Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-09-09
Destruction of Rum in Randolph

EDITOR FREEMAN Two bbls. of Medford
rum, taken by sheriff Allis about two wears
since. marked B. d. Chase, Agt. was, on the
18th inst, emptied into the highway in aeoor-
dance with the Statute of Vermont.
Now, Mr.. Editor, wish to ask the next Leg
lslature through your columns, if this law is
the best that can be devised by their wisdom
and genius? The liquor laro makes provision
tor the sale of the article in every town in the
State, for chemical, medicinal, and mechanical
purpose; and it is presumed that the Legisla-
ture which framed the law considered it ncces-
sary and useful for their particular purposes.
Now ask, if the article is necessary and use
full Ill the hands of State or town agent, and
proper to be sold to the people, why should the
State authorities be required to destroy the
same article when found in the hands of indi-
viduals or Corporations?
1t may be duty and proper to confscate GER
tain articles or commodities, but is it even prop
er, prudent, or Wise for q State to destroy
commodity which it recognizes in its judicial de-
clsions as not only necessary but useful? Cat
tie, horses, and merchandise has been confsca-
ted to the State, but who ever thought of de-
stroying those articles which the State count as
necessary and useful?
1t is plain simple truism, that if it is right
to sell and use the article it is crime and
waste to destroy it.
Again it makes none the less In the end by
destroying it, only encourages its manufacture
and sale, by giving employment to the pro-
Queer.
Again, if it is right to destroy the article, it
is crime for the State to sell it and duty for
the State to prohibit the sale of the article in
any drnkable form. B. w. DYER.
Randolph, Aug 25th, 1858.
DONG MIsCHIEF.-The circulation of the
New York Tribune is such that it is of consid-
cradle Importance what course it pursues in the
trying time of political strife. There are two
paths which seem open to the future of the
Republican party; one, that of high Anti
Slavery grounds, and an inevitable success
the other, a departure from these principles
and an ignomlnious defeat. One of these the
honest Anti-Slavery papers are advocating,
while the other is the policy of the Tribune,
and such papers as the Burlington Times and
Brattleboro' Phenir, and, we fear, nearly all
of the Republican papers of this State. The
cause Of this is, there is nationwide move
ment to bring in J. j. Crttenden of Kentucky
as candidate for President in 1860. Mr.. Crit
tenden was a Whig-so were all these papers.
But Mr. Crittenden is an American, and it is
strange how such papers as the Tribune, and
the lesser lights of the Catholic Times and
Phenir, with all their holy horror of anything
American, can now fall into the wake for Crit
tenden. The Tribune contends that the Repub-
lican party have always been on the Popular
Sovereignty ground of letting any State or Ter
ritory have Slavery which wanted it, and that
that was all that was asked of Kansas. Now
what said the Republican Platform?
Resolued, That, as our Republican Fathers,
when they had abolished Slavery in all our Ma
tional Territory, ordained that no person shall
be deprived of life, liberty, or property, with
out due process of law, it becomes our duty to
maintain this provision of the Constitution
against all attempts to violate it for the pur-
pose of establishing Slavery in the United
States By positive legislation prohibiting its er-
istence or extension therein. 49,
That we deny the authority Of Congress, of a
Territorial Legislature, of any individual or
association of individuals to give legal existence
to Slavery in any Territoryof the United States,
while the present Constitution shall be main
tanned.
Resolued, That the Constitution confers upon
Congress sovereign power over the Territories of
the United States, for their government, and
that in the exercise of this power, it is both the
right and duty of Congress to prohibit in the
Territories those twin relics of barbarism, Slave
ry and polygamy.
Now any less positive Anti-Slavery grounds
than this will work but disastrous defeat to
the party, and it behoovcs such papers as the
Tribune to look we'll to the matter.