The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1853-02-05

can buy by the key will not feel the inter
diction: their household gods being held sa-
cred while the idols in the temples are cast
down. Under such legislation poor and sober
would soon pass into a provrrb.
Besides the objections that the new Bill Is
partial and not calculated in the nature of
things TO suppress intemperancc the severity
and II gor of its provisions are obnoxious TO
lust and deserved crnSurr: in It's inreption
Its progress and lis completion, selecting AMI
combining all that our history knows of harsh
ness and tyranny. The odds and ends of all
previous imperative ments.-ii.pcratye
from their very Severity,-appcar to have
been carefully collected, ''here little and
there a little and together with large
quantity of the raw material in a very crude
slate. 10 have been manufactured into TIN,
tissue OF absuriiticS.
Law is 4 defensive weapon To be- used only
IN self preservation. 1t is not at all aocrc>-
sive in its nature. Even in its place it should
be used with prudence and moderation. ami
not be converted into an engine of oppression
and persecution. Whenever It's agency Is
required every guard should he provided to
protect the innocent, notwithstanding the
guilty might sometimes cover themselves with
the same shield. These principles which are
of perpetual obligation and universal Justice
have at length been compelled TO Weld TO the
coninsed apprehension that governments are
Instituted as general remedial AGENTS. and
that legislation must know no barrier consti-
tutlOnal or eNpedient until hv lis strong arm
the millennium shall be usherel in. and moth
lng shall hurt or DESTROY throughout the
land
No law as stringent and unjust as this, if ii
Shonid ever 20 INTO operation, could be strict
IL enforced. The common sense Of camn,u-
ntr would rebel against it at once and tins
would most certainly result in those commu-
mites IN "hlrh the present license law l. viz
tually dead letter. We have enough such
VOID Laws ALREADY upon our statute book. with
a;it bringing >autary and Wholesome leai>la-
H'n mao ti-reP:te 10y Increasing Their Rum
by. /, i carrying the th!n- too :ar. Tn
~; law Of matter holds true in every rela-
ton in lie. Everywhere alton creates re
action, extremes lead to their oppo>i;cS. Thu
i true in Soriety. and Is verified 10y ni,torv
There has been no uninterrupted progress, ell
th"rin morals or in GOVERNMENT bnt in ohcd-
cIre 10 Tia: ,,und principle il. n,.',a r. r,',s-
>lmI>. AMI the conservative element has al
WAYS been the true element of progress. In
the rebound from dc>Poti>m freedom has been
achieved, and this without >alutarv restraint
has drgcnera:ed into anarchy and rcturuc,!
aLain 10 !r>poti>m
|; has been invariably 50 in the rcformato-
~ and benevolent and philanthropic enter
priScS of the nineteenth century. While Wis
lom and pralence and moderation GUIDED
;h.;r counsel>. good was accomplished. but
when blind zeal. rank enthn>iasm and ultra
radi ali>m presided in their deliberations
their movements seemed inspired hv a <i,iri;
Of destruction rather than of Ire>ervation.and
thci! o. lert MOI the canvcI>i0n bat Tie cXtcr-
miIation ct all uubrlirvcr> The result might
have been predicted; the good and the wise
STOOD aI"ot from associations governed by such
hcad>trong counsel, and the whip and spur
have been applied to each particular reform
till they are neary ridden 10 death
The temperance cause has not been cxemp,
from these Influences. and its >cvcrc>t wounds
have been inflicted l., heated zcaloi> who
have neglected natural principles. ignored
moral distinctions. ai>rerar,lcl the maxn>
that have governed men since the time ot
history: and are now ruled ty diStcnperc,i
fancy, d morbid Imagination. & perverted PHI
lanthropv and a confused judgment that Is
leading them widely astray.
They have zeal but not according To
reasoning from infirm premises
10 conclusions unSound, and contrary to the
'pirit that should ever find home among a
rec and intelligent people
These considerations, though applicable to
many of our previous license laws. are vet
tron""r against any further legislation in th,
anne direction. and should b. well weighed
y the people before giving this new Bill Vi
alitv.
Will add a word in regard to the trial bv
Jury. and the presumption of guilt The 26th
section repcal> all previous laws that conflict
With this Bill, thus leaving the cases arising
inder the 18th section TO be tried and deter
mined As therein provided. No person of
my legal acumcn will DENY that the 18th sec
ION "o'< conflict with the RIGHT to trial hv
Jury. and as this cannot be saved hv any rrr-
;iouS statute, that section. SO far. Is plajnlv
i he presumption of guilt against the per-
on IN whose possession liquor is found. is
without analogy and without precedent The
ommon illustration of counterfritcr, and
brought by the advocates of the
;lll are not analogous, for the law expressly
eeognizeS property in distilled liquors when
the hands of town agent, and gives 10 ey-
~ one the right to keep and use it, but it
oos not reserve to any one the right to deal
n, or use, forged notes or contraband goods