Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-07-17

yether In body, would DC diSo 10 remove
all responsibility from the body itself, and :
The most heinous crimes might thus be per- !
Detrated. while no one would incur guilt :
thereby. The acts cannot be charged upon {
the real performers more than upon others, !
as they may have been compelled TO their
by the law Of the community.
Were not the Scribes and Pharisees as un-
questionablY the authors Of Christ's death
as the soldiers, who, by their authority. cru
CITED him? Undoubtedly their guilt was OF
a far darker character! The performance of
it depended entirely upon them, and the
conclusion is inevitable, that the responsible |
ity rests upon their heads. Thus indiVidu-
ais are accountable not only for what is per- !
formed by their own hands, but also for the |
commission of every act which is perpetrat-
ed through their influence or carried on to
its consummation by their encouragement
and approval. This principle should be APP
piled upon the subject OF temperance; and
the startling tones of condemnation and
I guilt should be sounded in the ears of every
person who votes for any man TO discharge
the duties Of an Office, so recreant t. the
prosperity of community and happiness of
his fellow-men, that he will uphold laws
permitting man to murder his brother. II
matters not through how many representa-
tives the people may act their will is law
and their authority resistless. They are the
efficient, absolute sovereigns, and no serV-
ant honored by their confidence will choose
TO incur their disapprobaiion by acting con-
trary TO their wishes, upon so intensely in
teresting and important subject as the one
being examined.
The Bible abounds with sentiments en-
, forcing upon men their duties to each other,
and Jehovah declares TO the prophet that the
blood of those should be required at his
hands whom he did moi, warn of their dan
: ger. II was not in the power Of Ezekiel to
c save the people from transgression,-t
: fore TO present the word Of God was the ex
tent of his ability.
a Not so with the people Of Vermont. The
4 whole fabric of intemperance, with all it
!, notifications and mullifarious departments
e is entirely dependent for its existence upol
their sanction and support. Its everlaslin,
. knell can be sounded by their frown and &C
: tive labor for lis demolition, and by nothin!
9 else. Then will inquisition fer blood b,
@ made, and they will be found with gor,
l. vestments, if the demon alcohol is not oy
n erthrown in his diabolical career. Is il
IS small matter that temperate, religious pee
= pie are the pillars which support this horri
l. fabric 2 And is it not appalling to behol
" many relaxing into that precursor of com
m ing retrbution, stupid insensibility, and folc
ing their arms as if the work were accom-
In plished, when they have signed the society
'e pledge? Are there no common ties thu
>. bind man to man, whereby it becomes III
- duty Of ore 10 rescue his fellow from III
jaws of the deVourer2 Thou shalt Low
he thy neighbor as thyselr' Do unto Other
lg as We would that others should do to you
H. These requirements Of God are TOO imper
~ tive and benevolent TO be forgotten. No r
+ tional man would wish the right to cut b
Id own throat. And YET there are many wi
of would secure atenfold more awful deaf
be and exclusion from the kingdom OF heave
ne for no drunkard can enter lhere-a
y, shall the intelligent and sober furnish t.
- means and sanction this act? Men are U
ST. holding the traffic by their choice of Of
,e- GERS, who would shudder 10 lisp word
at defence of the practice Of rumselling, so
he ametrlcally opposed TO the happiness
Ve' mankind. Yet they eGectually countenan
q and sustain the business by rendering it no
he orable and overshadowing it with the sacr
- dignity of lao. How can the vender. bar
al ened by his destructive habits, and blind
OF by seli-lnterest, be expected to abandon 4
est traffic, if those who have nothing more III
% some Insignificant political prejudice 10 G
ercome, will stop not in their career 10 hin
er the progress of this vice? They cam
!. be expected TO desist. Men. will contin
to vend alcohol, as long as it is sanction
n by the laws of the land, for there are the
ing who disregard every principle of moral
ger and will not shrink at any crime, if there
TO their fortunes may be increased. There
70 one effectual process by which all the gle
Gus results TO be anticipated from the f
sfai triumph of temperance may be realized
fact Let law enforce Tho anda,a. or -
orc -