The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-12-18

liquors The many by whose request the
call in question processes TO have been made
have not told us. 1t may have reference tc
the number of establishments, or the extent
to which the persons licensed shall be allow
ed to sell. Shall there be one establishment
only in each town? lfthere are 10 be any,
why restrain to one ? Let the spirit of anti
monopoly answer this question. Why should
retailing be confined to one merchant or E.
ven to two, say in Middlebury? And if the
privilege is granted to any, then why with
hold it in Cornwall and New Haven and
Salisbury, or any other town in the county ?
Why should one or two merchants in Mid
dlebury have the advantage with regard to
general trade which monopoly in the sale
ofintoxicating liquors for beverage would
give them 2 Begin as we may, our well
regulated and judicious SYSTEM will, in time,
embrace every applicant who will pay the
into the old system, under which every man
sold and drank as much as seemed good in
his own eyes. The same remark is true
with regard to taverns. And even il you
have but one tavern and one retailer in
town, that is enough TO make drunkards, to
fill the poor housedwith paupers, and TO send
annually, q corps Of recruits to the state pris-
on. Ispeak of taverns in distinction from
inns, which may be licensed under the new
law, for the public accommodation, but with
out the right TO sell intoxicating liquors, OF
this distinction shall speak hereafter.
But the well regulated and judicions "sys
tenn" may have reference 10 the individuals
TO whom intoxicating liquors shall be sold,
and the quantity thai shall be sold to them.
And who is to determine TO whom liquor shall
be sold, and how much? The law fixes no
limit the commissioners can fix none. And
experience has shown that there will be none
short ofthe beastly drunkenness Of some, the
steady soaking" of more, and the occasional
indulgence which leads OIL TO the confirmed
habit, ola vastly greater number. | would
rs soon think Of letting loose menagerie of
ferocious animals, and relying for safety on
swell regulated and judicious SYSTEM Of
irdtching and coTne1ing them, as 10 think Of
securing the community from the evils of in
temperance by regulated and judicious
system" of licensing establishments for the
sale Of intoxicating liquors. Much has been
done, il is true, in advancing the temperance
reform, while those establishments have been
kept open; but everybody knows that the
reform cannot be consummated until cupid
ty shall be compelled TO remove the tempta-
ton from the sight Of IFS victims. And this
none know better than those who have put
forth the call 10 which / have alluded, and
who profess 10 take moderate ground, and
avoid ultraism. What they are aiming al is.
TO get the friends of temperance TO come TO
their aid, and once more open the floodgates
of licensed intemperance upon this commu-
nifty. Will the friends of temperance suffer
themselves 10 be caught in this snare? We
shall see. A.
P.S. | shall hereafter have something 10
say upon the construction which is given by
some TO the new license law, by which it is
made TO be imperative upon the commission
ers to grant licences for the sale of intoxicat-
ing liquors as beverage, and also upon the
movement in the temperance re-
form in this county, which would be effected
by The giving oflicences, under such con-
struction, and the effect of such retrograde
of the county of Addison upon the
cause of temperance generally in this State.
ABB.