Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-03-02

proving for more than thirty years past, that
temperance societies do exert an influence
more or less powerful upon the traffic in in
toNieatlng liquors through the concern they
have IN creating uneasy conscionces in many.
both Of dealers in strong drink and the ioyers
thereof
Here are six reasons for tempericnce soci-
cites and sixty more might be given we're il
necessary and did the time permit
There are probably multitudcs Of slumbcr-
ing or dead Temperance societies in our State
some probably in this county Of Rutland.
They do not seem to be regarded as realy
dead for their deaths have not been knelled
by our church BELLS nor their funerals attend
ed, nor names enrolled in the dead list. And
probably they are not dead. One thing how
over is very certain, they are in a sound sleep
and of course do nothing. Some Of them
may have been having maps of some years
length Rip Van Wiukle maps, snorcd away
in "Slccpy Hollow" And when walked up
they may find themselves rather "stif in the
joints - and that IL will take little time for
them to get limbcred and ready to move and
do something. But clap these sleepers upon
the shoulder and wake them up, and help
them upon their fcot and bid them look at
the broad daylight Of these times Of reform,
and at the much yet 10 be done And it may
not require long time to get them ready for
even more effective action than aluretimc.
And it is respectfully submitted, whether the
revival and reuvenation OF an old society
may not even be preferable to the organiza-
tion of new one. There is represented in
this meeting, Mr. President to-day. the
Washington Temperance Society of Fair
haven which went TO sleep, it is supposed,
about the year 1913. seventeen years ago
even with a catalogue of 17G members. And
last evening that society walked up. opened
its roll, counted its living and resident mem
bers, and found them to be 50. And that
society is here to-day sir, in life and good
health. in the persons of its President and
Nice-President, and appointed representa-
tiycs, and some Of its other members ready
to bear a part with you, in helping on the
good work in this county. And it is hoped
that society will not soon fall asleep again.
The second and only other point Of remark
upon which you will be farther detained, Mr.
President, is, the indispensable necessity that
our town temperance societies shall 60 into
efficient and courageous action in the support of
the LaU Of this State. for the prevention Of
the traffic in intoxicati ng liquors as a bever-
age Several of the States, in their legisla-
/
ioct and object before them and in different
forms and to varying degrees of extent have
contemplated restriction or prohibition. In
no State, probably has higher and frmer
ground been taken than in Vermont with
laws better framed to accomplish the great
object Of securing the temperance of our citi-
zens and the eradication of the evils of in
temperance. Not that our State laws are yet
perfect; but as time aud experience suggest
/ improvements, and temperance men keep
awake active and watchful, they will be made
what they should be. Even now they com
pare favorably with the laws on this subject
of any other State in the Union. The CON
stitutionality Of our law, and Of similar laws
Of some Of our sister States, has been settled
by the State Supreme Courts, and affirmed
also by decisions made in The Supreme Court
Of the United States. We have, then, all
we need to ask, as concerns legislative and
judicial basis on which to act in making head
against the traffic and the evils it creates
But, is the presence of our State laws, in
good set English upon the pages of our stat
ute book, enough Has the enactment and
publications of this law commanded the re-
spect and obedience of all our citizens, of
course Are all the people of the good State
Of Vermont such lawreyerencing and law
abid;ng mon that fbev have At oncn and e,r
o,,ar ce,sod c,or, ,bo oTancos n.LioL -; a.
s;,,nod - arrost. WI 49, nnt Lnou, .te.
,boro ,ro IN oyorv nloco mon ,rho ha," ,bf'
lay. a,5 ,.onl5 hintit ont or ov;s,ono'' ;e
tGor oanId and uho e 49,, oon ,,;li aisl
daro 20 ,;oIo,o Il, ononi, - ,b"n oan H. =,
,yitb ,,nnnni,v socretl, r. ,hor canno, La,a
MAJ n';tIs IN an,, o,hor ya, NJ ','Io .ha.
reads Vorn,on, no,ysrono. ~ ,.oIIeeo 'e'''
doos no, GnJ nvido,,oo 60. ,roat ~, ,t
oro mon ---a,o and so,oe yemen Zoo vboso
meat drink trade dcligbt and de,crr,;,nfions
arc ,o set at nauybt this Law In hoavv nro.
norton. these are neonle not 10 bo rcasoned
with on tbo matter.-Gor thev reason vorv In.
flo on anv moral snbiect and core not rnr
reason and will not hear il Nor can tboir
consciences he annroacbod to ofect on tho
snbioct for tbo;r consc;cncos arc os said
pa1I Of some in his dav .soarcd as with
hot iron h" Nor can they he affected bv cnn-
sidorafions rolotivo IN tbo trne ;ntercsts of
tho nnblic and their own interest as mart Of
it. for tbev care not for the nnblic Good and
have M ewes to see their own Interest ex-
cent as it consists in MAKING money which
tbcy can soo and oonnt evory right. rnonoy
III h. a., ,,L;L o.,,. ,.I5, -