Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1842-10-12
TO the vcnders of Intoxicating LII
quOr, Of the County OF MonrOe.

FELLOW wCITIzENs:-Beingf fully persuaded
that the sale ol intoxicating liquors, as drink,
is inconsistent with due regard 10 The welfare
or our fellow men, in all respects; that il in
frInges as well :ha, law which requires US 10
do those things which are jHSt and equal, as that
higher and mohler lato OF lOue, which should
bind The family lman in one great brotherhood
of peace and good will; we venture respectfully
10 address to you the following petition.
To shew the proprieIy Of the course we p!o-
pose 10 take in This matter, allow us 10 state a
few principles, which we trust will commend
themselves 10 your good sense. All the mem
bers of community, as they jointly bear its
burdens for the support Of law and order, are
equally entitled 10 lis protecliOn.--No one has
moral right, and, were human laws what they
should be, 10 one would have ciuiL right, TO
prosecute business, tending to private emolu-
ment, al the expense of public good.--When-
ever portion Of society becGines convinced
that any of their fellow citizens are engaged in
a business, whose known and certain Iendency
is 10 destroy The peace, the property, aud the
lives OF thelr fellow men, II Is rlghl and expe-
dieut that they should petition those men 10 de-
sisi from thai business. That il is morally
right, no one will deny; and that it is u civlI
night, NAV be inferred from that declaration in
our national constitution, OF "lhe right of the
people peaceaGly TO assemble, and 10 petition
government for a redress of grievances" and il
we may petition our supeTinrs, then W e may our
equals That il is expedieni, let any one who
doubts, examine our reasons. ave speak as
unto wise men-Jjudge qc what zoe say"
We pray you 10 desis, from the sale of in
toxcallng liquorS--because YOU are taking, in
the course of your business, that for which no
valuable consideration is returned. Is inioxi-
ealing drink, we ask, an equivaleR, for The pro-
cuce, the labor or the money that is paid for H..
90 10 The family Of The diunkard, and the ques-
ton is answered.
Q Because he nse OF those drinks tends, as
all observation teaches, 10 induce idle and ua.
grant hq5its;--rhereby drawing of portion of
sociey, from The useful and honorable class of
producers, and turning them over 10 the worth
less class Of tiere consumers; and Ultimately
ihrowng Them burden on the thrifty and IN
dasrijous, IA the shfpe 81 paupeTs, heggars and
Criminals. Thai thrce-lourfhS ui all The pau
perism in Our whole country is due 10 Inioxca
tng drinks. directly or indirectly, is believed
10 be within the ruth as facts abundanHy testI-
y; aud thai al least in The same proportion, we
are taxed from The same cause. for The prose-
c"'lon and support Of criminals, is equally
certain. This is no random assertion. Ex-
pense has been incurred. and great pains have
been taken 10 collect facts on his subject, from
which safe deductions might be drawn. See
Chlpman's Report on The State Of New York
8 because Of he dOmestie wretchedneSS re-
sohng from the use ~ those drinks. Families
"e 'ii9 sisnan's Of civilized, and especially, of