The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-04-30
1NTEMPERANCE, PAUrERIsM.

On this, the committee say, " the returns
we have before quoted are very instructive"
Of those committed for crimes there were in
consequence of the use Of liquor, says the
Sheriff Of Albany, eight tenths = the Shor-
ilf Of Broome, " nearly all ! the Sheriff of
Dutchess, four fifths )" the Sheriff of Erie,
" nine tenths;" The Sheriff of Niagara,
" three forurths > the police justice of Buff
fao, seven tenths." A very small proper
ton of the criminals had taken the ground
of total abstinence. Mr.. Pillsbury, the
Warden of the Albany Penitentiary reports
the whole number received in 1949, 40S -
Incorporate 334-moderate drinkers a.
total abstinence 90. In another case of 609
imprisoned, SO only had practised total
/ abstinence and in another case still, of 555
imprisoned, 81 claimed TO have taken the
same ground.
The Sheriff of Albany County utiers
sentiment, which, if it were believed, would
make some men quail,unless their consciences
= In regard to the offence of intoricat;on,
would say it ought rot to be called an of.
fence 10 drink as long as lhe person that sells
the drunkard rum, is lcgalized by law. If
there is an offence it had ought 10 be for
selling, and not for drinking"
The committee are able to be more defn-
lte as respects those who are supported at
the public expense. The reports of the
County Superintendenls of the poor, to the
Secretary Of State, show that 99,433 persons
had been aided, and that 35,G99 were Who'll
y supported. The committee say, that "the
general impression of the people is that
more than three-fourths of the entire pau.
perism of our State is caused by intemper.
ance. Perhaps it would be fair to estimate
say three-fourths of permanent paupers, &C..
1872; and wothirds of those temporaril,
aided AZ sos; total GO ,2GO'
d" This number also. overwhelming as it is
does moi include the number, perhaps, equal
ly great, entirely unreleved, or relieved on
ly by private charity, nor do these both in
clude the vast number Of those reduced from
ailluence or competency to poverty. but no
low enough to be the subjects of public re
lief"
Paupcrism, independently of what wa
given ty individuals, cost the State of New
York in 1919, *Sl7,4Al. After great labo
in procuring official documents, the commit
tee estimate that of this sum s67O,l43 wa
called for solely on account of intemperance
They suppose the amount bestowed by char
table associations and private individual
exceeds the amount raised by taxes.
sit is presumed that the direct and indi
rect assessments upon the people Of thi
State during the last year, for paupersn
caused 10y in!emperancc, must nearly equa
the sum Of TWO MILLIONS OF DOLLARS"
The criminal and civil business of New
York is so intcrmingled, that it is impossible
by public documents, TO show how mucl
prosecutions for crime cost the State. Th
committee mention one instance where tri
: al for murder cost the county of Alban
100000; another where trial for homcd
: cost Orleans county slOOO,OO that the sala
ry merely ofthe police officers of the city
New York, is more than 5000, 900, and tha
intemperance out Of the question, one ourt
of these men would render the city more 50
cure than it is at present. So that three
fourths of this expense may be charged t
: intemperance.
q The committee say that many pay for il
e suranceS25 or so or 100 more in consequence
a of the numerous cases of incendiarism, eau
e ed by intemperdnce. Ships sailing under
. temperance flag are insured for less pc
;, ceniage than others.
"The fire that consumed the village
; Plattsburgh commenced, we are informe
S in recently licensed dram shop, and und,
circumstances that induced the keeper of II
= place to abscond soon after, lest he shou
= be held crimnally responsible for the fir
- A large portion of the other multiplied an
" destructive fires throughout our country al
It believed to be chargeable to the same caus
Y "The more widely we search after Il
= items of public expenditure caused by stror
'e drink, the more they are multiplied: al
.r the more closely we examine those sever
"A amounts, the more they are magnfied. III
amount of money wTung from the people
v this State, against their wish, by intempe
,s ance, and by the liquor traffic rs the eau
of that, is to be computed only by MILLIol
I' OF DOLLARS"
le Our friends at Nergennes, TO say noihir
ID of other places, could tell mournful sto
ID on this subject, not only on account of 81
a. cessiye annoyances and the burning Of c
buildings, but finally in the conAagrati
u which swept away some of their dwelli
u houses.
I'd Their railroads and canals and wat
IN works in New York cost them vast amou
But if the committee are correct in tn
n estimates, the traffic in alcoholic drinks !
cost them and does cost them more. If /
be not true in Vermont. an exact exhibit
~ of all the expenses occasioned by the liq'
al sellers, much as they are restrained by
he present laws, would show an enormous
he mount.
III, EXPENSE OF sPIRITUoUs LIQUORS.
las The committee suppose that the aleoh'
S, drinks sold annually, cost the consum
,,s S25 100000. They say this does not Z"
!. clude any of the time lost, or the prope
=, destroyed by fires or explosions by ste'
- boat disasters or by shipwrecks."
"o This estimate may appear to be exage
ly' ated. But the more the subject of int
10 nnranre Is exnminndi I'm New York or "