Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-09-01
O5soo notice of the y. Y. Tribune.
For the Wu,rhmnnl
The present Liquor Law COM
pared with our Ancient Laws.

y great deal Of clnmor has been made about
the law passed last November, as being oupres.
sive and tyrannical, and wholly opposed 10 the
spirit OF Liberty and independence" Of the
patriots of the Revolution. Allow me to nitro
duce 10 your readers a law passed by these very
Revolutionary patriots at the February session
OF the General Assembly of Vermont, A. d.
l779.
I he act provides for licensing nukeepers. who
were required to give bonds TO the amount Of
one hundred dollars, and regulates their appoint
uent Then follows the following provision:
" BE II further enacted, That when, and SO
often as the authority, seectmen and grandjury-
men, IN any town, or, where there are no assist.
ant or justice living IN any town, the selectmen
and grandjurors, shall understand that any per
son IN such town is a tavern-haunter, or spends
his time IDLY at any such house Of entertainment
they, or the major part of them, shall, at their
discretion, cause the names If such tavern haun-
tiers to be posted at the door of every tavern in
the same town, by setting up a certificate, under
their hands, forblddlng every tavern keeper in
such town, on the penalties contained in this act
to entertain or suffer any such person or persons
therein named, TO have or drink any strong lid-
uors, of any kind whatsoever, in or about their
houses until such authority, selectmen. and
grandjurors, shall agree to take off such prohibit
/ ton"
The act then goes on to impose fine on any
tavern keeper for suffering any person, so posted
" to drink any rum, VINE, or other strong liquor
in or about his house, And if the person so
warned did not leave off such evil practice,r-
the authority were to cause such person TO an.
pear before them, and to demand surety for
their well behaving therein" and in case lie did
not md surety, then he was to " paw fine of
twenty shiings, or SIT in the stocks for the space
OF two hours, on some public time or season.
The constabes and grand jurors IN each town
we're required carefully to inspect all taverns
OF licensed houses IN such town, and make due
presentment to the civil authority, of all persons
who shall be found transgresslng this act !" and
also 10 make presentment to tn County Cour,
against any tavern-keepers violating the proyi-
slons o. the law, and they were also to warn all
tavern keepers to observe the act
! Then follows the following provision:
Aud that whatsoever a presentment is made
as aforesaid, II shall be inserted that the person
presented had been warned, as aforesaid, by
such constable or and-iurymen, such pre-
sentiment shall be sufficient evidence that such
warning was given"
II wall De noticed that a man might be posfed
his power to obtain liquor taken away, and he
subjected to penalty for a continuance IN his
lGle uvern-hauntlng habit io'thom anu trial or
notice epen, simply upon the UNDERSTANDING of
the authority that he was such a tayern-haunter.
There is nothing IN the existing law that COM
pares with tins provision for severity and for
summary despatch.
And also, thata preSentment alone is made con-
clis've evidence Of the fact of there having been
warning In the existing law, as it's enemies
nave construed II, the fact that the liquor is found
oy the ofhcer under circumstances of such
character as IN 5 judgment TO warrant the be-
lieI thSt 1t Is intended for sale in violation of
the law, is prima (acis evidence of guilt, but
not conclusive.
| The act proceeds thin to provide as follows:
And whereas divers dlsorderly persons often.
times take upon them, and presume to sell strong
liquors by retail, in small quantities, without Ii.
cense and to keep tipping houses, to the pro-