Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-04-02
M ISC E L L A N Y.
PROHIBIT0RY LIQUOR LAWS.

InUHlDllUhl DlQUUh LANO.
To the Editor Of The Vermont Phenir In
your tissue of Feb. l2th 80, find the report
of committee appointed at a meeting in Brat
tleboro on the 1lth of Jan. last, to take into
consideration the cause of Temperance in this
county, signed by j. Chandler, Chairman.
That the cause of temperance has received
aid to any great extent from those who would
be thought its greatest friends is.perhaps some
what questionable they seem to have great
desire to carry their principles of Temperance
Reform" through the instrumentality of Penal
Enactments which the Legislature of Vermont
has passed with a view to meet their wishes
and desires, and yet with all this power they
are unable to check the speed of intemperance,
which in some measure they attribute to the
unwillingness Of thvse whose duty il is 10 l,rus-
ecute offences against the law. This reluctance,
no doubt arises in part from a belief of the
"unconstitutionality of the law" The law le-
galises the traffic by Towns which it refuses to
individual citizens, and Furnishes with severity
as a crime what they practice themselves under
the Act which gives to them the monopoly df
the traffic.
The act legalises the destruction of spirit in
the hands OF an individual without remunera-
tion and also subjects him to fine and impris-
onment for doing what they do themselves,
while at the same time the constitution guaran-
tees to all, liberty and property-therefore, can
1t be considered matter OF wonder or surprise
to any one that those conversant with the cen
stitutlon shouid consider the Ia" Nioiauoh oi
that instrument
There Is possloility mat the present lem
perance men,, as they call themselves, do not
understand the feelings OF the people OF TINS
county with regard 10 tneir dictathg 10 them
what they shall drink y and II the case is as they
state IL, "that the use Oh spirit Is on the IN
crease would 1t not be beneficial to the COM
munity II they were to abandon course which
they admit mas proved so injurious TO the cause
Oh temperance.
Complaints are also maze against the agents
OF their own appointment .or lhe SAFE OF spirit
uous liquors. ihc aot ot.oi.ee,'pia'es the s,le lor
necessary purposes. anu Vi 'hat hecessi'y the
agent must oe tne Juuge.
You seem now 10 nave arrived at point
where II IS necessary or desirous 10 know VIVA,
you snouid ao' or what can DC uohe. shouid
think IL no nara question 70 answer II .he case
Is as you slate ~, 'na' i,e .auso VI i.'e;nPel.
ahce Is aiar"iiheiy on ,he ..''icase' Is ho'
reasonable TO suppose tnat IL arises IRON your
own co-ercive measures 10 suppress II throuSh
the instrumentaiity OF penal acts which the Leg
islature OF vermont IN tnelr WISDOM thoSght
proper to incorporate INTO our laws we ifee,
iy ADMIT that you nave come 10 one ratiohai
conclusion, which Is, that you are hot pound 10
40 what is impossible neither are you pound 10
40 what Is injurious 10 the cause VI temperance
out that you nave injured inc cause is very ap-
parent, Tor you say every goou cause mas its
strength IN the anecnons Oh the people wmeh
you admit yours mas lost mat you nave peeh
the instruments OF doihg any goou 10 .ne COM
munity there may De serious douo's-lhaI you
nave 3eeh the cause Oh evil cannot perhaps DC
denied go,
we cannot avoid the conclusion that you are
mistaken as to the independent character OF tne
ireemen oil TINS county, ana Una. 'ney now re-