Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-05-31

tam restrictions, to rahc III ardent SplTltS. by
the other part, all other persons are prohibited
trading in this article, under severe penalties,
without a license. Now the first part of these laws
IS, IN our opinion, wrong in principle, and ruin
Gus in its effects and we should not cease 10 show
up its absurdtes, and urge its repeal. These IL |
cense laws proceed on the principle, that ardent
spirits used in moderate quantities. is heathful to
the human system, that it does the man good who
drinks it;-whereas, nothing can be more certain,
than, that as beverage it does no good, but is al
ways hurtful. 1t contains no nourishment, and
can Of course, convey none to him that drinks it.
1t can only produce momcntary excitement,to be
followed by corresponding lassitude and prostra-
ton. In short, ardent spirits are known to be an
active poison in reference to which, the only true
temperance, is total abstinence, except when pre-
scribed as Il remedy for disease.
The licensing laws being thus founded on false
principle, on a mistakensyiew of the nature Of the
article on which they treat, it is not strange that
they have no good tendency-hat their tendency
and effects have been almost exclusively evil. It,
is sometimes objected, to any new attempts to leg
Sae on this subject, that past legislation has been
entirely inehccual Bnt does it follow, because
legislation on ,EatEprnciple, has done no good,
that legislation on q true principle can accomplish
nothing better? Because licensing the trade in
spirits has only been productive of evil, does it fol-
low that prohibiing the trade can result in moth
ing better?
The absudities of this licensing system are
most papabIe and nonsrous We make laws for
the punishment of various crimes, and license that
which is known to be the prolific mother of almost
all crime! We prune the leaves and twigs of this
Bohan Upas, and water its roots The folly and
absurd4ty Of iiccnsoinS men to sell poison as a
drink, may be easily set forth, land in strong light.
The subject is fair game for ridicue, or argument,
or almost any kind Of weapon that any reasonable
man can desire to use. What! license men to
feather their own nests, and fill their own pockets
by fleeing and corrupting the community? Lii
cense men TO dehase and brutaze their fellow
creatures and destroy them at the rate Of thirty
thousand per year? License men to fill the land
with widows and orphans-With paupers and fell
ons-with manacS and staggering scare-croWs, tC
be picked up and taken care of at the public ex-
ponsc? How long is this preposterous state OF
things to continue? How long are these ab5urd
ties to be persisted in in the face of shrewd ant
discerning community? How long will our in
dustrous taxpayers consent to have their taXei
doubled and trebcd upon them, and their hare
earnings flchcd away to support and punSl
drunkards? How long will it be before men nigh
! as well think of obtaining license to pick peck
cts or rob hen-roosts, engage in public riots, a
: to obtain license to sell burning poison to b
poured down the throats of their fellow men'
We cannot tfbear dropping word in refer
cncc to that class Of men, who ask for license t.
d sell Intoxicating drinks. What is it these mel
e want license for? In plain English, what is
~ that they request permission of their civil father
: to do? 1t is to deal out poison as a common drink
> To kill their fellow men by scores, and fill thei
ranks with fresh victims. They ask license t
seducc the young-to bcguiIe the unwary-to ba:
is the hopes, and break the hearts of respectable fl
Y Tiers and mothers, wives and children. HcenS
to take from the poor aborer his last farthing, an
his senses with it; and leave his family to frecz
or staryc, or be supported at the public expense.
1t is not to be supposed, that rumsellers acish
produce such effects upon their customers, an
those connected with them. They have no mi
cious feelings towards those whom they desro
1t is only the profit they are AFTER and doubtle
they would be glad to obtain it without njurir
their customers at all. But rather than fail of o
tanning the money, they disregard the tears and e
treaties of the pale, heNrt-brokcn wife, and Il
hungry ,pershing children. Rather than loose Il
wages of this unrightcous business, they dr
their plow-share, red hot, and beam deep, throuy
the vitals Of society. We can hardly concev
what sort Of material thar mans forehead is ma
80 of, Ito say nothing about his conscience,) who,
this enlightened day, can hold up his head befo
board of civil officers, and seriously ask them
y give him licnse to put the bottle to his neighbc
re mouth.
In conclusion, let US ask the reader, what is t
difference, so far as principle is concerned, /
tween your supporting and countenancing the pre-
ent licensing system, and the rum-sellers dealing
,lv out according to the provisions Of that license?
an it is right and honorable to license men to S
,as rum, is it not equally right and honorable for
- man so licensed to sell it,