Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-03-21
Extract Of a Letter from Gov. sIade.


solicitation Of large number Of the citizen
ofVergennes, addressed them upon the sub
iect of Temperance For this, he was at
tackled by writer in the vergennes Yer
monier, as degrading the dignity Of his Of
fee He published letter in reply, from
which we make the following eloquent ex
tract
The traffic in Intoxicating liquors, ha!
been, and is. one of the most prolific sources
ofvice, crime, misery, and ruin, in existence
For fifteen years have lent my humble aiC
IN the effort to roll back its desolating tide
/ have seen its terrible effects upon the
bodies, the intelects, the consciences, the
hearts, the happiness, the hopes oil men,
My heart has bied at the sight of the once
happy made desoate, and the once cheerful
and buoyant hearts crushed by it, in the
agony Of despair. Our poor houses, our
iails, the record Of our criminal jurispru-
dence, our State prison and our Insane Asy-
Ium, all bear witness TO its ravages upon the
bodies, estates, minds and hearts of men,
And while all these appalling evils and mis-
cries have been made to stand out in bold
EcICt, duu nave bCCi uiHCu WIN d iCTNOT
which has seemed resistless, have seen
men persisting, unmoved, in the traffic which
have produced them-coolly tempting men
to the dangerous indulgence, and even draw
ing those who had escaped from the very
jaws Of destruction, back to its deadly en-
brace; in fact, bidding defiance TO the friends
of temperance, in the apparent conscious
ness that the temptations were stronger than
all the arguments and warnings and en-
treaties they could urge to save the tempted.
Could all this have been prevented by even
kneeing in the presence of every rumseler
in the State, and begging him, in the name
Of God and humanity to desist, | would have
cheerfally done it. But it would have been
uuavailing. Experience has proved that en-
treaties have no power 10 stop this evil. III
MES of the women and children made
widows aud orphans by the traffic would
have long since been effectual
In this state of things, have looked a
round, almost in despair, and asked-can
nothing be done to protect the community
from the ravages Of the destroyer / have
been opposed to any attempt by the legisla-
lure TO enact sweeping prohibition of the |
traffic. From the certainty that such an at |
Tempt would sweep the whole temperance
question into the vortex of party politics,
where it would be decided, upon any other
ground than that of its own merits. Ii is a
great moral question; and should stand
Hone, and go directly to the people. Such
am happy to say, has been the disposition
shich the legislature has thought proper to
make of--referring it to the people to say,
whether this scourge shall be permitted
onger to continue among US, under the au-
horiry of law!
The people Of the county of Addison
AVE thus been called on to decide the mo-
nentous question whether they wall ooIs.n..-
Y authorize and sanction this business f.,
)f this county l AN a citizen 1t is the .
lace of my birth. was reared among its
'eople and, with the exception of few
ears residence abroad, it has been my
ZONE during life somewhat prolonged
The memory of the past rushes upon me
With overwhelming interest in connection
With this subject. How many who begun
ife with me, have fallen before the power of
his great destroyer ! can scarcely visit
in this county, where he has
rot inundated his victims. cannot go by
grave yard, where the tears of the widow
md orphan have not been shed over drunk
lrd's grave. Six were killed by rum in my
,wn village between the months of Decem-
Der 1899 and April 1913 and ] daily see
,thers moving onward more or less rapidly,
n the road they so fatally travelled. They
lied--were buried land are forgotten =
The dealer in intoxicating liquors walks
'ver their graves with as much Indifference
IS though no one had an account to render
or what they are! IL
And now the question comes home to my
,eart--shall | assume an air Of grave indffer-
nee as though no one had an account to
ender for what they are
And now the question comes home to my
leart--shall assume an air Of grave indiffer-
nee to this, and hold my peace because
i'm the Chief Magistrate of Vermont?
rankly say, cannot--I must speak, at
whatever hazard. / will inict no wounds,
upon the feelings Of any; but
must speak. Truth. justice, and humanity
demands it. The dearest and most precious
interests Of this community are at hazard
md do my fellow citizens think that am
yoing to wrap myself up in solemn dignity,
,nd witness unmoved, the work Of destruc-
ion that is going on around me? Was it
or this they elected me to the Chief Magis-
racy Of Vermont2 do not so understand
heir will, or my duty. VIM. SLADE.
Jan. !, 1916.
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