Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-02-03

Among all the acts passed by the Legislature
OF Vermont, since It's existence as a State, there
is probably no one more likely TO excite surprise
and regret in conslderatc mlnos than that re-
Gently cnactcd, called the liquor law Sensible
and ludciOus men, on perusDg It, cannot fail TO
be struck with the unusual, violent and arbitrary
nature of its provisions. In no othsr times, since
the settlement of this country, uni ,ss it be in the
early and darkest period of New England history,
can an uct containing more bigotry and ntoer-
ance be found The provisions OF the act have
been already so frequently and fully stated. ex.
planned and commented upon in the public Jour.
nails, that It Is quite unnecessary to 90 into par
tIcular details here. 1t Is sufficient to saw. that
the act Is based upon a wrong and mistaken
principle, and that there is scarcely section of
il that is not liable to strong and unanswerable
objections, either on constitutional grounds, on
admitted aXIoms of policy and Justice, or
on generally recognized and well understood
doctrines OF civil freedom. All this is apparent
upon the face of the act; and no argument or
reasoning Is required to expose its arbitrary and
tyrannical character, its bold ana reckless disre-
gard OF personal rights hitherto acknowledged as
sacred, or lis utter incompatbiliy with the prin.
clples and spirit -four institutions.
by one of the provisions of the act, it is to be
submitted to the people for their appreciation or
dlsapprobaton On particular day in Februa-
ry, the people throughout the State, at meetings
directed 20 be warned for the purpose. are TO as
semble IN their respective towns and express by
vote their assent or dissent to the measure. Ii
would naturally be supposed from this reference
OF the subject to the people, that their will was
to be regarded as Of paramount authority, and
that when expressed in the formal and regular
way prescribed, it would be absolute and con
oil E..ul ,,Il l.,
Pile are found TO be in favor of the act, il is tc
take effect IN March; if they are found TO be a.
ganst 1t, It is TO 90 into operation in December
The dissent of the people, if such should happier
TO be the result, given in formal manner in reg
ularly called town meetings, at the cost TO each Of
most OF the persons attending of one day s time, &
more or less personal inconvenience, is to have
the effect not OF annulllng or setting aside the
act, but, strange as II may seem, merely Of sus
pending or postronlng ITS operation nine months
II this provision had originated IN ANYTHING else
than legislative wisdom, we might be disposed
to call 1t solemn trlhlng or childish mockery, ana
10 doubt It's being very respectful TO the people OF
credItNble to its authors.
Although the protested object of submitting
the act TO the people was to get their opinions
upon IT. yet It's advocates now urge the people
not totfoube themselves with any examination OF
It's provisions, or any questions concerning Their
eonstltutonality, justice, or expediency, but to
treat the matter referred to them simply as an
abstrac, question between temperance and m.
temperance. What? are the people to over.
look the provisions Of the act, let them be ever
so clearly unconstitutional, violent or tyrannical
ever so unjust or vexatious, and give their sol.
emn assent to it, with all It's obliquiues and de.
fornites, on the abstract ground Of opposition Ia
intemperance' Are they to do this, knowing
the act TO contain provisions in violation of the
principles as vel as the spirit of the oonstitu
ton, the great charter and palladium of their lib
critics? Are they to be made the instruments Of
knowingly robbing themselves of their eonstitu
tlonal rights, or OF blindly aiding others in doing
SO? But the question put 10 the people is moi
whether they are in favor of law against in
temperance, for such law they already have in
operation; but whether they are in favor of a
law contsining such provisions as are contained
IN the act submitted to them. That Is the cues.
ton. No one, it is to be presumed, has any OBJ.
lection to the imposition of reasonable restraints
restrictions and penalties, for the suppression Of
imemPeFsnce or the encouragement Of temper.