Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-11-30
REMARKS OLE MIR. SMITH.
Of 81. AlJans, IN the House, Noe. %. on II
Circus Bill.

REMARKS OF MR.. SMITH,
Of 81. AlJans u, the House. Noe. %. on III,
Circus BW
1t was not my intention to have made any
remarks upon this question, but rather to
content myself with a simple vote in favor Of
the bill, believing that all would award to me
at least the merit Of having voted conscicn-
tiously, and for what / believed to be the
best interests Of the State. and of the con-
stituency which | have the honor TO repre-
sent But, sir, the course Of the debate upon
the other side, and the mputatons which
have been cast unfortunately upon all who
have voted in favor of the measure. have loft
me no alternative but to vndicato myself
from the charges made by the gentleman from
Jamaica, and others who have spoken adverse
ly to the bill. Sir, | will not conccde to the
gcn lcman from Jamaica any more earnest or
ardent desire 10 guard and protect, in every
form and at every avenue, the morals Of the
State than ! myself have. will 20 shout
der to shoulder with him in any and every
honorable attempt to preserve untarnished the
pure character and figh moral position Of my
own native State Sir ! cannot fully sub
scribe TO the doctrine Of the gentleman from
Royalton, that we are here to lcgislate only
for posture good. | believe. sir that it is our
duty to legislate against cell, and for the PEE
vention of evil, even though no positive good
can ensue. And it is in this view of the
case, sir, that | have been led. after mature
consideration, to record my vote in favor of
this bill. Sir, have ever been an earnest
and active opponent to the repeal of the law
prohibiting the circus in this State And
when, in 1853, had the honor of a seat in
the other branch of this Legislature, | earn
estly opposed that repeal. But, sir, for the
past two years it has been my lot to occupy
position where have seen, in a more direct
and clear manner, the operation and working
of the evil, and, as a result of this observa-
ton, my mind has been led to the conclusion
that to remove positive and greater evil, it
is better a matter Of State policy. and as
greater security to the public morals, that
this law should be repealed. and that the cir
Gus should be admitted within our borders
This, sir, may, and probably will, seem to
some paradoxical, but, sir, to my mind it is
none the less real and true Why. sir, let
me ask any one at all conyersant with the
working of this matter for one moment to
call to mind the scene that is enacted in our
State every year, and often in the year when
these exhibitions surround our borders. along
in New Hampshire from Massachusetts, to
Canada line. at all the principal towns and
villages on the border Of this State, thence
through Canada along on our borders to New
FORK State, thence down on the border of the
Lake, at every principal village. For weeks,
perhaps, before the day appointed for these
exhibitions large and attractive bills of adj
vertisements are thrown broadcast along the
whole length and breadth of this State. Now
sir, witness the scene On the morning of
the day appointed for the exhibition, starting
from the very heart of the State from early
dawn 10 the hour Of the arrival Of the trains
at the several stations, see the teams come
pouring in might almost say by hundreds
From hill top aud valley they come the young
men and women, the sons and daughters OF
our people. Sir, have seen trains of twelve
and fifteen cars passing my own village, load
ed to their utmost capacity with people COM
ing as far even as from Mortified to attend a
circus at Rouse's Point, away from home,
freed from all restraints, separated from that
watchful care and guardianship ct parents
and friends which is ever and always SO neces-
sary for the young. Sir, my heart almost
sickens at the scenes that myself have wit
messed as have seen these trains return la
den with their living freight. As station af-
ter station is reached, such scenes of drunk
enness, of riot. Of debauchery as |
never desire to see again. have seen young
men, whom never saw drunk, or even knew
that they ever tasted liquors, come home IN a
state of beastly drunkenness. / have seen
parents watching at the depot till late into
the hours of the night, waiting the return of
child, his only hope. All sir, | have
seen that parent sad and heartbroken, leading
his child to his home, beastly drunk have
known young men, now on the road to ruin,
with habits of intemperance fixed upon them,
whose first mistep, whose first taste was ac-
quired at one Of these exhibitions. And
why, sir, why is it that these results follow
Why, sir, for the simple reason that in New
York New Hampshire and Canada there are
no wholesome prohibitory liquor laws as we
have here, but liquor flows freely and in album
dance, unlicensed and unrestricted. Now.
sir, the case is presented to my mind ia this
aspect Admitting the erd Of the circus, as
freely do, what ought we to do as con-
seryative men, looking TO the welfare Of Yer
mont and its best interests There seems to
my mind but one course to pursue, and that
Is to admit the circus within our own borders
and bring the evil within our own control
bring 1t within the wholesome influence OF
our prohibltory laws; bring it where our Sc
iONN"Oh may tAeIuiht some control over II,
where the hallowed influences Of parents and
guardians and friends may be thrown around
our young men and restrain them: where a
sound and wholesome public opinion may re-
strain the evil, and divest it Of one Of its
worst outside concomitants.
For this reason, sir, that we may bring the
evil within our own control, have felt com.
PEELED, as the best way and viewed in its NOR,
"A m f,A he
could get rid Of it altogether, drive it ava,
from our State, | would most cheerfully ior
in any effort to accomplish it; but as il sur.
rounds us completely on every side, and We
are subjected to all its worst evils, feel
thai a. good citizen, and desiring only the
highest welfare Of my State. can best pro.
mote its Interests by bringing this evil under