Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-06-19
For the Telegraph
TEMPERANCE.

] observed in note appended to my form
er remarks upon the guilt of the yender Of
alcohol, or the nature of his crime in the
sight of God, not men, that you supposed
an objection might be raised as TO the pro-
priety of mWconclusions in regard to the
equality Of guilt existing between the high
way murderer, and the vender of alcoholic
poison, because in one case there are more
persons engaged in the act, than there are
in the other. | really imagined your read
ers were, long ere this, fully established in
the principle, that acting in conjunction
with others does not change the nature Of
an act; that individuals composing a com
munity are responsible for the actions of
the whole, SO far as they join with, and up
hold them in their doings. IF this be rot
the tact, no one Of the Jews was murder
er of Christ; nations may deluge the earth
with blood, and yet be less criminal than
one man who destroys another; in short,
the most heaven-daring atrocities may be
perpetrated, and nobody accountable. (D
But this point will be more appropriately
examined hereafter.
The next position to be considered IS:
Those arho license any person to read
alcohol as a beverage, are accessory TO the
crime Of murder.
The great principle upon which this posi-
ton rests, is, that men, and especially
: those in authority are bound to act in
such manner as will best secure the safe
ty and happiness of their fellow beings
The father possesses no right TO stand by
and behold one of his little sons take the
lie OF another. Universal adherence
would burst from men, and all creation
would utter one long, loud, overwhelming
cry OF indignation at the unnatural and
murderous inaction Of the heaven-appointed
guardian of youth, should he permit this 10
lake place. The parent merely fulfils the
requlsltion, as We would. that others do I'M
10 you, do We even so 10 Them who shields
his offspring from every danger within his
power, for it is what we wish and claim. in
state OF weakness aud ineficiency. that
others should protect US; and why NAV the
men, with whom the power Of licensing is
lodged, permit the vendors of intoxicating
drink TO murder their fellow citizens with
impunity? Yea! more, give them erpress
liberty to destroy the husband, while the
broken-hearted wife remains monument or
disappointment and wretchedness They
can stay the instrument that is enter;nr ,bo
hearts OF thousands. The deadly sword
cannot be unsheathed without their SANE.
tloning the act, and shielding the ruthless
hand that dares transgress the laws of ma
ture and Of God. They emphatically IL
cense numbering at MONDAY in their own
presence, and 10 the presence of that Beino
who has engraved, in characters never 10 be
obliterated, both in his word and all his
works, the righteous command. thou SHIN
not kill And is it possible, that. in beav-
ems high chancery, they can be ACQUITTED
from the charge Of murder?
But TO illustrate this point more clearly.
suppose one of the officers Of an absolute
monarch should approach his master, and
request the privilege. or rather the autbofi-
ty, to slay one hundred of his maies,y's
subjects, who Were perfectly loval and
peaceable in their conduct. Permission is
granted, and these men are destroyed in