Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-11-09

ions and views of different individuals,
who have been ardently engaged in the
work of reform, and compared facts,
so far as their own experience and OBJ
servation would enable them, in order to
arrive at some conclusion as to the best
and most proper measure to recommend
for the action of this Legislature.
Your Committee are fully aware that
the cause of temperance has been Ian
gushing, that reaction has been felt
throughout the whole length and breadth
of the land, and consequently its friends
have again been called to mourn over the
dcsolations of the fell destroyer, and
have been discouraged inview ofthc great
work of moral reformation SO earnestly
commenced and fearlessly carried for
ward, and to great extent happily con
sumated. From an examination of the
causes which have operated to produce
this reaction, no one stands so proml-
nent as the idea which has been so gen
orally entertained by the advocates of
temperance, that the strong arm of legls-
lution must consummate the work so no.
bly, commenced and generally sustained,
by individual and associated effort. The
friends of temperance have been in Il
great degree hushcd to sleep, by this sy-
rem song; the sentnels have deserted the
outposts, the tocsin of alarm has ceased
to sound. The fires which have once
Iblazed upon so many sacred affairs, have
been in great measure extlnguished and
the great beacon lights which served to
guide the footsteps of the young and un-
wary, are now seen only in the distance,
and ignis fatuus like, dazzle to destroy.
The enemy appraised of this want of Wig
lance on the part of temperance reform
ers, have seized upon this interval of re-
pose, and ere the alarm could be given,
marched up TO the very Threshold of the
only remaining fortress. But its inmates
have taken the alarm, and one and all,
lcarlessIy rush to the rescue. Your COM
mittee are fully satisfied that a vast pro-
portion Of misery, wretchedness and
paupersm are attributable to the excess
sivc use Of intoxicating drink but this
fact is too well understood to require
comment. The evils of intemperance
have long since been faithfully and clear
ly spread out before the public, and at
the present moment are duly apprecia-
ted by rejecting and thinking commu-
nifty. Therefore, the only questions
which have occupied the attention Of
your committee, as at present of para
mount importance, are with regard to the
expediency of abolishing all existing Ii
cense laws; thereby hosting the flood
gates of intemperancc and ruin, and
relying wholly upon Individual and
, associated effort to stay the overwhelm-
, ing tide which would thus flow in upon us;
, or in compliance with the views Of s. -
l of your petitioners, enacting such laws as
; would entirely prohibit the sale of dis
) TILED liquors in any manner whatever.-
Your committee do not for a moment
, doubt the constitutional right of this lie
| gslature to pass laws interdicting the sale,
} or the right to repeal any laws which may
have heretofore been passed upon the
principle Of licensing. The people of
} this state, through their legal representa-
, tives, have the inherent and exclusive
; right of governing and regulating the in
ternal police of the same. But if a ma
, ority of the freeman are not prepared to
sustain measure, however salutary it
may be, or sufficiently settled upon a
t course of policy requiring legislative in
} reference, your committee would deem
+ it impollic to recommend any measure,
| which would not harmonic with public
I sentiment or would clash with public
, opinion. In comparing, therefore, the
{ different views and sentiments of your
? petitioners, and the discrepancy of opin-
; ions entertained by them, your commit
tee are of opinion that under existing
circumstances, the cause of temperance
/, would not be promoted, or the evils of
y intemperance in the least degree mitiga-
: ted, by any legislative interference at the
), present time. Experience has clearly
taught us, that great and glorious results
can be brought about through the instru
mentality of individual and associated
effort, by holding up before the minds of
community, the vast amount Of sin, pau
pcrism and human wrctchedncss which
has ever followed in the wake Of intern
perance, by degrading and ultimately
destroying its unhappy votaries. Let this
powerful engine then once more be
brought to play upon the hearts and con-
sciences of men; let the evil again be pre-
sented to the sober and intelligent por-
ton of community, and we still believe
that the march Of moral reform will
be onward, and that this crying sin will
in great degree be bloited out from the
page Of our country's history. Could
your committee believe that in adopting
the course proposed by your memorial
ISIS, the public good would be promoted,
the greatest amount of happiness Sc
I