Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-12-31

Went of agents ana the SAFE OF liquors III lhtH
several counties is the best method to secure
the faithful administration of the law. In al
most every county in the state full vote
will insure the election of an upright, reliable,
straightforward temperance man. But as
this election comes in connection with the
March instead of Frccmans Meeting, there
is seldom a full temperance vote, unless spe-
cial effort is made to bring voters out, while
on the other side the vote is almost uniformly
full SO sadly true is it that the friends OF
virtue and temperance and good order arc less
vigilant and for the accomplishment of their
purposes less self-denying, than their oppo-
nents. The result is, that in many counties
it seems to be altogether accidental whether
a temperance or anti-tempcrance commission
CT is elected In some counties there has
been a regular alteration--a temperance man
one year. an anti-temperanco man the next
With one exception in no year have all the
counties elected temperance men. This year
five of the fourteen commissioners are oppos-
ed to the law
The consequence is, there is not a uniior-
nity in the administration Of the law through
the State, nor in the same counties from year
to year. temperance men carefully guarding
and enforcing the law--anti-temperance men
studiously disrcgarding its provisions and
rendering them a practical nudity. Tins
ought not so TO be, nor ought we to be eN-
posed to the liability of it. To remedy this
several methods might be proposed We
might elect at our annual Freeman's meeting,
single commissioner for the whole state,
selecting for this office the most judicious, eff
fccnt and reliable temperance man we have.
1t may be said that this brings the subject of
temperance too directly into the arena of po-
litics-a thing which we have studtously
sought to avoid. The reply to this is that
it no more brings the subject OF temperance
into politics Ca elect commissioner i'm this
way. than it brings the subject of common
schools boy popular vote, as Is done m many
States We assume that prohibition is the
settled policy of the State. II any party
chooses to oppose it the responsibility is with
that party The friends of temperance cam
not do otherwise than maintain the ground
already gained.
II the election of a single State Commits
sioncr is Objectionable, commissioner for
each county might be elected on "A general
ticket as Councillors were elected under the
old Constitution. Or it might be put into
the hands of the Governor, with the advice
and consent of the Senate, TO appoint an Off
Ger or a board of officers to do this work. AL
most any method will answer the purpose, by
which the voice of the State shall be one voice
and the law alike faithfully enforced in every
county and town
We also think that the provision in the law
/ of Massachusetts, which declares the illegal
sale of ardent spirits nuisance nuisance
which the Chief Justice of that State has de-
cdcd may be abated without process of law
like any other buisance-mght safely be en-
grated on our law.
An earnest effort was made to bring these
several subjects before the Legislature at its
last session, but with no successful result.
We bring them to the consideration of the
Society for such action as may be Judged best.
But after all that may be done in the way
of legal cnactments, it amounts to nothing II
the friends of the law do not see that it is en-
forced 1t may be perfect in its provisions
as the Decalogue, but if through the neglect
of its friends it remains a dead letter, it is
: not worth the paper on which it is engrosscd
, 1t is the certainty and promptness of its exc
cution that gives to law its power and make
, it a terror to evil-doers. And in regard {,
no law is this more emphauoally true
than in regard to a prohibtory liquor law
The intense love Of gain on the one hand ant
the terrible appetite on the other make bot
r the buyer and seller well nigh desperate il
e this lawlcss work, nothing but the ccrtaint
3 of experiencing in all its force the penalty d
i law will terrify them from it. With the Ger
j tanty, therefore, with which the steel ira
y clinches the foot of the wolf that trod upon II
@ should the penalty of this law come upon 1t
e transgressor. If it brings pecuniary ruin lc
t it.come BY his neiauous business he
# spreading ruin in its most appalling ior
3, through community and it is uuspcakall
d better that one such man should be pccunia
e rily ruined than that whole commuuit
if should thus suffer. 1t is a schy and not
e healthful sympathy that deals leniently wit
T such transgressor. Neither the demands
n justice nor humanity are answered by 1t.
e is unkindness TO the guilty and uhdelity {
c the community. 1t may be an unpleasant
y task, but it is stern duty, from which "
y may not turn innocenty away. And 1t
It Just here in the neglect OF its friends, in
timid and vacilating policy, IN total wal
1t of corporation and concentration of iniuenl
1t and power, that our present law in many l'
d caties has been crippled and rendered we
1t nigh nugatory May we not hope that tn
IT folly of the past will teach us wisdom for th
y future.
d But, with the best law upon our statul
re book, aud its most certain and rigid excel
j. ton. there will yet remain a vast work to /
At done by individual and associated effort to il
N fuse and maintain right moral sentiment d
this subject. While, therefore, we seek
n perfect the law, and TO enforce it to the lie
ty ter, we may not abate OF or a tittlc of OF
r cndea,ors to persuade men TO shun the pat
m of intemperance as the path Of death; and
he he temperance men out of principle, out of
'y sincere and intelligent regard to their own i
be tests, the welfare of society and the deman,
b. of Gods law. Enforced or constrained Writ
te is not virtue. To be genuine and abiding,
Is must spring from a willing heart, an intel
Sc gent and cheerful acquesonco. In order
en- this, there must be line upon line and precc
DIS upon precept The influence of the iami
ch and social intercourse, the influence Of d
n school, the pulpit the press, and the ball
NJ box all must be combined and made to be
upon it and abide upon it. The young, esp
zee cially demand our care. They are peculie
W, ly exposed TO tins form of temptation
pc false step taken in youth is very likely to
to- false step for life, From childhood up, tn
dis should be disciplined in the school of Writ
pit and temperance, of absolute selt-control,