The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-01-26

In the kingdom Of Heaven"
Report of the Central Committee Of the
State Temperance Society.
JANUARY, 1852.
The Central Committee congratulate
the members of this Society and the
friends of the temperance cause, on the
continued progress of this good work.
The last annual meeting was character
lied by earnest zeal to see the princi-
Piles of the Maine Law-then compara-
lively new-incorporated with the laws
of this State. We then saw other States
moving toward the same object In two
of them the object has been attained.
Other States, in the mist of defeat, are
still confident of victory and others still
are waking to effort.
As the one great object of this Socie-
ty was to secure the passage of law
similar to that of Maine, the Central
Committee have directed their efforts to
this single point. They early procured
and circulated some twenty thousand
copies of the Maine Law in all the coun.
ties in the State Efforts were made to
secure the services of an efficient agent ;
and agrceably to Instructions, application
was made to Dr. Jewett, but the season
was far advanced before decided an
swer was obtained from him and his
constant services could Mcn be secured
for three or four weeks only previous to
the session of the Legislature As it
seemed doubtful whether the Committee
could make any general arrangements
for SO short time, at that late day.
they resolved to leave it to the several
counties and towns to employ his servi-
ces at their discretion, and gave notice
accordingly The Committee found no
other lecturer at liberty whom they tho't
best to employ, and have commissioned
no one.
The Committee appointed to draft a
Bill TO be presented to the Legislature,
did not make their report to us until the
last of August. L his delay arose in part
from a desire to see the result of efforts
in Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, and
to gain all the light which might result
from action in those States The Com
mittcc from the several Counties to re-
wise the Bill were early called together,
and had the Bill under consideration un-
til the meeting of the Legislature OF
course your Committee had no opportu-
nifty to publish it.
A large number of forms Of petition
were printed, and diligent efforts made
to furnish copies to every town and
schoo. district. Circulars were also sent
out, calling attent ion to the duty of cir.
culating these petitions diligently The
result was not all that your Committee
had anticipated, but it has clearly indi-
Gated an earnest public sentiment in ia
-yor of prohibitory legislation.
The result of all is, that law has
been enacted, embracing the principles
of the " Maine Law,"-conditloned, how.
ever, that it shall take effect on the sec
ond Tuesday in March next, unless a
majority of the frccmcn of the State shall
by their vote on the second Tuesday in
February declare against it.
We have now distinct issue before
us: Shall the new law 60 into effect in
March next, or shall it wait another dis
cussion before the Legislature In the
circumstances, we do not regret this is.
sue. Considering the feeble vote by
which the Bill passed one branch of the
Legislature-the uncandid and improper
efforts to defeat it while the question
was pending in the Housc-thc opportu-
nifty now given to make better show
ing for it at the ballot box, ought not to
be regretted. Add to this, the public
mind is not so far enlightened and set
tied but that great good may result from
the further agitation which will attend
the approaching trial A strong vote in
February next will have great import
ance in fixing the new law upon firm
basis
Can such vote be secured ? Is the
law too far in advance Of the public
mind ? Is it just? Is it constitutions
ala Is it extreme and tyrannical legis-
lation2 These are questions we must
meet Such things are affirmed of the
new law. We are confidently told that
this law presents new feature in legis.
lation-cmbodies new princples-is op-
pressive, unjust, and tyranncal, in direct
antagonism with the Constitution. We
are not prepared for efficient action until
we have fairly considered these charges
and shown them to be anfounded and
false.
The principles at the foundation of
the law recently enacted, are these
list. The right to lcgislate in regard
to the traffic in intoxicating liquors.
I'd. The right to make laws entirely
prohibiting the sale within certain pre-
scribed limits
Sd. The right to enforce such prohib.
itory enactments, by adequate powers
and penalties, the same as provided in
other cases.
The law embraces no principles be-
yond or contrary to these, as we shall
attempt to show in its place The prin-
ciples above are certainly involved in
the law and the question fret to be
considered is, Are they wrong, or liable
to vali6 objection2
The 6rst,viz: that this traffic is prop
er subject for legislation, will not be cal
led in question, Gny more, by sober men.
No one whose opinion is worth regard
ing will SO far stultify himself as to con
test point which is settled by every
Legislature in the land, aud universally
acquiesced in by the people. 1t is ac.
knowledged by all the laws which per-
tain to the importation Of spirituous H.
quor; by all the statutes which relate TO