The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-11-28
TEMPERANCE.
To The Central Committee ofthe VI. Temp
Society.

bOCGety'
GENTLEMEN,-You well reco!lect tina
q petition was prepared and circulated un
der your direction som weeks since, t
the Legislature Of the State, upon the sub
ject OF Licenses for the sale of Intoxicating
liquors, being in substance the same as
was voted by the Society at the Annual
Meeting at Rutland. Soon afterwards
having opportunities for learning the
views OF our friends in many and distan,
parts of the State, and being satisfied that
a more thorough change in the laws would
be more generally acceptable, while your
own wishes would also be equally grati>
fled, ventured to urge in my public in
dulgences, the proprIety of another course,
TO wit: the Massachusetts system. Nus
merous petitions were presented to the
Legislature, a few, for the repeal of all
laws, on this subject, headed, some of them
by notorious rum.selIers, others, signed
much more numerously, being the form
Of petition adopted by yourselves, and a
third class. with a still longer list of
names, praying for the Massachusetts sys-
tenn.
This question came before the Legisla-
ture very early in the session. A select
Committee of one from each County was
raised, in the House, and another(ofthree)
IN the Senate. OF the first Mr.. Button OF
WaIllngford was chairman, and of the
second Mr.. Briggs of Brandon. The two
COMMITTEES united in their sessions for dis.
cusslon and celebration, and with all pos.
sible candor listened to the suggestions of
any one who was disposed to be heard
Justice to these gentlemen requires OF US
this formal acknowledgment Of lheir cour.
tesv and impartiaIily during these sessions.
The discussion on the other side of the
question was entirely free from that low
blackguard style which marked the
speeches of some at Woodstock, in our
hearing before that Court.
Both Committees reported bills substan.
TALLY alike, and adopting the plan of The
County Commissioners. While some
amendments, in respect TO details, the bill
OF the Senate was passed, in that branch,
with only 3 votes in opposition, aud IN
the House, by a vote of lis 10 SO.
Under this pew system OF Laws, touch.
ing the question Of Licenses, it becomes
us to call upon every good citizen TO Sc
cure the highest good OF The people.
/. BY the election of Commissioners
who VIII not appropriate 10 themselves the
woe denounced upon him who puts The bot.
tie to his neighbours lips and makes him
drunken.
The traffic, if licensed at all, is licensed
as it is ordinarily carried on. This stands
upon the same footing with other rights
and privileges, the mode in which il shall
be managed being established by usage,
OF course, in increasing this traffic, we en-,
dorse all the effects which "ordinarilv"
flow from it, the disease, the poverty and
the crime. Who is willing to do this?
The sale OF intoxicating Griuks tends
only TO disturb the tranquility of our towns
and villages, to produce disease, poverty
and crime, to multiply paupers, end in.
crease pauper taxes. Hear Chief JUSTICE
MARSHALL. We think it, (says hey as
competen! and NECESSARY, for a State to
provide precautionary measures against
the moral pestaIence of ~PAUpERs, vAGA-
BONDS and POSSIBLE CoNvIcTs, as il is 10
guard against the physical pestilence
which may arise from unsound and infec-
tious articles imported 10 a ship" Let as
then use the means the State has put into
our hands.
~ Let the friends of Temperance at
mn early day, in a central meeting, in each
County, agree upon three gentlemen as
candidates for this office who will refuse
to sanction this bloody traffic, and let
them use all diligence in urging their cleo
on, in the several Counties.