Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-01-07

"But shall we trust to the law to do the whole work
Having the best law, with its most certain execution
may we expect the whole evil will thus be eradicat-
ed, and the whole community be made secure to vir-
tue and temperance? Can successfully egislate
away any vice? Not at all, and least of ALL the vice
Of ntcmperance"
The above is an extract from the report OF
the Executive Committee of the Vermont Tenn
perance Society, and it is pregnant with sug-
gestion. 1t comedies what we believe to be the
mistake under which many Of the advocates of
the prohibitory liquor law have loborcd during
the seven years that have elapsed since its en-
actment. Upon the passage Of this law en-
thusiastic and well meaning temperance men
expressed and undoubtedly entertained the con-
viction that the evils of intemperance were soon
to be done away with. They congratulated
themselves that the door to improper indul-
gence in intoxicating drinks was closed and Sc
curely fastened. Acting under this belief they,
measurably at least, folded their hands, as if the
mission in which they had been engaged was
accomplished.
In the indulgence Of this as it now appears
premature graduation, the ardent admirers of
prohibition overlooked the great fact that in
this country law is but the expression of public
sentiment, and consequently when any statute
is enacted, the reasonabeness and propriety of
which is called in question by half of the peo-
pie, or by any considerable minority thereof, its
execution will always be difficult and doubtful.
Take the so called fugitive slave law of 1850,
for Instance. The majority of the people of
Vermont are undoubtedly opposed to taking
any part in restoring negroes, who may escape
from their Southern masters, to slavery and
it is owing to this public sentiment that the law
is practically nullity. On the other hand, the
almost unanimous sentiment of our people is
opposed to murder, arson, burglary, theft and
other kindred vices. So unanimous is this
conviction that even those who have violated
the law will seldom or never question its pro-
priety. There is a very large proportion of the
people of this State who do not believe in the
principle of prohibition; and in this class may
be found some of the most thorough and con-
sistently practical temperance men in Vermont.
The law does not abridge their privileges nor
conflict with their necessities or the indulgence
of their habits. They honestly believe that
spirituous liquors may under certain contingent
cies be used to advantage, and that for such
uses sale thereof should not subject man to
criminal prosecution. 1t may be that they are
wrong in their notions and that their Judgment
is at fault. If so it would be well to correct
these notions, or to take them into account
while legislating upon this subject.
But the greatest difficulty that has been met
by the cause of temperance is the total neglect
of moral influences in the substitution of legal
suasion. The committee well say that legisla-
ton will not make an Incorporate man temper
ate. In and of itself law and its rigid execu-
ton will not make perverse man upright nor
a rogue honest. The best it can do is to re-
strain those who are viciously inclined that hon
est people shall not suffer from their vicious in
clinations and propensities. 1t is only by pre-
cept and example that men are made better
If intemperance is on the increase among the
young men of this State, as the Committee
seem to think, it, in our Judgment, arises from
the neglect of those instrumentalities which
first gave an impetus to the temperance cause ;
and through which most of its beneficent work
has been accomplished. Men ever have been
and ever will be unwilling to be driven in the
path of rectitude.