The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-04-16

penSe OF the temporal comfort ana eternal
misery OF their victims. And we have
seen, too, as the consequence of the sys.
tenn Of licenses, a multiplication Of The
number who take out licenses, because
they can make it profitable in a peculiarly
way. We see more public houses than
the public needs; because they cannot be
sustained and made profitable by accom-
moda,ing travellers, they can be by selling
rum 10 neighbors.
These are some Of the ten thousand
evils which have grown, in considerable
degree at least, out of the license system.
If there were no license system;-Ifthere
were no licenses, and the public mind
were not debauched, you might have a
remedy at common law against a man who
should tempt your son into his house and
get him drunk. Aud a jury that was not
saturated with rum, or had not been
brought up under the influence of The liz
cense system, would have no hesitation in
pronouncing a man guilty, who should Of
fer TO treat your son with intoxicating
drink, and laugh at him if he had scruples
because he belonged TO the cold water ar
my. This would be proof enough Of the
temptation and of the guilt of him who
did it. And yet this is done continually,
either by those who sell rum, or by the
company whom they collect about them,
10 aid in their business of iniquity. .
The whole system of licenses to sell in
toxicaliog liquors as a beverage is wrong.
1t is giving public sanction 10 wrong do
ing. 1t is throwing the protection of law
over the work of iniquity. And every
man who lends his aid and influence 10
giving such licenses is c~hargeable with
the guilt of putting a stumbIing>block or
occasion TO fall in his brothers. way"
/ know that in the present state ofthings
the Withholding of licenses will not stop the
sale. It is said tina! many will drink and
some will sell, whether licenses are grant
ed or not. This doubtless is true. But it
is no reason for granting a license. If
men will do wrong, let them do it on their
own responsibility. Do not throw the
shield of law over them to protect them in
their wrong dong. Do not give them
this protection for their purses and this
salvo for their consciences. If any will
continue TO deal out the poison to their fell
Iow.men. let them, and not the law. bear
the blame. Let them do it, and meet the
consequences. Even if there should moi
be moral principle enough in the commu>
nifty 10 prosecute them and bring them 10
justice, still it will moi be in vain. 1t will
take the quietus from their consciences,
and permit that monitor, if there. be any
remains of it in their bosom, 10 sting them
with self reproach. And it will also de-
velope their true character. NoW many
a mar who pockets the gains Of rumsell-
ing would wish to be considered the friend
of law and order. He would be consid-
cred as an honorable man and law>abiG-
ing. Withhold the license and see if he
will still obey law. Withhold the license
and see what his claims are to be a good
and respectable and law>observing citizen.
See if he will not, as some have done with.
in our remembrance, break the law, or
connive at its being broken. See if he
will not show that he loves the gains of
iniquity more than he does his honor and
his Iaw-keeping habits. l! is a good way
10 try the integrity of men 1t is a most
excellent means for developing character.
We have had some trial otlhis heretofore,
and we may have again, if l%icenses are
not given. Let US see it done. Let men
show themselves. 1t is sometimes useful
to a community 10 learn the true charac.
ter of mems protested patriotism, and to
ascertain what they mean when they say
they are friends of law and order.
Besides, if the refusing Of licenses will not
stop the %sale--if men will sell whether they
have a license 10 do il or not why is it that
all who are interested in the rum traffic are
so strenuous to have licenses granted q
Will not their gains on what they sell with
out a license be just as great as if they had
a license2 And might they not save also
the expense of a license by selling liquors
without one2 Why, then, are they so de-
sirous to have Commissioners elected who
will grant licenses? Why do they want a
a license al all?
And more, my friends, the whole matter
comes out. Those who sell spurious Ii
quors, and those who drink them, and those
who pocket gain from the traffic, want the
sanction of law for the business, so that their
consciences may be more at ease in their
~uurighteous gains & be more secure in their
purses. They want you and me, and all
sober men, to sanction their doings and say
il is right. This is the shield under which
they have hitherto been protected, and they
desire ii still. Will you give it them 2 Will
you give your sanction to the sale of intoxi>
eating liquors in this county Will you
consent, either by acting or not acting, to
have The f~oodgates Of iniquity kept open, and
to have men ruined, soul and body, for time
and eternity, by lava
Oh, if more men must be ruined, let 1t be
done against the law! If more sons, brothers
and neighbors must fall victims to the
lempter's lust of gain, let it be done against
law Ifmore of what one calls "liquid death
and distilled damnation" is TO be poured out
on the community, let it, | pray you, be done