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

Annual Report of the Erccutiue COMMITTEE.
Something more than a quarter of ccntu-
ry has now elapsed since action and energct-
ic measures were commenced in the great
temperance reformation To sec what has
been done, the progress made. and where We
are, and to encourage us IN our onward
course, it may bo profitable, briefly to sur
vey the ground over which we have passed
Previous to this work being commenced
alcoholic drinks were used in great rroluson
on most all occasions, and under almost all
circumstances. They had come to be regard
only sanctioned, but encouraged B" "i'N, 9n1
Tavern keepers were required, under penal
ty of three dollars and being deprived of their
license, TO - le furnished with suitable re-
frcShmentS. provisions and accommodations
for travellers" The license to keep tavern
carried the right to sell all kinds OF alcoholic
drinks, to be consumed ON the premises, ana
the word refreShments' was intended to
include them Public sentiment was unlyer-
sally in their favor They were to be found
in all our dwellings, in our houses Of public
! entertainment, in our stores, our work shops
/ in all places Of business and oi public resort
and in our fields.
Laboring men thought they could work
better and taste when inyigora ted by rum -
/
a somewhat similar mode ofthinking. Each
imagined himself while under the influence
Of intoxicating drinks, great deal brighter
and wiser, From early infancy to the end OF
| life, all were continually exposed to acquire
Incorporate appetites and habits. lntoxioa-
ting beverages wore freely used in tami-
lies, at the meetings of friends, in social cir
cles, and at all public gatherings.
They indeed formed sort of circulating
medium of small change, very current, eager
ly sought for, always plenty, by which nu-
merous obligations were readily discharged
Small favors and neighborly Kindness were
most always cancelled, to the entire satisfac.
tion Of the creditor, by glss Of rum. They
also, more or less, entered into the considera
tion Of most business transactions They
were used to make bargains, az earnest, to
bind bargains, and, not unfrequently, t.
break up bargains.
Under such circumstances, was it strange
that the American people should be called ,as
they really We're, nation of drunkards J.
| What else could be expected Indeed it is d
matter of astonishInent that they were not
worse, rather than better. There was how.
ever one favorable circumstance, one limit tC
total inebriationl Though he was regarded
hero, who could drink the most and carry
it off; strange as it may seem, to get beastly
drunk and fall into the ditch was Away.
considered, especially by the better part q
community, disreputable and vulgar. The
poor wight therefore, who unfortuna ely mi s
judged as to his powers of endurance, was
often unwittingly exposed to the gibes, ieerl
and tricks Of thoughtles and mischievou'
boys.
Such were the customs and habits Of thi'
great people; to which, strange apathy
and indifference very generally prevailed.
But we have great reason to rejoice and bj
thankful, that there were good men and tru
who looked out upon this dark scene witt
deep emotion. They saw US on the road t,
ruin They became alarmed They felt tina
something must be done to arrest us in ou,
downward course. They determined to exer
all their powers TO effect u reformation, t,
change public sentiment, and also the habit
and customs Of the country This was
great work. To most minds it appeared i'm
practicable And TO those less firm, less en-
ergetic and less persevering, the obstacles il
the way would have proved overwhelming -
The first thing was to convince the people
that, when in health they could live withou
rum that 1t was not only not necessary, bu
positively injurious. This vas Il bold step
Many and long were the arguments used T.
establish these propositions.
To secure the advantages of concentrate
effort, and as means of promoting the objoc
in view, Temperance Societies were formed
On becoming members, each subscribed tn
following pledge The members of this So
ciety, believing that the use of mtoricdLn,
= liquors, for persons in health is not only unne
cessary, but hurtful; and that the practic
is the cause of forming Incorporate appetite
and habits, and that whilo it is continued
| the evils OF intemperance can never be prC
vented, do therefore agree that We will al
stain from the use of distilled spuifs, excer
as a medicine in case Of bodily inirmIty, an
that In all suitable ways We will discounter
ance the use oithem, by those over whom W
, have influence and in the community"
ID will be observed that notwithstandin
the preamble to this pledge recognizes th
) broad principle, that . tho use of ntoriet
( ting liquors. is, for persons il health, nc
: only unnecessary but hurtful," the pledge
only A" TO abstain from the use of distilled spa
D as" To those unacquainted with the the
e prevailing habits and customs, it may appea
t strange that fermented liquors were not ais
D included. But when it is considered ho
difficult the task to persuade men to give 20
/ long cherished habits, to relinquish forever
: IavOrite beverage and to effect change
their opinions and sentiments, it will bo see
that the pledge, though imperfect, was proI