Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-09-28
TEMPERANCE MEETING.

September 81, 1885.
Mr.. ADAMS from the committee appoint.
ed to prepsre memorial to the Legislature
reported the following, which, being
read, was accepted and adopted
TO the Honorable the General .Assembly
Of The State Of Termont.
The undersigned freemen and inhabitants
of the town of bcc
leave to call the attention of your honorable
body to the continued prevalence of intem.
perance, and respectfully to urge that such
course of legislation may be adopted as
shall effectually put stop 20 the evils re-
sulting from it.
That ntemperancc prevails, is too clear
TO be disputed. That it is more or less
occasioned by the existing laws of the
state, is, as we think, equally clear. That
the use of ardent spirit as an ordinary drink
is, and from it's nature must be, productive
powerful effects for good or for evil, will
be readily admitted, and we hope we may
be permitted respectfully to point out some
Of the effects having an important bearing
on individual happiness and national pros
perity.
The use Of liquor tends to enervate the
powers of the body, and if continued, will
wholly PROSTATE them.
1t paralizes industry, produces proAigacy,
destroys usefulness. and reduces the sub,
Jecis of it to beggary and want.
1t increases the public burtheas multi.
plies crime, fills the jais with miscreants.
and the poor houses with paupers and out.
casts.
1t po'sons the fountain of good feeling,
makes man an enemy to himself. produces
misery in families. and riot and disorder in
society.
1t impairs the intellect, destroys the
mental faculties, and reduces being born
for Immortality. TO the condition of a brute.
1t destroys health, shortens The term of
human existence, and sends its thousands
to premature grave.
1t weakens the effective force of the
state, robs it of its strength and its glory,
and tends directly to vagabondize the
nation.
1t affects national character, degrades us
before the world, and unless checked will
exclude US from the commonwealth of civ.
iliza,ion.
The use of liquor is productive of more
misery. wretchcdness, crime and deatb.
than oil the robberes and murders in the
state. Take the whole list of crimes that
are embazoned on the page of the s,atutc
collect all their evils in one vast amount
ana the walIIngs of broken hearts crushed
ny lntemperance shall outweigh them all.
lfthese things are so-and that thew are,
we MAINTAIN can be proved by testimony
Of the highest order, by testimony which
IN court of justice would be ola charac.
er sufficient to procure a conviction for
murder-it would seem that the patriotic
and intelligent members of your honorable
BODY would De anxious mainly to apply the
remedy. The remedy is as simple as i,
will be efficacious, and consists in the re-.
peal OF the license laws and the prohibition
ofthe traffic in ardent spirits, as an ordin
airy drink.
That you have the power to arrest the
evil, is demonstrated by the fac, that
you are the supreme power in the state.
having the right to punish crimes, to pro.
hibt oil practices of injurious tendency,
and to enact laws for the general prosper
ity. A. citizens of this republic we take
measure in expressing our belief that your
lahore will bs directed TO patient exam
dnation of The subject, and your powers
Omitted only by the extinction Of the bale
dul traffic.
Ifany apology is necessary for our zeal |,
in urging your honorable body to such ex.
animation and exertion of your power, it
will be found in that knowledge of human
nature which teaches how difficult it is to
overcome established habits. Men long
accustomed to the use Of liquor lose that
quick perception of the Consequences result
ting from it. They are slow to believe
that the evils so evident TO the senses are
attributable to the use of liquor. Without
legislative aid therefore, we cannot expect
perfect reformation. Reason and reAec.
ton have done much, ihey have probably |