The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1849-01-16

ment or prohibited, was one OF se'eio +" Ia
On the one side we're heard the oiaiHors 'i
rcit-interest and passion, threatening 10 o'ei
throw ali that resisted. On fhe other there
was nothing but the quiet voice OF emPe,
rance aid Virtue Between the t"o you uiu
not hesitate; and, when the hour came, you
rave your vote With a decision--Which VIII
-, c.;II Roman. but American worthy of the
d,.scendant of 4 Patriot of 10. BY this act
Won decided. in regard 10 our city, pnhcl-
nile of the frst Importance principle the
atontion nj which must forever be an honor
10 the people among whom VIC 1--we. 80 far as
we know: no great city, under the tree gov
crnmcrts of this country,or Under any govern
ments Of Europe or Asia, has ever been dis
tingrished by 50 important measure IN favor
Of Tenperarce and self-dcnial; and none
seems to deserve This honor more than the
citv. wliieB gave birth TO the Temperance Re
formation.
What has been the result? Your decision
Has been sustained by the reclamation OF your
telIow-citizcns.-Bu the license law, it is said,
has been very frequently violated This Is
true. and it viii always be true, that unedu-
Gated. unprincipIcd and demoraizcd persons
will violate it, so long as passion, seli-interest.
and the spirit of self-indulgcnce continue to
exist. But. on the other side, we know thai
the educated part OF society has been gradu-
ally diminishing the use OF stimulating drinks,
We NAV say, also, that the great population oil
all the Northern States has been undergoing
change of habits-gcneral, profound, and as
we believe. pcrmanent.-Mh no docs not know,
that, formerly, every individual used wine or
spirits, and placed them on the table for his
visitors? Perhaps it is not generally known
what have the means Of knowing from daily
professional observation, that II IS more rare
now to see a person who makes use OF stlmu-
lants, than it formerly was TO find one who did
not do so.
All these changes receive material support
from the existence, in Boston, of IN act pro-
bibiIing the sale Of ardent spirit in small guam
tities. And here allow me TO say, that the
recollection Of what little agency j have hal
in promoting such changes, gives me more sat
isfaction than any other circumstance OF my
Ifc.
With these impressions, we come, Sir, to
thank YOU once more for yGur decision on the
license law, for your public and decided sup
mort to the cause of temperance and as per
inancnt testimonial of our feelings and onn'
ions, we beg YOU TO accept these pieces Of
Plate, with the resolutions which accompany
them. To these we would add our hearty
wishes and PRAYERS, that the activity and use
fitness, which have so honorably character
lied YOUR official career may find new field
of operation. in the future duties which ProY-
i,lcnce may asst en- 10 YOU
Alderman Grant, in behalf of the company
then handed the Ex-NIayor very elegant sill
yer pitcher and tray, of about $500 cost, ac-
companied with Resolutions of the highest re-
spcct and gratitude for his services. On the
acceptance of which, he replied in sub
stance
Gentlemen Il am most deeply impressed
with the honor you have done me in this vls-
it. was called upon during my administra-
ton to decide question on which there IS
great difference Of opinion-on which men OF
equally favorable dispositions towards the
cause of Temperance, may justly and fairly
disagree.
After the examination, had no doubt as TO
the course it was my duty TO pursue Had 1t
been my last official act-the last vote in which
NV voice could be heard should have CIV
en- il, without hesitation, a. | did. Owing to
division in the Board Of Aldermen, the de-
.is;on rested on my individual vote. | was
happy TO assume the responsibility and
have never. for one moment since, seen reason
10 regret my course.
Since that time / have cnacavorcd to be
consistent in my conduct l was never what
is technically called d tcetotaller; but as by
NV vote | had doue what could TO deprive
others of the use of Intoxicating liquors, |
have neither used them myself, nor offered
them 10 others.
As to the future, ! must reserve my right to
act as an Independent citizen, in the manner
my best judgment may dictate, in the circum-
Stances in which may he placed.
| trust shall always be 4 friend and sup
porter OF the noble cause in which you are en-
ragged, by all the means which may conscien-
tiouSlv believe most favorable TO ITS progress.
The course considered it my duty to pur-
sue, exposed me to great oblOquy- bore 1t
in silence, and left the question, without argu-
mcnt or self justification, to the decision ofmy
fclow-citizens Nobly was ! sustained by the
intelligent and enlightened men OF both polt-
zeal parties. Such result, under such cir
cumstanccs. was compensation for all the mis-
representations of which was the subject.
accept, gentlemen, with the most grateful
sense OF the honor, this elegant and valuable
testimony of your approval.
Ncxttt the appreciation Of conscience, that
OF men whose names are associated with every
philanthropc and Christian cndeavor for the
advancement of humanity, must be the high
est reward Of vir;uous endcavor.
our gltt, gentlemen, VIII DC, as long rs
live, testimonial Of your kindness, and an in
citcmcnt to fidelity, in every good cause with
in my influence; and my hope is that long al
Ter W. shall have passed away, these enduring
memorials will remind my children, and my
childrcn's children, that | numbered men like
You among my friends and supporters.
The occasion was one of truly grateful in
tcrest to those present; and, no doubt, in en-
tra harmony with the general sentiment OF
the friends of Temperance, Order, llumani-
~ and Religion, throughout the City and
Commonwealth. A. ID.
Mr.. CLAY AND Mr.. ADMINISTRATORS OF
a former date will remember the false and un
warrantable charges laid against Henry Clay,
on account of his instrumenality in the cleo
tion of John Quincy Adams as President
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