Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-03-02
WHOLE NO. 27S5.


who will set at defiance this law, to complain
Of its execution This law has not been
made in hurry; and to bo vexation to
good citizens engaged in a lawful business.
The public mind here in Vermont as else
where, has been for several years preparing to
take the step Of making such a law The
time finally came to do it, fearlessly and
thoroughly. The assembled wise and good
men of Vermont, in Legislature convened in
1852. and bound by their oath to make all
their euactments in conformity TO the great
principles Of right and justice, and to the
Constitution of the United States, and Of this
State, and in harmony with our law already
enacted, had 1t for their duty to deliberate,
and form just judgment relative to the light,
both moral and civil. in which should be re-
garded the traffic in intoxicating liquors,-a
traffic which this and other States once fa-
vored, legalizcd, permitted, and protected;
and under which regimen had become formed
and prevalent, public sentiment in its favor
1t was the duty of the Legislature to de-
eide whether the traffic was thonceforth to DO
treated as being criminal, for whatever pur-
poses or criminal for some purposes, an
right and proper for others. SO far as, for
certain purposes, to be regarded as necessary
and right, the Legislature was in duty bound
to frame the law as to legalize, permit and
protect it for those purposes. On the other
hand, so far as it was to be justly regarded as
detrimental to the public welfare, and thu,
criminal in its nature the Legislature was
bound to declare it SO, and to frame the law
for its prohibition, and afhxng penalties.'-
Under such circumstances, and with grave
and serious responsibilities to answer, what
did Vermont, by her Legislature do She
decided, enacted, and duly published TO her
citizens that for mechanical and medicinal
purposes and, as regarded the juice of the
grape, for use by Churches in the sacrament
of the Lords Supper; the sale of liquors
was right and proper; and provided for tn.
license and protection Of their sale, for these
specific purposes, and for no other; and tina.
/ for the purposes of drink, they being hurtfu
| to health, morals, and the public good,-their
sale for such purposes must thereafter be held
criminal. And tho State put upon it her
stern prohibition, under pains and penalties
thus bringing it within the sweep of he
criminal code, as other acts, declared to beia
the nature of crimes.
What, then, is the duty which the State
enions upon all her citizens Truly, that
they stand by her in the maintenance of this.
as much as any other Of her laws concernn
crimes. She does not put the matter upon
the ground of expedency, permission, or ad
vice but on the high ground Of duty, pos
tive. And never, since the year 1852, has it
been civilly or morally right, or safe, for any
man in Vermont to violate this law himself.
or to see it violated, without complaint to
countenance the neglect of its enforcement
to the exemplary punishment of all violations
of this, as well as of other laws against
crimes. The position, therefore, in which
every citizen stands, in relation to the State
as respects this law,-and especially every
member of a Temperance Society,-is that of
one bound to bear his part in maintaining it.
In this County Society we are especially con-
cerned in the duty of the pledged friends Of
Temperance within our bounds. Here is man
who is a member of Temperance Society,
and who is also a sworn freeman of the State.
What has this man done First, under
the solemnities of his oath, before God and
men, he has bound himself to support the
constitution and laws of Vermont. Secondly,
he has made a special and solemn profession,
under his own signature of his principles as
temperance man; and pledging himself
according to the intent Of any good and COM
prehensivo Temperance pledge now in USE
to abstain from Intoxicating liquors as bev-
erage; and to do all in his power to discoun-
tenance and prevent their use for such pur-
poses in the community. With questions of
seli-interest, expediency, policy, convenience,
&c, he has nothing to do; for the State of
Vermont has his oath, and the Temperance
Society has his pledge and he is, by his own
acts, shut up-legally on the one hand and
morally on the other-to the plain duty Of
acting for this law against all violations of it.
known to him personally. And he is shutup
without any way of escape from such respon-
sibilitios, consistently with clear con-
science, and just views of his duties as a citi-
zen Of the State.
1t may so happen, true, that this citizen
and member of a Temperance Society does
not become personally cognizant of any of
fense against this law of the State, and thus
may not be proper person to enter a COM
plant, or to appear as witness. But to
such an one let it be said in that hour in
which you, in any way, become personally
and positively acquainted with violation of
the law Of Vermont, entitled, ''An Act to
prevent traffic in Intoxicating liquors for the
purpose of drinking" in and from that same
hour the State of Vermont holds you, by
your solemn oath, responsible concerning the
violation of her law that you do whatever
your personal knowledge of the same shall
have prepared you to do, as complaint to the
proper authorities, or as witness for the pros
ecution before any court to which you may
be summoned and you haze no escape. Ad-
ditional to these obligations, if you are under
the religious vows OF protesting Christian,
in any denomination, there is yet another
bond upon your conscience to which you
must be faithful, as you value the peace of a
clear conscience, and your spiritual safety and
standing in the sight of God.
The position, then, Of citizen and mem
Der Of Temperance Society and of chris
tian, is a responsible and thus a serious one.
Let it be carefully and conscientiously stud
led its duties understood, and preparation
made aud habitualy held for conscientious
and unninching performance. And, Mr.
President and Members of Rutland County
Temperance Society, let retire from this
meeting to our homes and spheres Of influence
and effort with this point distinctly and firmly
settled in our minds, for our individual gov
ernance that the maintenance of the Ner-
mont Law in question depends not upon any
Inherent efficiency Of its own. leaving us only
to look on and see it execute itself; nor upon
that non-descript personage-the pack-horse
to carry timid mems burdens-"dnybody bit