Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-12-27
For the Waterman and Journal
TO THE FREEMEN OF THE COUNTY OF
WASHINGTON.

Never since You have exercised the right of suf
frape have YOU been called on directly to give thai
suffrage uqon question, involving more OF the IN
terests of humanity, than that which has been sub
mtted to you by the Legislature of this State, IL
respect to the appointment of Commissioners o.
Excise The question directly submitted to you
and which you are to answer on the second day o.
January, is, whether any man or set of men shall
be authorized by law, to sell intoxicating drink as
beverage, within the bounds of your County p
That is, whether monopoly shall be created by
Law, to do that, which the very creation OF the mo
nopoly declares is wrong, and unsafe to be done by
the community at large. hat is a fair statement
of the question before you, we think.
We need spend no time in speaking of the hdt
of ,cutched,,ess which flows, through the traffic anc
use of intoxicating drinks We point you to the
drunkards home-his wife-hls chlldren-hls
gravel! We point you to the Almshouse; the
Lunatic ASYLUM; the Penientiary; for illustration:
of the legitimate results of the use of Intoxicating
drinks We ask you to stand there, and gaze al
the spectacle until you fully understand the nature
of the subject, in this aspect of it
And shall men be appointed through the solem
mites of Law, to have the exclusive right Of con
tributing to this wretchedness, by presiding ove
the fountains from whence it flows. VIII the in
teligent freemen of this county say by their votes
I'VE wish men,--if they can be found qualified in
head and heart-to be installed over this work as
Grand Executors, in some of the stores and taverns
of the county, We wish men, if they can be
found--who will scar their consciences and imper-
il their eternity for dollars and cents to blow the
flames Of this unspeakable wretchedness, for the
pubic good 2
slructon of their peace, and that of others
will the Freemen of this County erect fountains o
these LIQUORS, at every mans door, and protect ant
honor them by Law? If nen will be licentous
shall houses of accommodation be erected for then
by law to make the business more respectable ant
safe? If the sale of intoxicating drinks can IL
any sense be pressed into the service of the pubh
rood why not let as all, if we choose, be thus con
tributors to the public good Down with monop
oes for doing good! They are trammeug ou
birth-ughts. Ii is quenching the flames of benev-
oence to create them-and no power on earth has
u right to inhibiI my attempts at doing good
The names of Nathaniel Sherman, Harvey w
Z Carpenter ana Orson Skinner, have been presented
for YOUR acceptance as Commissioners under the
Statute by Convention of the County, in which
every town was represented except one. They are
believed to be men, to whom the friends of Ten
perance may safely commit the public interests il
this matter. And shall they not be elected? 1t /;
believed if the full strength of the friends of TEN
perance is brought to the Polls, they can be elect
cd Shall it not be done? We call on the younl
men of the County, to be true to principle on TIN
OCCASION and to rally TO the Polls 1t is worthy o
YOU to cast your votes for men, who will not deem
it injurious to the public good, TO refuse to licens
the sale of intoxicating liquors. We invoke th
fidelity of every Freeman on this occasion, to tn
cause of Temperance. Let nothing but insupera
Bile obstacles prevent your attendance at the Poll,
Every thing depends on full rally Of the friend
of Temperance and of Order.
We charge wives, and mothers, and sisters sol
EMMY, as they value their own and others good t
use their influence to secure the attendance at tn
Polls, of their husbands, and SONS, and brothers.
Beseech them with womans heart, and VIC
mans earnestness, 10 go for PRINCIPLE. Finally
let US all be found faithful to the cause of God an
humanity, and every man cast his vote, on this oc
casion as Freeman, Patriot, and u Christian
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