The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-10-19
From the Pa.n,yille (0hio) Telegraph.
Who aie the Friend, Of the raairs Law

There is q prevailing impression a
mong a class Of our citizens, that the
agitation of the Maine Law ques
ton is chiefly confined to persons
of unbalanced minds, who are always
ready to adopt every extreme reform
While we cannot deny that many such
persons are numbered among the sup
porters of a prchibitory law, just as
they are found among the most active
in the defence Of our school system a.
gainst secretarian peryorsion, and most
noisy in behalf Of every project which
confessedly has The public good for its
object; vet the friends of the Maine
Law are far from being limited to such
supporters. When the extreme strin-
gency Of the law, as originally passed
in the State of Maine, was first pub
lished to the world. very general doubts
Of its wisdom, to say nothing Of It's con
stitutionality, were entertained by the
more intelligent and judicious part Of
the community. But as the subject
was more discussed, and the impossible.
ity Of any other effective kind Of leg
islation became more apparent, the
number of its friends increased, until
it was found to be the prevailing and
deliberate conviction Of a majority Of
the votes Of several States, that the
law was equally constitutional, useful
and necessary. Many judges Of the
highest reputation, many lawyers Of
cmincncc and worth, and what is Of
more consequence, the sober, second
thoughts of the masses, whose dclibcr
ate convictions are rarely erroneous,
have exchanged their hesitation and
doubts for an active participation in
the advocacy and defence Of the law.
In this State, the proposed law, not
perhaps in the form which was deemed
best by the citizens Of other States,
where it has become the law Of the
land, hut with such notifications as
viii adapt it to our condition, and the
state Of public sentiment among us,
has secured the good viii of many Of
our wisest and best men.
Indeed how could it be otherwise
with men of humanity, or even with
men Of ordinary prudence, who have
no special interest to he affected by
the closing of the traffic in ardent
spirits. There is not a day-hardly
an hour, in which some spectacle Of
VOC, or some outrageous crime, Or
some exhibition Of waste or want, is
not forced upon public attention, as
caused by this mischieyous traffic.
Ii man is shot down in a brawl,
if a liotouS disturbance Of the pnblic
peace occurs, if some helpless child is
found, with attcnuated limbs and hag-
galtl face, breathing It's last breath up.
on the bosom of its ruined mother, peo.
pie don't wait to ask, how such deeds
can occur in a civilized community -
They know, without asking, that they
result from a traffic which does good
to nobody but the men who make and
sell, but incalculablo evil to individuals
and to the community.
1t is perfectly well understood that
the poverty of the poor, the conse-
quent neglect of their children, and
the multitude of youthful depredators,
who are growing up to life Of inlamy
and crime, all result from this one
fruitful abomination. llard-hearted
indeed must that community (Which
knowing these things, aud believing
that they can be done away by pro-
hibitory law, not in conflict with per-
sonal rights, nor with the constitution,
would not cordially approve its enact
ment. Excepting those Immediately
interested, it is almost impossible to
fud in any assemblage of men casual
ly met, one-half Of their number who
do not say-"God speed the cause
Can it then be doubted as the subject
is further agitated, and the minds Of
the legal voters of this State are
brought to a direct decision between a
prohibitory law and the present state
of things, what that decision would
be ?
Men who have children growing up,
to become useful and respected mem