Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-11-21
REPORT AND BILL,
On the Traffic in ardent Spirits.
REPORT.
To the House of Rep1 esentakipes no1o in
REPORT,

To the House Of Representatives. no1o in
session:
Your select committee to whom were
referred the memorials OF sunday inhabit-
mis- of this State in relation to the traffic
in ardent spirits, and also a resolution as
to the expediency of repeating the existing
license laws, respectfully report, that they
have attended to the duties assigned them
they have carefully considered the pray
err of the petitioners, have listened with
much interest 10 the very able arguments
of gentlemen who have appeared before
them as advocates of the measure prayed
for, and have awaited themselves Of their
own experience and observation for the
purpose of arriving at some satisfactory
conclusion as to the best and most proper
measure TO recommend for the action of
this Legislature.
Your committee entertain no doubt oil
the correctness of the principles set forth
by the memoriaIists. 1t is with us an ak.
ION that to the sale and use Of ardent spir.
its is to be attributed a vast proportion, ap
proximating to the entire amount, of lii
CATION, and crime, and pauperism, togeth.
er with their ~concomiiant tariff Of take:
and costs and suffering existing in thu
!, community.
! The moral character of the traffic i
: developed by the fact that its Legitimate
=. and certain consequences are the i~ncreas
' Of vice and immortality.
That the Legislature possess the consti
~twtioaaI right to prohibit the traffic, vou
committee entertain no! the remoles doub
. The constitution provides that the pec
J. pie Of this State by their legal represent;
I lives shall have the inherent and excIusiv
J, right o governing and regulating the il
.dIternal poiice of the same" That : Law
IN for,the encouragement of virtue and tn
IS prevention Of vice and immortality ongI
n to be constantly kept in force and duly e:
If ecu,ed." In accordance with these pr
r. visions Of the constitution, laws of IA pr
hibi,ory character have been enacted a,
to enforced in relation to practices an pa
I'd suits OF almost every description, whcrel
he the safety. the interests or the morals
n. The community were On langered-no e
Id cep,ing even the traffi: in ardent spiri
Id (inasnuch rs the laws licensing the traf
is in Il part of the community, prohibit 1t
he respects all others.
he The coastitntjonality Of these prohib
to orv statutes has never been called in on,
ton, ana you committee are unable
ed. sec why a statute interlictin9 the traf
DR.. in ardent spirits entirely, should b. rega
in ed as differing in its relation to the con;
tn tuition from one equally prohibitory,
rip partial in its operallon-or from the
en- isting prohibi,ory laws for protecting
Stu morals and securing the peace ofthe CO
.er- munitv.
ore To enlarge upon this point, would
' in but to repeat arguments well underst
IAN By this Legislature, and acknowledge
the correct by every individual who regl
be- his reputation for candor and sound Sc
1ns, These considerations, together with
ties, fact that thousands Of our most respects
take and intelligent citizens arriving at
owl same conclusions, are pressing upon
5 be- Legislature the importance of some &C
oper bv which this. tide Of moral and ply:
evil shall be checked, would be cor
reed sive in inducing your committee to re'
ce OF mend the passing of an introductory
dice. could they persuade themselves tina
/, and evidence is sufficiently clear and dec
d not to warrant the belief that the public