Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-07-14
state Temper ance Convention

bled at the Free Church in Montpelier, and
organized by the appointment OF the follow
ing officers:---
GIN. E. P. WALTON, President.
HON. II. +. r jsss. v1o' Presidents.
2 3 X. lPssng00rn' Secretaries.
On motion committee on resolutions was
appointed, consisting of Hon Thos. L. Pow
ers, Rev. Eli Ballou, Zimn Howe, J. s. Ad-
ans, Bliss N. Davis.
Convention adjourned to l o'clock P. NJ.
afternoon Session.
Mr.. Wheeler, Of Rutland, made state
ment Of the condition of the cause in Rut-
land County.
The committee on resolutions reported as
follows:-
Resolved That we see no reason to
change our position in reference to our views
Of the present Liquor Law of Vermont and
we cordially re-affirm the resolutions passed
by the State Temperance Society of Jnnua-
ry last, to wit:
"Resolved That we regard Intemperance
not only as great social and moral evil of
incslculable magnitude, but as a political
evil, which largely increases the burdens of
taxation, detracts from the efficiency of the
general industry Of the country, and fills our
priso poor-houses and asylums with mui.
iitu les of inmates, who, but for it, would be
useful and worthy citizens.
Resolved, That as political evil, Intern
perance, its causes and its fruits, are most
clearly suitable subjects for political action
and demand at the hand of legislative bodies
the most stringent prohibtory enactmenis.
"Resolvee, That experience has fully prov
cd that the great obstacle which lies in the
wdy of such enactments and their proper en-
forcement is found to exist in political or
CARNATIONS and that no reasonable hope of
success can be entertained for the cause of
temperance until political managers are
taught to respect the opinions of temperance
men, and to quadrate their prime ipes and ac-
tons accordingly.
Resolved, That all political party issues
and party attachment are of minor import
ance, when compared with the magnitude of
the evils we oppose, or the blessings we
would secure, and that he, who makes the
cause ofprohibltion a question of secondary
Importance by betroying its interests when
ever the end and aim of political party or
individual ACKNOWLEDGEMENT seem to require It,
sinks the man in the politician, and forfeits
tho confidence AMI fellowship of all true
friends of temperance.
"Resolved, That inasmuch as every Free
man IN Vermont is required, " whenever he
gives his vote or suffrage touching any mat
ter that concerns the State of Vermont, to
do II so as IN his conscience he shall Judge
tcU conduce 10 Me best good OF The same"
II is therefore manifestly the imperative
duty of every friend OF prohibition to 1
carry his temperance principles to the bal /
lot box, and to cast his votes for no other
than open and avowed friends of the cause
we advocate. uninfuenced by the appeals of
interested partizans, or led from the path of
duty by the wiles of political demagogues.
Resolved, That however much we may
regret that any necessity should arise for
the suDdering of political ties for the furth- :
france of the cause of Prohibition, never
heess we viii cheerfuly make the sacrifice -,
when the occasion shall demand it, and we {
hereby pledge ourselves that our actions at 1
the polls shall not belle our professions. :
"ltesolved, That the repeal of the 23d and
18th sections ofthe Vermont Liquor Law by
The recent Legislature meets with our I'M
qualified disapprobatlon."
Resolved, That our confidence in the
power of law to arrest the fearful ravages
aud terrible evils Of intemperance remains
mistaken by the experience of the past, and
that, though the existing law of Vermont for
the suppression Of that vice, has done much
for the Accomplishment Of its object, yet ex
perience under its operations has shown it
to be defective in some of its details, which
defects we will never rest satisfied with, but
will labor in all honorable ways to remedy
by legal enactments.
Resolved, That prominent among the de-
mands which we are determined TO make at
the hands of the next legislature for reme-
dying existing defects in the law, shall be
the remedyrequired by the "Miner amend
ment," SO called, the adoption OF provision
for Furnishing false representations TO town
agents, and also provision for the punish
ment Of all persons who shall knowingly aid,
assist, or abet in any manner any other per-
son, IN procuring intoxicating liquor to be
used rs a beverage, together with largely
increased penalties for all violations Of the
law OF whatever character
Resolved, That SO long as we retain the
inestinable privilege Of free thought, free
speech and free suffrage, we can never con-
slsteniiy aid in placing before the ireemen of
Vermont any candidate for office, whose
opinions upon the question Of prohibition IN
any vi its bearings are involved IN doubt, or
who hesltates TO express them icarlessly on
oil occasions when properly Intercepted.
Resolved, That we have a right to expect,
and, composed as we are Of men OF all parties,
We do demand of political parties, now and
hereafter, an explicit avowal Of their lnten.
tions and desires in reference to the prosecu-
ton and enforcement of the Prohlbitory Law,
and that the nomination Of men known to
favor the system, shall no longer depend
upon accident.
The LIST, %, Sd and 18th were adopted
mi uslx al "A nba
5th was debated by DIR. Powers, Bliss v. /
Davis, VIM. Brownell, c. c. Briggs, ana
others, and it Was adopted unanimously by I
rising vote.
Letters were read from Hon. N erritt Clark /
and Hon. Stephen Royce, in relation TO the I
temperance movement and the prohibtory
law, as follows:-
WEsr PouLTsEr, July IL, 1854
Hon. Zimri Home,
Sin ~ have the honor 10 acknowl edge
the receipt of a communication dated yester.
day, In which you, as Chairman of the Exc
cutiye Committee Of the Vermont State
temperance Society, have addressed me as
candidate for the suffrsges of the Free
men. You are pleased TO ask whether |
am in favor of the great temperance reforma-
tom" whether approve generally of the
means adopted TO carry forward that reform
siion'-and " more especially whether, am
In favor Of legislative ensctments sufficient
ly stringent TO accomplish the objects con-
templsted" To these several enquiries |
give you an affirmative answer-and would
add, that regard the existing laws relating
10 the traffic IN liquor as inadequate to ac-
eonaPlish the end designed, end that any leg
islstlon calculated TO promote temperance,
Lot Inconsistent with the Constitution, will
meet my approval.
Your most obt sy't,
M. CLARK.
To Z. b. Whiting, Esq, Editor
0fthe st. Adams Messenger: