The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-01-01
The Free Licensing Circular
Mr.. BELL,

MIR. BELL,
A Circular has just been issued under
The supcrvision of the Committee OF the IL
crrsing Convention and circulated by tie
cbiefrum5cllcr IN M.ddeburv, containing some
half dozen articles addressed TO Temperance
men 10 persuade them TO vote foT granting IL
oeuses TO sell intoxicating liquors 10 be used
as beverage in this County.
In these articles the Temperance cause
perceive. is very highly Landed. IL is called
"a noble cause;'' and great fears are express
sed tina, il will be injured and thrown back
unless we, the people, license men to help II
on by selling ram. Union" says one oil the
writers ssshnuld be our watchword, and under
this motto let US rally and deal blows OF death
to all that can intoXicate, degrade and debase
men," Most Of the writer's express great
fears tin which he aforesaid rum seller doubt
less participates1 that there will be more
rum drank if prohibition is attempted. at
will provoke" they say "excesses, frauds, law
suits. and troubles" &c. &c.
These are grand professions; and one
would think that these writers were the very
apostles of temperance, and tina: the whole
cause rested un their shoulders. But how
do they propose TO carry Jorrdrd the noble
cause, q prevent tACtSSGS
and Lawsuits and '';roubles J" Why by
having rum, brandy. gin, wine and strong
beer sold throughout this County, TO be used
as a drink by the people-and that III virtue
of license by the freemen ofthe County in
town meetings assembled.
To show their consistency, they say that
! ''w hat is to be done TO advance The Temper
ance cause must be done alone by preaching"
So then, we. Temperance men, must give,
through the Commissioners writing, TO A
Il G and ID, down TO the end Of The alphabet,
saving to them that il is our iciH and pleasure
that they shall open their bars, parade their
bottles surrounded with wooden oranges and
lemons, and exhibit in groceries and grog
shops the like temptations TO drink. and then
20 forth preaching total abstinence 10 the
drinkers, aud warning them with our eyes
brim full Of tears, to beware Of the deadly poi
SOM No matter if they do turn upon Us and
call us hypocrites, and say-away with your
preaching, while you are tempting us TO buy
rum from these agents Of yonrs; we must
preach en- siill-now saving o every one
that thirsteth come-and then excaiming-
beware! beware lest We fall into the snare
of the devil, and be led captive by him at his
will.
And if We, the people, are to do all this, so,
of course. is the aforesaid Ramselter 10 do it,
and all the rumselers, for they may just as
well preach" while we are drawing the rum,
as we, the people. while they arc making out
the writings ''au,horizing" Them TO draw IT.
What man does by another. he does by
himself If we 'authorize," we do, in effect,
drd,o The rum. Now should like TO hear the
sermons the rum seller will preach" while
the lum is cunning into the jug, anti-down
the poor fellows throat inst by way OF trying
how rood it is, and while the preacher is
handling the sixpence, or measuring out the
..pe,k of potatoes" which his victim has bro't
on his back from the cellar where he has left
but few pecks TO supply the cravings Of his
wrerched wife and children. What sermons
these would he how moving-how melting
how subduing and wiihal how '.judiciOus ~
But the preaching must not stop here; for
if we are to have men licensed TO sell rum and
preach at the same time. why ought we not
TO repeal the laws which prohibit under heavy
penalties, breaking the peace-cursing and
racing gambling, and keep
ing by tayerners, OF implements of gaming,
ard proceed to license these things TO be done
(.iudiciously" Of coursc) and rely on preach
ing TO prevent the doing of them! For ex-
ample, we will have fighting licensed, and
'.judiciously," with preachers"
to constitute part of the system. And we
will license cursing and sweariDg-taking care
to regulate it so '.judiciously,' that it shall
be done gentecly-and at the same time ap-
point men for preachers who can ably ex-
pound and enforce the third commandment.
In like manner, let horse-racing, gambling
and keeping implements CT gaming, be IL
censed, with preachers" TO lift up their vol
ces and wan the People against tie ruin
connected with these practices. VIII any
body soberly contend that these may not, with
as much propriety, be licensed as the bust
ness of rumsellingl for are not allthese often
ces against existing laws. directly excited and
az gravaied by The sale ofin.oxicating liquors1
Shall we continue to punish these acts, and,
al the same time, license men, i'll every part
Of our County, to sell fer general use, the
means of direct excitement 10 them! Is it
right, is it just, is it equal to punish "by fine,
not exceeding five hundred dollars, or i'm
prisoDment in the County jail not exceeding
one year." the poor fellow whose passions
have become so maddened by rum that he
has committed a breach Of the peace by as
sauIting or striking. and at the same time
leave the rrnseller free from any !egaliG
Fiction! Shall we even bes,ow upon him spe
ciaI attentions, and load him with kindness
and the hcspi;ali'es of society.while'h POOR
victim Of his licei sed temptation to crime, is
looking through The eiaIes of prison upon
cold and unfeelins world! Does rot every body
know that the use ofiDtoxicating liquors has
been, aud will be, if left unresirained. enc Of