Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-04-01
VERMONT TEL CRAP H.

IN reply 70 This, 1t was denied that any
such license, or that any license would thus
be given. The repeal is asked for, and
would be granted, because this poison-sell-
Ing IS now the creature of law-because the
granting of the license to sin is sinful, and
therefore neither the Legislature nor the peo-
pie can have any right TO grant the license.
The right to sell would be just as much de-
MED after the license should be repealed as
It IS flop. How, then, can the repeal of
the existing legGlized license to san be con-
strued into the creation ola greater license /?
The legal license would certainly be de-
streyed. The moral license never existed.
and never can exist. There would. then.
De no license at all. True, more men might
at first go into the traffic. But they would
go into 1t on their own responsibility. They
would have no license TO do it, either from
God or man.
And il does not follow that because a
greater number would engage in the traffic,
therefore greater quantity would be sold
and used. Not at all does it. For those
who buy get all they want soao. They
would do no more then. The difference
would be this-and this difference is alto
gether In favor of the measure contemnIat.
ed by the resolution The monopoly would
be destroyed-the murderous business
would be stripped of its respectability-it
would OF course fall into disrepute-wouId
soon be followed by one who expect or de-
sire TO De respected, or to be regarded as
wholesome members of communicable
traftlc would 60 into hands qoorthy of it, if
such thing may be said of any human be-
ing, however depraved-and thus it would
be covered with odium, indignation, and ex-
ecratlon, from all the truly virtuous and
philanthropic.
Ihe iallacy and absurdity of the doctrine,
that a repeal of existing license laws would
De creation Of unlimited license, and would
increase the extent Of the traffic, was illus
ttated by allusion to gambling and bro,hel-
keeping. If TO license the sale of ardent
spirits be the way to prevent its extension.
why would not this be the way to prevent
the extension Of the other sins mentioned 2
There IS more or less lewdness in Vermont.
why, then, in order to prevent ats eaten
sion, should there not be license gipen for
6rothetS, making at respectable bust
ness, clothed aoith Legislative sanction. nm
der proper restrictions! And SO of eamb
ling, and other sins and public nuisances.
What redeeming quality or feature has
this sin of dealing in, and using, human
poison, that it should receive the sanction
and aid OF law2 What other immortality
receives legal sanction and aid 2 Either
the traffic in this poison is an immortality,
or it is not. The opponents OF the resolu-
ton and the advocates of licensing the traf-
nc, may take which side of the proposition
| they please, and they lose their case-they
shall be made 10 condemn themselves. Or
state the proposition differently, ifyou please.
Thus Either alcoholic poison, TO be used
as beverage, IS a legitimate article of
commerce, or 1t is not. Now, on the one
hand, if it be allowed that it is legitimate
article OF trGde-that the traffic is no inn
naor0tity-what right has the legislature TO
prohibit it 10 one and guarantee it to ano,h-
er, any more than to do the same thing In
! regard to grain, or any other commodity o.
1t Is manllestly an unconstitutional viola
ton OF free trade. On the other hand, if
| this poison, as beverage, be acknowledge
ed TO be an illegitimate article of commerce
If the traffic be an atrocity, a sin against
God and human society-what right has
the Legislature of Vermont TO license it p
This, too, Is violation of the constitution
of the State, which enjoins the prohibition
OF vice, and the promotion of virtue, nam
ing Temperance, particularly. But the UNI
constitutionality of the thing is of trivial
importance, compared with lis Nervousness
before God. What! Will the people of
Vermont, and the legislature of Vermont
acknowledge the atrocious sinfulness of this
accursed attenuation, and then turn direct
ly about and sell indulgences for il? IL
cense men 10 commit this sin-this horrible
outrage upon mankind and the law of God /?
Are death-warrants against the innocent to
be reiailed by the Legislature and people of
Vermont, for dollars and cents There is
just as much right TO license gambling.
theft, robbery, or murder?
It's expected that the measures contem-
plated by this resolution will meet with OBJ
position from the present class of rnm-seu.