The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-10-13
CHITTENDEN COUNTY.

To The Hon. COUNTY COURT NOW IN SHs
| SION.
The Grand Jurors, within and for the
County Of Cbiuenden, respectfully represent
that they have witness during the pas
year, disposition among many OF our citi
zens, TO disregard the provisions Of the Ii.
cense Act Of Oct. 31st 1874; and that an unu.
sual quantity Of spiriiuous Liquor, in oper
and public violation Of the law, has been sold
10 the great injury Of our community-where
| by the public morals have been corrupted, &
the criminal calender Of our County en-.
larged. We feel bound, in view of these
circumstances. as conservators Of th e law, ir
| a public name r,to notice The evil tendencie,
ofsuch vices and practices among our fellow
citizens. We have no hesitation in declar
ing it as our duty, 10 require. at the hands Of
| all, a rigid and strict observance sfthe law
Ours is a government of laws, and a spirit OIL
INSTRUMENTATION 10 them, in any case, has a
direct and immediate tendency TO destroy
their force, and plunge US into a state OF ir-
responsibility and anarchy, without any &C
knowledged authority 10 guide and ,Iiroet US.
When such spirit Of insubordination has
snce gained footing among us, il will not be
confined 10 any particular Act, or law, but
will directly extend 10 any Acts or Laws that
may not be universally agreeable, or that
may not meet the interests and wishes of diff.
ierent sections or classes among US. In such
case. the will and wishes, and best interests
of the majority. indeed Of the mass four COM
muniry, mightbe controlled by the will or ca
price Of a minority. or even of lew, who sci
the law, as well as the authority four Legal
Tribunals, and Public Officers. at defiance.
Our Institutions are based upon the will O.
the majority conslitutionally expressed Ours
is truly government Of the People, and
when they, through their representatives, ex-
ercise their sovereignty in the enactment Of
Laws for their own guidance and conduct
we feel bound to inquire into their violation,
so long as they remain unaltered, or uBre-
pealed. by the same authority that created
them. Nor do we think it our duty 10 go in
10 the inquiry, whether those Laws are wise
or unwise, constitutional or unconstitutional;
II they are un1cise, pe leare IL to the People
TO make the discovery and repeal Mem-if
they are unconstitutional, ne ieare them TO
The judiciary, the only and proper tribunal,
so 10 declare.
The Grand Jury believe that the law un-
der consideration was enacted by our Legis-
lature, under the best Of motives, and for the
best OF purposes-the moral, physical, intel
lectual, and social well-being four People
TO whom, by The Law ITSELF the subject of Lii
cense was properly referred for discussion
and decision and we can have but little
doubt. ifthe provisions ofthe Law werestrict-
ly obServed and carried out, that it would re-
suit in most salutary and redeeming influ-
ence among us-that the health and siabili-
ty OF our Public Institutions and State Gov
eminent would be thereby greatly promoted
and the prosperity Of our People, lndividu-
ally and collectively, be greatly enhanced.
Under this view Of tie subject we can bu,
hope, that all of our fellow citizens will, in IN.
ture. give their cordial acquiesence TO the
law, until its provisions, to say the least, are
fairly and fully tested-aud until legitimate
conclusion shall be made by the People, eth
er to molly, repeat. or maintain it.
DAVID READ. Foreman.
Burlington, Oct. 81. 1916