Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-01-25
STATE TEMPERANCE CONVENTION.

~ dluudl meeting az LUDLOW on the lbtl
inst. The following is the list of officer
elected for the ensuing year.
For President.-Hon. K. FLETCHER
Of Cayendish.
For Secretaries.-C. w. Cushing o.
Newbury, and Lewis Pratt jr. Of Wood
stock.
For Viee Observation-Disclosures Co.
Rev. J. Steele; Windham, A. Stevens
Windsor, Rev. J. S. Lee; Rutland, Jas
Barrett; Addison, VIM. Nash; Chitten.
den, S. Huntington; Franklin, Harmon
Northrop; Grand Isle, o. G. Wheeler
Lamoille, Nathan Robinson; Orleans
Rev. L. II. Tabor; Essex, John S. Clark
Washington, G. c. Sampson; Caledonia
John Bacon; Orange, Hon. J. Atkinson
Corresponding Windham
County, Rev. J. Aiken, Putncy; Wind
sor, Del billings, Woodstock; Addison,
Ira Bingham, Vergennes; Chittenden,
j. E. Smith, Shelburne; Washington, X.
NJ. Manley, Mortified; Caledonia, Rev.
S. II. Colburn, Barnet; Franklin, A. J.
Sampson, Swanton; Orleans, l. n. Cush-
man, Irasburgh; Lamoille, Z. b. Saw
yer, Hydepark; Essex, G. T. French,
Lunenburgh; Grand Isle, A. c. Butler,
Alburgh; Rutland, B. w. Burt, Castle
ton; Orange, L. j. McIndoe, Newbury.
Executive Committee.-Rev. A. G..
Button, Lyndon; Rev. Artemas Dean,
Newbury; Rev. Silas Mexican, Brad
ford; Rev. c. w. Gushing, Newbury !;
Rev. Charles Woodhouse, st. Johnsbury
Centre; Franklin Fairbanks, St. Johns
bury; Rensselaer, Tute, East Burke.
For Ireasurer.-Freeman Keyes of
Newbury.
The Executive Committee submitted a
report, which congratulates the friends of
temperance that the principle of prohi-
bition is now clearly established in this
State" and that the Lawmakers are not
likely to ignore this principle, nor to
make alterations in the present law, ex-
ceptto improve its efficacy. The amend
ments made at the recent session of the
Legislature are approved Of and it is
suggested that other amendments are
needed.
moral suasion," it is urged, " is now
the great want of the times . and in this
we fully concur. The law may be made
as perfect as human wisdom can suggest
and yet if not well enforced, it will be
comparatively valueless. And how is a
due enforcement Of it to be secured p
No act of the Legislature can be relied
on to enforce itself There is no such
thing as seii-enforciag law" No
matter what penalties may be held IN
teTrorem over the officers under any par
ticular law, they viii not be enforced.
unless there Is a public sentiment de-
handing the enforcement Of the princi-
pie Of the law. Under our form Of GOV
eminent a law if not sustained by pub
lie sentiment, is a dead letter. Public
sentiment, indeed, makes and cRforces-
in so far as they are enlorced-all our
statute laws. But what Gre ates this pub
lie sentiment? Why, manifestly, it is
TO use a comprehensive term" moral
suas:on." Moral suasion creates in con-
munity demand for law, and in ODE
dience to that demand, the Legislature
enacts it. But this same "moral sua-
sion" has to continue its Offices in order
to secure the enforcement of the law af
ter it is obtained. To rely upon the law
to enforce itself, without this aid. is. to
tacitly iorego all the benefits ANTICIPATED
from It's enforcement. Especially is this
the case in relation TO enactrnents which
tend to prevent the qualification of mems
appetites. Appetite is a power not easily
sub lued. Ingenious and subtle, it has
eyes sharper than the lynx, to espy loop
holes through which to creep. and TINS
ana IN various ways, to evade the penal
lies o. the law. The appetite for intox-
lcating drinks exerts a powerful seductive
influence in community. Not only does
it enthrall its votary, but in the absence
OF moral suasion, it steals an influence
which day by day grows stronger-over
many who, when temperance is zeal
ously urged by moral appliances, are cir
cumspect and sober men. In other
words, there is a class Of temperance
men, who, when moral suasion is lulled
TO repose, relapse into their old habits
and this class is not a small one. either.
AT such times, the influence of even the
best friends Of temperance, is powerless.
because inactive.
lime was, when it was thought that
moral suasion need not call to its aid the
coereiTe powers Of the law, in order to
remove in time, the evils of intemper-
ance, so far as il was sunnosc5 -