The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1855-08-22
What is Said of Us.

Ni"'i"u VI OuT pTOUlUllOry law -
"The result of my inquiries and obser-
rations as to tho benefcent Influences of
the prohibitory law of Vermont, was of
the most cheering and gratifying char
acter. | passed through the State from
the southern extremity nearly to the
northern limit. In all the places where
| stopped, Bennington, Rutland Middle.
bury, Burlington and St. ALBANIA, put
up at the largest public houses, kept my
eyes wide open, and made careful inquiry
and observations. In the entire State |
did not see one man intoxicated, and
not one man take glass of spirits But
some Of your readers will say, all that
may be, but there was drinking enough
Ceh'nd The curtain, in sly places aud by
places, shut out from public view That
something of this kind may be done |
have no doubt But who does not know
that rum. like murder, will ont % Ifa
man drinks sIyly, he cannot keep the se.
cret long. He will talk thick and fool
'Sh, even if he walks straight Public
drinking in Vermont is at an end. and
private tippling is carried on very eau
tlously, and on an extremely moderate
scale. The consequences are visible in
the sobrioty. industry, and good morals
OF the reoplc,in the decrease of pauperism
and crime, and in the general prosperity
everywhere so apparent.
But some of your readers will ask,
How is it about tLe-lquor agencies es-
tnblished by law to furnish ardent spir.
its for medicinal and lawful purposes
Do they not sell to n large cxtcn; ?" |
rel most cmplaticaily n0 aud here is
the proof a. Robinson. Esq is the a
gent for Bennington, embracing a popu-
la'ion, which he supplies, Of tour Utou-
S0nd people. His average sales, rs proc.
cd 6y his JooAs, is about one gallon per
day One quart a day to u Mousand
pcop6c How much nearer totol prohi-
bition could they get ? The Jail of one
haIf Of the county, with population of
1859, is in Bennington. A little bo
fore | visited the place, three persons
were confined in it, but when was there,
there acqj not one.
The liquor agent Mt Rutland supplies
population of 1000 From the llth
to the 20rh Of this month, his sales, as
Mo'rn 6y AtS looks. amounted to four
teen gallons, two gallons week to every
thousand inhabitants. j. B Copeland
is the liquor agent for Middlebury. lie
sells to population in that and ndioin-
ing towns amounting to 6,400. His sales
for one mech, as shown by his books wero
frc gallons and a quarter, considerably
less than one gallon per week to 900
inhabitants. Middlebury i. the shire town
of Addison county, embracing popula.
tion of 265i0. There were t.co indvid-
uals in the Jail, one for violating the H.
quor law. From june, 1854, to June,
lS55. there thirteen commitments. ten
on account of rum. In Burlington and
st. Albans, | found the same general
facts held true. There were FIRE in the
st. Adams Jail, three on account of rum.
Burlington is a beautiful town on Lake
Champlain, with population exceeding
1000. In that place went on an ex-
plcring tour to see if could find an in.
toxicatcd person. went to rum cor.
ner," as it had formerly leen called !
passed through that street, but not per.
son furnished the slightest indication Of
incbriat;on. 1t evinces profound igno.
rance, or invoterate prejudice, or some
thing worse, to pretend, as some do, that
tho prohibitory laws in the New Eng
land States have proved failure. Come
and see. gentlemen, and then you will be
satisfied Come and see what prohib-
tion has dune for Vermont, Connecticut
and Maine, and then blush for your Vi
Imperative abuse Of the greatest reform Of
the age. 1t seems to mo that an ntelli-
gent man who throws his influence aud
puts forth efforts to prevent the triumph
Of this cause, assumes a fearful and ter.
rible responsibility"
The difference between the above
statements and those which an intelli.
gent traveller passing through the same
parts of the State, few years since,
would have made, are obvious aud the
good which our law, with all its imper.
fections, has already accomplished, is be.
yond computation The backbone of
the traffic is broken, and now that New
York and New Hampshire are not only
coming but hare come to our aid and
Massachusetts, has put her foot on tho
business as carried on by the express,
the temperance men of the State NAV
well thank God and take courage"
But there is work yes to be done. And
among other things, we would suggest
the Importance of publishing in the pa
pers of the State ,senera(ly facts like
those given in the above extract. We
say in the papers of the State generally,
for VIC believe that large proportion Of
our political papers would very cheerful.
ly open their columns to such communi.
cations. Let the friends of the ca use in
each county gather up the facts bearing
upon the cause, and publish them, that
the people Of the State may understood
how the law operates, lie: each prose.
cution, with the uame, and amount of
fine imposed, be made public and if any
offender is able through some defect of
tho law to escape unwhipred of JUS.
tice," let the facts be stated that the peo.
pie may be induced to apply the appro.
Pirate remedy A movement Of this
kind thoroughly carried om ~ each
county, would seem to give public senti.
menta right direction and do great good.
Our columns are ever open on this sub.
ect but we do not wish In nouonol;.a