Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-12-26

court II may then be decided that iis law rs uncol
slltu'lonal; We should therefore now provide for
such an administration Of the law that in the event Of
such decision the smallest amount of injury may
be done 10 the rights of our fellow citizens and the
| colour OF law be borrowed as little as may be to
sanction injustice. 2. If the law Is constitutional,
believe that 1t should be administered in temperate
and conclalory MANNER for the sake Of law itself
for the sake OF all law: that the reverence for law
| Chat sentiment which should be cultivated as the
highest patriotic and religious virtue, which should be
cherished until it becomes an interest, and which is
| the only assurance of Wholesome and abiding laws
may not be impaired or rooted out. 1t should be
thus administered; but the TRANSIENT may be identified
with the law ITSELF AMI the anlnadycrsons VII CHI are
due TO the one, be dangerously extended the Other.
Ii is n fact well known, that in the county the law
has been literally passive That at the first election
| the Incemency OF the season. the no velty Of the law
| itself the ignorance on the part OF some Of what
| might be the cond ict Of The commissioners who
were elected. and the expectations among Others
| that their course would be mild and not irritating
| courteous and not censorious-regIdtirs and not
preventive were causes which contributed powerful
ly to their election. Their bare maoriies the deep
! and bitter hostility 10 the law and TO their conem
nai'd acts which pervadeI the whole county even,
evidence conclusive that the citizens not pre-.
pared for snch n law-th1t is foundations were not
laid where they should hsve been laid, tina, is, in
their affections and resrect. Accordingly the law
went quietly to Sleep Those who had sinned before
in selling and u,ng continued to sin in the same
way, and worse than ever. The sad spectacle was
witnessed of n community openly violating its own
law and that almost before its pages were drv from
the press The Of temperance sacred and
beautiful, did not pass without revival of antigua ed
scois and censure IL we would revive the feeble
elements of ih law let us so provide for its nimins.
tration that it may elicit the respect at least Of the
5 great body of the county. Let it not be so admins
tered as to subsorve the party AMI destructive pur
poses OF awakening bad passions, OF stimulating low
and shameful evasions, and Of casting aspersion'
= upon the cause, which was intended 10 promote.
A. BE the administrator Of the law in other res
poets what it may the particular restrictions, which
| n % no n Df
f the Anti Lcensn, party propose shall be granted
j. will form system of surveillance and espionage
: whose fruits will lie worse than many Of The evils
n ntemperance. 1t Will be system which sill ope
h TO the supervision Of the Commissioners the mos
ii delicate conditions OF domestic and individual privacy
an invasion Of which NAV be more 10 be feared tha
n the breach of law itself. Such system is damctr
cny opposed 10 the spirit Of our institutions, and
f the oignly of the cause of temperance itself. SUI
j. a system. neither the morals nor the self respect
l. a community can long abide Such system, eve
e tho most upright guardians of the public morals an
OF therown, can long conduct and remain pure an
, hlno able
q 5. BY the course which advocate the cnu7a
IS temperance the origin and purpose flhe law, will
IN bes, advocated 1t is yet question whether or n
the subject Of Temperance comes within he ordinar
D sphere Of legislation. Many Of lis ardent and warm
est friends desire 10 see il left 10 take is plare anon
- tie religious convictions Of society and no. lowered
T.. the mere level Of the statutes. They desire TO
the free expression OF n refuei and elevated, and al
"a comprehendlng principle, which shall be habiiua
and reVerenliy acknowledged by all men. ana not
l. regard il as the mere command Of the body politi
. They desire to il o s,rve the great law Of sci
denial, and the result Of legal coercion. The
therefore believe that could the cause speak It's want
= it would ask TO be let alone BY the government, ar
10 be left TO the ofmoral persuasion.
As g. different course under this law is not necess
ny to protect society against the existence of dsorde
A. ly and dsrepulabe places of indulgence The con
=, mon law contains the power Of abans 'u'h plac
u nu'slnses.
7. II the common law is to be administered Il
I'll prevention Of licenses the breaches of the law mu
be punished or the aw Itself be abandoned. If Il
D. former course shall he pursued, courts will
crowded with prosecutions the state vii be sui ectt
10 TO large and unusual and useless expense. b
more, far more than this fountain will be CT
n sealed, whose bitter waters will flow forth TO 20
son and destroy. Hatred, social md civil discord w
&c ensue, and time alone bring healing on!' wing
III believe that the above reasons rightly cunsilere
viii convince every sincere mind of their jusilc
Those whom The Licensing Party propose to elect
n Commissioners are W. Lyman Samuel Boardma
lis AMI Caleb t. RnrtOn, VINO have Teen chosen who
References their political principles. They are know
to be strictly temperate in their views, and dspos
so t. administer the lazy If elected as 10 subserye
besr interest Of the county and Of society
Yours with respect,
FGIcSD OF TEMPERANCE g.