Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-02-02

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cessary, in some degree, to conform to public
sentiment. SDmethine must be presented
that would bo accepted. A pledge, more
stringent, would, quite likely, have been
very generally rejected. To procure subscri-
b'rs to this pledge even, was no easy task
But the pioneers in this great enterprise
took the pledge and went to work. Much,
very mich was accomplished. But the longer
they toied, and the further they progressed,
the more manifest became the defects Of their
/ pledge. True, the use of distilled spirits was
diminished, while that of iermonted liquors
seemed to increase.
After some eight or ten years experience, it
became perfectly obvious, that to secure the
| object in view, more comprehensive pledge
must he adopted. In 1896, the pledge 10 ah-
stain from the use of all Intoxicating drinks,
vas introduced and took the place, Of the
iormer pledge. Strange as it may seem,
many. on this occasion. who had been Jealous
advocates of the temperance cause. the mo-
nent they saw their wine, beer and cider in
dlnger, deserted the temperance ranks. never
to return. They were good temperance men.
soiong as they might freely indulge in their
flvrrite beverage. Like the rum-drlnker,
when that was included in the pledge, they
also were against us.
The action of the Legislature shows to
some extent, the progress in the temperance
cause, In 1897, petitions from all parts of
theState, numerously signed, were presented
to ihe General Assembly, asking for "a law
prohibiting the making and vending Of ar
deaf spirits, and also asking for the " repeal,
orrevision of the then existing license laws"
| Then, as now. the constitution was, by the
advocates of rum, plead in bar to the restric-
tive policy The petitions, with the consti-
tuticnal question, were referred to a select
committee. That committee made a some
what labored report. They came to the con-
cIrsion, that " the Legislature had the right
to prohibit the traffic in ardent Spirits but
they doubted the expediency of passing any
such law. Something however had been
gained. The subject had been brought before
the Legislature, and their attention called to
it.
in 1888 and in 1899 similar petitions and
memorials were numerOusly presented. They
were referred to committees but, like those
of 1887, resulted in no legislative enactment.
They served however to continue the agita-
tion of the subject. And the committee of
1889 asked leave of the House, to hold their
sessions in the legislative hall, during the re-
cess of the House. This was refused.
The first law in this State, that can he con-
strued as having any reference to the temper
SgGf &q&I'@ Eas eGfttG5dr in Hlthe board oar
of civil authority of the several towns" to
license houses of public entertainments to
be described in their licences as Temperance
houses Persons receiving these licences
were prohibited from 1" selling, furnishing.
or suffering to be sold, or furnished, upon
their premises, any spurious liquor whatey-
er.' BY this act an important point was
gained 1t permitted the keeping Of temper
ance houses, which, before its enactment
could not be dstss without the violation of
law and incurring its penalties
In lS42, a law was passed coninins the
time for granting licences to the terms Of the
courts, so that no licences, cXcey for keeping
temperance houses, could he procured during
the recess.
In le44, the license system was revised. a
new act passed, and all former laws repealed
This act took the business of granting licen
cc5 Iron! the courts, aui provided for the an
nual election Of county commissioners, tC
whom the solo power Of granting licences
@iSeommjttfds nTbeY,gM.e.re. =. authorized !! to Ii
sell Tor medicinal, chemical and uechanica
purposes ON, y, SO that they might contnGC
the general license system as before, or they
might restrict the sale, to those purposes, a:
they might think proper. THIS act made a
distinction between inns and tayerns Tho
former We're temperance, the latter, tippling
houses. The commissioners could grant H.
cences to both, or 10 neither Of them as they
chose. The commissioners were elected by
the voters in town and lroemcn 3 meetings -
This act WAS far in advance Of anythin, be-
fore. Ii brought the temperance question
every year, to the ballot-box, and forced ti
consideration upon the whole community -
This operated very lavorably in promoting
temperance principles.
To this system, there were, however, oh
.t.4Ft.
among the counties, In some. licences wer,
gra nted, while in others, the sale was re
strictcd. The former mJnopolized the run
trade, and supplied the latter. Though tn,
consumption Of alcoholic drinks, under tn,
operation Of the law, was diminished, still
it was so easily eyuded, that it proved ineffi
cent in accomplishing the object desired
In 1916 all previous laws on this subjec
were repealed. The business of grantin,
licenses was restored to the courts Ry til,
provisions of the law Of that year, on tht
first Tuesday of March annually, all voters il
town and freemens' meetings, Throughout
the State, were called upon to vote license, o
no license. In case the State went fol
license, it was made imperative upon th
Judges to license all who should apply, wht
sustained good moral character, on thei
paying therefor, the sums required by til,
law. If the State went no license, the judge
were only authorized to grant licenses to sci
for medicinal, chemical and mechanical pur
poses, and to such persons only, who shoul,
be appreciated by the boards of civil authori
, ty. These boards were also authorized, as i,
ls4I, TO license inns and yictuallng houses
, in which the sale of wine and all distille,
, spirituous LIQUORS was prohibited.
This law was an nimproyement upon the on
f repealed, and remained on the statute bool
, till 1850 Four wears in succession. th
voters. in town and frcemen's meetings
; throughout the entire State, EXPRESSED the
! opinions on this question, at the ballot box
! Every wear the vote was against licensing
In lS4S. owing to n mistake. the yote wa
= proclaimed the other way. In one town
, giving a large majority against licensing, tn
Constable returned that majority in favor O
, it. The vote of the State was so nearl