The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-12-25


involved, and the reasons that ought 10
control US.
On the one hand we have the gratiica-
ton of appetite for intoxicating drinks, and
the pecuniary interests OF The vender, 10
influence US; and on the other the protec-
ton Of our persons, our families and
friends; our private property, our charac-
te's and happiness; and the guardianship
OF the public rights. and the public virtue.
This we verify believe 10 be a true and
lair representation of the argument For,
after all that has been said in favor of H.
censing does it amount to anything more
or less than this2 Men 10ant 1t, therefore
they ought to haze IL! II is source Of
gain 10 The seller, therefore he ought TO be
commissioned By laa0 10 sell 1t is true
that this latter has so much of venalty, Of
cold blooded selfshpess in it, that it is sell
dom advanced, but in Disguise and the
principal stress is laid upon the prepos,er-
Gus notion Of benevolenhy accommodating
those who wish to drink But who be-
Ieres that if This latter principle were 10
stand alone, 1t could sustain for day,
single vending establishment in the State!
And the invalidity Of the former is lactly
admitted by the arfuI manner in which it
is disguised
But, consider for a moment the argu-
menls upon the other side. Can it be de.
MED that every Freeman has a personal
Interest in this malter2 We may not
close our eyes 10 the truth, that by the ex-
hibition of the tempting beverage, and bv
the art(al Establishments of the retailer,
our own families and friends are in danger
of becoming drunkards The time has
gone by, when we could fondIy hope that
the good education, the high character,
and elevated aims Of our families, would
render them proof against temptation and
secure from The horrors of in.empcrance.
We have seen too many ia defiance of all
these barriers, overwhelmed aud destroyed
by this mighty food. No, Gentlemen,
we repeat it and with emotion, so long as
The sale Of intoxicating drinks is licensed
and popularzed by the sanction Of law,
our sons and our daughters, the pride aud
the hope Of our families, are learfuIIy liza
bic TO become The victims of intemperance;
and we ask you 10 consider this single,
undeniable fact, by the side of our pretend
ed oblig alton TO provide by law for the
appetite for liquor, and for the support OF
rumsellers
But another remark upon our personal
interest, in this question. We acquire
our property by hard labor and honest in
dusry. Whatever. therefore, insdiously
attacks, or wautonly iovades our individ>
ual rights, must receive our RIG id scruti>
ny, and sooner or later feel the power oi
that ioherent right of self protection with
which God has endowed US, and which
the constitution aud laws Of our country
have so nobly recognized. And hat, we
earnestly inquire, are the facts in the case?
Why besides all the money that is clan.
desIinely drawn from The pockets OF our
families and friends, for what is infinitely
worse than no consideration it cannot be
diguised, that by far The greatest amount
OF our taxes for pluperisln and criminal
prosecutions, originate, drec. Y in the
traffic which you are called upon 10 legal>
ize by your votes AS long, and as con-
fidensly, as this offensive truth has been
asserted, it has we believe never yet been
denied, and for the very good reason that
is so alpable and sustained by statistics
so authentic, that men dare not deny il,
even 10 save a sinking and desperate cause
And what is the course obviously indica-
ted by this lacl2 Are the freemen OF Rot.
land county The men to sit down tamey
and submssive y under such intoIernble
oppression? Is it not enough in all con
science, 10 pay The expenses Of this Traffic,
which is secretly and wickedly ralmet
upon us from abroad, or in defiunce of la ",
from men concealed among US, without
The insult of being asked 10 Legitimate and
approve, by our own involuntary acl, the
Injustice of our own robbery and the bu,
siness OF our own degradation Again
we ask, is il more important TO provide by
law for The qualification Of drinkers,
and the support of rum dealers, than 10 de-
fend ourselves and our property.
But 10 extend the view; there is a value
in character; by which we mean the
present Intellectual, social and moral con,
dition of the individual, which far trans
cends every pecuniary consideration Up
on this depends our power OF happiness
and usefulness; our ability to perform the
pressing duties we owe to ourselves, to
our families, 10 community and 10 God.
Upon this depends the value of liberty,
property and reputation. TO this high
view OF character, the common consent of
the race has been given, in the sacred
maoner in which it is guarded, and the
scalhing indignation which inevitably falls
upon the man who dares to violate or ira
duce it. These are all he promp,ings Of
nature. They belong 10 that class Of truths,
! the denial of which, is a certain evidence
! of incipient or confirmed mora or intel
ectuaI insanity. And how, we ask, does