Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-03-22
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

There seems to be something like a spontaneous
movement throughout The whole country, upon the
subject Of adopting more efficient measures for pro-
hibiting the traffic 10 spirituous liquors. In those
States where the people in their primary assemblies
are clothed with the necessary power to prohibit
the traffic, they are, to a great extent, exercising IT,
This is generally the case in Massachusetts and
New Hampshire. In many Of the States where
that power has not heretofore been given TO them,
they are demanding il Of the Legislature. We no.
tced last week a movement in the New York Le-
gislaiure upon this subject Maryland, the home
Of Washingtonianism, is also moving in the matter.
bill is now pending before the Legislature Of that
State, providing that no licenses shall be granted
in those wards and election districts, where a ma
jority Of the voters shall decide against il, Td pro-
-i~!B,ting all sale of s~pirituous liquors on the sabbath
except by ,averns to their boardefs. II viii doubt
less become a law.
The action of several Of the most important towns
Of this state at the recent March meetings, in petit
tioning the several County Courts not TO grant IL
censes within their limits, most clearly indicates
that the people Of this state are DESTROYS Of having
the power Of granting or Withholding licenses more
directly within their control than it is at present,
NV III AmAA - hNNtHontl aNt'NHHIAh NHet 'hJN@@
is, that people should express those desires in the
appropriate manner, to the Legislature. Under the
existing laws Of this State, the County Court have
the power TO grant such retail licenses as they see
ct, without any check whatever, and 10 grant at
discretion tavern licenses to such persons as are
nominated by the town Authority for that purpose,
and If none are nominated, to such as they see fit
Now neither the County Court, nor the town au-
thority, Except the selectmen, who usually con.
siitute a small minority Of the boardJ derive their
Offices directly from The people, nor are they re-
sponsible to the people for their conduct. They
are elected by the Legislature, and with reference
to other qualifications than their opinions upon this
important subject. The law should be so altered
as 20 prohibit the County Court from granting H.
censes, except in those towns where by a vote in
town meetings the people Of the towns should re-
quest that they might be granted. This would
leove this important power where il belongs, nth
he soreTeign people in their primary assemblies. 1t
would give each man an equal voice in the matter,
whether be be rich OF poor, high or low. We have
never been in favor Of absolute prohibitory laws
upon this subject enacted by the Legislature
They are not as fully in accordance with The spirit
Of our institutions as the mode pointed out, and in
our popular government, the people are properly
and wisely jealous Of the exercise Of too much
power by their servants, the Legislature, and tho
a law may be wise and salutary in itself, yet il il
has any faint Of arbitrary power it cannot be en-
forced. The people scent oppression in the faint.
ed breeze, :" and reject the first beginning Of usur-
patton.
The most simple, perfect and unobjectionable ex-
ercise of power upon this subject is, to let each lit
lie community decide for itself by the direct voice
Of every voter, whether they will permit the traffic
among themselves or not They are the bes, quail
fled to judge upon the subject. They, best know
whether the common good is or is not promoted by
it, and To no decision will The minority so cheerful.
" bow as TO the decision Of their own immediate
neighbOrs.