Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-11-12
Temperance.
for nc wa,chman aud state journal.


be easy to make them efficient but some
are not. They evado and disobey. Espcc-
tally is this so when passion, morbid and
sensual appetites, and the love of money de-
mand qualification. For this reason the best
judgments of men arc often at fault in dovis-
ing such laws as will prevent wrong. II is
so with regard TO liquor laws. The indis-
criminate sale ofintoXicating liquors for drink
ing purposes, produces so much misery, vice
and crime, that no man can portray or com
prehend the amount A single dram, like a
stone dropped in a smooth lake, may begin
ripple of influences which will produce wave
after wave, sweeping onward and downward,
widening and deepening, not only through
time, but while eternity endures. But so
many appalling consequences have been seen
and felt that good men have for a long time
sought remedies in restraining laws. The
traffic has been restricted to a licensed few
but these few were found amply sufficient to
keep the torrents of evil in full how,--and
they did it. Nothing was gained, except that
the people learned to acquiesce in prohibition
and require its application to the masses
Rumsellers became distinct, privileged class
--rumselling distinct, business monopoly,
authorized and established by law BY de-
grees the conviction gained ground that to liz
it, If the law can make it right for a fc,c to
engage in a business coniesscdly destructive
to the best interests of mankind why is it not
for al and right too, without law If
wrong for the many. why not wrong for all
Can legislation make wrong right; Entire
prohibition was but natural sequence fol-
lowing from the principles already embodied
in law Strange 10 say many who made no
objection to this principle, when applied to
ninety-nine in hundred. became suddenly
enlightened jealous Of human rights-and
Jealous for the integrity Of the constitution,
when the one hundredth person was put on
level. with the nincty-nne They did not
seem to know that the right to prohibit one
includes the principle which, with cguairight
may and must be extended to all Either we
have ma right to prohibit the sale Of poison
Gus liquors for drinking purposes, OF the right
is entire and unlimited.
Our liquor law is defective in its provisions
respecting commissioners and town agents
When its opponents can elect the commits
sioner, which they sometimes do by the help
or neglect of its professed friends. it gives
the power 10 establish county and town grog-
shops, in which, by combination to oyade
the law, great amount of liquor may be
sold, contrary to the intent of the law, and
this too by its own officials and under color
of its sanction Besides the qualification felt
in thwarting the purposes of the law and its
friends the law itself creates a chance worth
struggling for, whereby the liquor selling
business may be monopolzed and its profits
secured to a few, by the election OF a com
missioner who will connivc at and continue to
effect this purpose. Here is temptation,
virtually bribe, which is seized, and will be,
while the law holds it out
For instance-lhe town agent is directed
to conform to such rules and regulations as
the commissioner shall prescribe; but the
commissioner is not obliged to prescribe any
rules, good or bad Or he may require, as
condition Of holding the agency, that the
agent shall buy all his liquors of some en-
ployees, or business partner, or otherwise fix
it so as secretly to share in the profits of all
the liquor sold in the county. The law also
provides that the agent shall give bond "to
the commissioner" and furnishes form but
as If intended expressly to stultiy itself, 1t
also provides for a notification of this provs-
ion by foolshly embracing the conditional
cause-''if required by the commissioner"
So, if he wishes to have the greatest amount
of liquor sold, and share in the profits, he
probably will not require bond ] appre-
bend the enemy sowed this tare while the
friends of the law were asleep.
Again'-the law eXpllcltely uirects Una. inc
money received by the agent ior safes shall DC
PAD INTO the town treasury. but Tor not 40
ing TINS no penalty Is provided no security
IS gwen to the town, nor to the county unless
bond Is given. And II gwen, 1t IS ITO the
commissioner, payable ITO the county =
lie may, If he chooses, buy and sell on his
own hook and pocket the profits AS he is
not Obliged to keep any account OF his pur-
ehases or Sales the town cannot KNOW unless
at his option, the amount OF either. The
town has no remedy,
SO the selectmen are directed to prescribe
specific sum in money for the agents com
pensaton' But what II they do not happier
to know their duty, or neglect, postpone, on
forget 1t What if the agent refuses to agree
to the terms proposed Who has power to
compel him lie Is still an agent. lie sells
under anthority-has given no bonds-keep'
no accounts of sales, and defes them.
With everything thus at loose ends respec-
ting the agency the law is like good fence
around mans lot, except that the bars ar'
left down in sight OF unruly cattle, and NJ
one is obliged to put them up 1t is next t.