Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-09-06
A ID II II II s 8
Of the Central Committee, concerning til,
License Ldps.


TO the Frcemcn and Citizens of Vermont.
To submit quietly to injuries and losses
which might, by peaceable and proper means,
be averted, does not comport with the char
acter Of wise and determined people,
Even those minor rights which respect moth
ing higher than property and the enjoyment
Of innocent luxuries whether they are rights
of the majority or Of the minority, are held
by the possessors and by the laws, above in
vasion. But when those rights relate TO
man in his social and moral relations, -
when they respect the mind and the charac-
ter, affecting domestic enjoyment, good hab-
its, industry, virluous action and peace of
conscience, a resistance to their violation is
made imperative equally by the moral sense
and the first principles Of liberty.
The sale of intoxicating drink does vio-
lence to society in both these classes of its
rights, and wounds il in every other val
liable privilege. From the very foundations
Of the New England commonwealth, the
geneial voice has declared it dangerous, and,
except under legal regulations and reslrc-
tons, not to be injured. Even so regulated
aud restricted, it has always been to many,
a subject Of misgiving, and at the present
time, as we believe, the sober sense of the
community is ready to reprobate it-restrc-
ted or unrestricted-as an undated nu-
sanCe.
Those who exult-ofen loudly-in the
opposite opinion are deceived by their own
clamor. Principle is deep and silent The
multitude of the benevolent, the patriotic
and the serious deliberate long-are eau
tious about action-but, when resolved TO
act, are irresistible in their union. That
the opponents Of the traffic named constitute
a decided majority of the freemen, we con-
clude, partly from the statistics collected by
the State Temperance Society, partly from
our personal observation of the sentiments
of our fellow citizens, and, most of all from
the results OF the petitions to the Courts,
where petitioning has been attempted, from
the decisions, in general, of the Boards of
Civil Authority, and the actions of the
towns themselves, where that has been taken
Fellow citizens, the supremacy of moral
virtue is always TO be asserted. whether its
advocates are in the majority or the minority
What are you ready-yea what are you pre-
pairing to do, to proclaim that your conclu-
sion is formed that the time of the final
action is at hand, aud that the baneful traffic
cannot be suffered to subsist in the light Of
day 2 Doubtless the Temperance principle,
if its supporters are united, has power TO ef-
feet this. All denominations and parties,
we rest assured are as body, agreed upon
Temperance as a requisite TO order, industry,
education and domestic quiet,-to our relief
from pauperism and the burdens and dis
grace of crime. On many great questions
there are divisions in the masses On this
however, so far as there is division it runs
not by party lines. The mode which we
would suggest for the men Of all parties, to
put forth their power, is simply the one in
dictated by the action Of the State Society at
its last annual meeting, namely that OF
PETITION. This mode, if thoroughly at
to the goodness of the petition, in this case
there will be added the moral force Of the
masses from whom it proceeds.
We propose, therefore, 10 our supporters
of all parties, names and denominations, 10
prepare themselves intelligently and united
y to petition the Legislature, at its next
Session, for an alteration Of the license laws,
and by way Of preparation to exercise to its
full extent their personal and molal influ-
ence according to their own judgment, TO
secure due public attention TO this subject.
The legislation demanded, in the view Of
some, will be entirely prohibitory, others
will think il should simply throw the decis.
ion OF the question into the towns, --because
they feel the burdens, and the subject
naturally will come up for discussion in the
consideration of town expense and taxes
In either mode of legislation, an essential
point will be to enact modes of judicial pro-
ceedngs so direct that offences may be
brought, as in many other cases, to imme-
date prosecution before a Justice of the
peace. To meet these objects the commit
tee have prepared form of petition, which
they give below.
1t is not alone to the avowed and active
advocates Of the total abstinence principle
that the foregoing remarks are addressed,
but to all, whether pledged members of
Temperance Societies or not-who depre-
cate, with us, the influence of intoxicating
drinks and the traffic in them.
Once more, fellow citizens, we urge you
to put forth the effort which the favorable
condition OF public sentiment invites. With
diligence, with union, with right appre-
hension OF the bearings of what you do on
the welfare Of Vermont, bring forward
each one-his individual zeal, name, hand
and influence to hear up to the seat of legis-
laton PETITION for the necessary pro,ec-
ton of LAW.
For the Central Committee ofthe " II. S.
ALEX. G. TWINING, Chairman.
Middlebury, July 3lst, 1874.
PETITION.
To the Honorahla tho Ieaialatura IF The State of