can edifce," and every attempt, either b
/ moral or by legal means, to remedy the evi
is regarded with adherence, Strange doc
d trine this Intemperance is an evil, and
ought to be prevented, but there is no rjgI
r way Of doing it.
~ For one, have not been much in fave
% % of legislation upon this subject, Ours is
=, government founded upon public opinion
= As an advocate of total abstinence, wouI
~ rely on public opinion, enlightened and col
" reCled. 10 carrN On thn ,unc nf rnfnrrn finl