The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-03-06
ADDISON COUNTY TEMPERANCE
CONVENTION.


Feb. 22d a. the Congregational Church in
this village
The Convention was duly organized by
choosing Philip C. Tucker Esq. of yergennes
President Calvin Squires of New Haven,
Vice President and Charles c. Bisbee of
Middlebury, Secretary.
On motion Of James NJ. Slade, a Commit
tee on resolutions was constituted, consisting
Of Messrs. James VI. Slaae, Matthew D.
Gordon, A. C. Twining, Philip Battel, and
Dorastus Wooster.
After Prayer by the Rev. Joseph Ayres of
Middlebury, and appropriate exercises by
the Choir, the Convention listened to an able,
timely and instructive address from Charles
Adams Esq. of Burlington.
The speaker, Mr.. Adams on so trite a sub
Ject instead of being dry and uninteresting,
travelling over the same ground and busying
himself with the same objects which his
predecessors have too often busted them
selves with, took his audience along up
the too unlTequented vale of reason and phi
losophy and exhibited TO the eye of the IN
ry o! truth and happiness. To the eye OF
the philanthropist this vale is 4 delightful
one. Watered as it ever is by the perennial
fountains OF Philosophy, and irrigated by
the crystal waters Of the river of Truth, its
ever living foliage i: of the richest Lue, its
fragrance of the choicest odors, its arl ors the
home of reflection and religion. and its rich
and ever varying music the melody Cf heay-
en-. Who could visit this lovely home Of the
truly regenerated and disenthrallcd spirit,
and return not refreshed and inyigor2ied for
the active duties Of life? Thanks TO the
speaker fer this delightful visit. Classic
Tempe, adorned with the rich imagery Of
nature and genius, may charm the senses, but
cannot arouse and refresh the inner man e n
the weighiy responsibilities Of a moral being.
Il Is mans higher powers that must be re-
ffeshed and inviGorated in order that lie may
be armed for the great warfare of life.
But to the Address. Here we would say,
that we do not propose to give an abstract Of
the address, or TO follow the speaker through
any part OF it, but simply TO notice train Of
thought that pervaded it. which, if put in
practice by mankind, would be productive Of
the most glorious results. The train of tho;
referred TO is this-That the character of hu-
man conduct as exhibited in the history of
mankind is the result Of principle This is
true Of individuals, communities and nations.
Here it will be proper topremise, thatin the
sober, everyday conduct Of men, their ET7n-
eipies and practices agree. For we should
be doing injustice to humanity, to suppose
their sober acts did not result from honest in
tentions. II this be true. then there arises an
imperative necessity that the principles in
heTentin the minds Of men be correct, in or
der that human conduct may coincide with
the diuiRe rule. Hence no men or set ofnen
can bestow greater benefit on their species
than 10 afford them correct principles OF ac-
ton.
Man, il seems, is the only object from the
hands Of the Creator that is in the least de-
gree imperfect. This imperfection exists in
his moral and Intellectual faculties. And
If we are TO learn any thing from analogy, il
is, that these faculties are 10 be perfected, in
order that there may be ultimately ne imper-
lection in Gods works. And by pho7l are
these TO be perfected By ourselves most
assredly. THIS is the great end and object
OF life. The bee that constructs lis fragrant
cell, the bird that swings his hammock on the
pendant bough, exhibit in the first construc-
ton absolute perfection. But mans mental
and NOR al powers in their first exercise exhi-
bit no such perfection. They are therefore,
to be improred and perfected Consequently
every thing that has tendency to hinder or
obsfTuct thus improvement and perfection,
should be firmly discouatendnced and dis
cGrded. The use Of alchoholic drinks as a
beverage, in all of its possible bearings, was
shown by the speaker to have this tendency
and This tendency only. But in order that
the use Of these drinks may cease it is neccs-
sary that the community AZ large clearly aF-
prehend this tendency. This se1iirert he
would have every Temperance person pro
mulgate through the length and breadth OF
cur land. The moment that sentiment be
came the universal rule Of action, that mo-
7ent would the cause OF Temperance trl-
umph, that moment would the great and
powerful obstruction TO the perfection ofhu-
manity be removed, and man begin TO adj
vance with more rapid strides towards the
true end of his being.
Afler some excellent music by the choir,
the following resolution was introduced and
sustained by appropriate remarks, Gin con-
nection with brief abstract Of the doings of
the last State Temperance Convention) by
Prot. a. C. Twining: and unanimously adop-
ted
Resolred, That the plans Of the State
Temperance Society, as exhibited in the
Journal Of their proceedings, at the last an
nuaI meeting, are adapted TO the exigencics
Of our commonwealth; that for their imme-
date execution, in relation to our own coun-
Is, we pledge our individual and united ex-
ertons, and that for necessary expenditures
we cheerfully assume our share Of pecunla-
ry responsibility.
It is hoped that the above resolution Will
meet with a cordial reception, and be respon-
ded to practically by every temperance indi-
vidual and society in the county.
The following resolution was then intro
duced by Hon. William Slade, and sustain
cd with his usual ability:
Resolved, That the County Court, in re-
hnsinq licences, throughout thiscounty, have
concerned to the principles ard dictates OF
humanity and sound morals; that they have
consulted, at once, the best interests Of the
towns and the wishes of the great body Of So
Der and rejecting citizens; and that we
would add our warm commentator of their
public acts, in this particular, to the higher
Generalization which thew doubtless receive in