Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-01-03
REPORT


D
pointment. The public mind had already be-
come awakened by the foreshadowing Of that
FIRST act of the great drama. which has since
so strongly and so intensely enlisted the
thoughts and feelings Of ALL 70 ask its at
tention to any other subject Of public welfare
than that involving our national existence.
they felt might be deemed untimely-almost
intrusive, and would not probably meet with
that response which it otherwise would OBJ
tain. This impression subsequent experience
has confirmed
But though no prominent local results may
be presented, your committee feel that the
events Of 1861 will prove to have given the
cause of Temperance a very important adj
vancement They hope that the principle
and practice Of abstinence from all that in
toxicates, as absolutely and essentially neces-
sary TO the highest good Of the state, will be
accepted and acknowledge more fully and en-
pbatically by the great mass Of the intelligent
and rejecting part of the community. than
ever. The very patriotism which has led our
population TO rise as one man to save our ma
tional life, they cannot but feel will equally
lead it, as IL ought, to become a sober, self
governed, and manly people. It is indeed
difficult to see how an indulgence in the use
of that which has been demonstrated 10 be not
only wholly and utterly useless, but positively
and absolutely injurious to every mental
moral and physical function. both of the in
dividuul and community, should not be bv
every good and patriotic citizen most marked
Is condemned.
Many things have occurred ia connection
with the trial through which our nation is
now passing, that will have an important
bearing upon this great question. The shame
less and disgaeeful scenes witnessed in our
national capital, when the national heart was
bruised by disasters were not unmarked but
reprobated by multitudcs who had not before
given this cause efficient aid. The effect
too, Of the introduction Of Intoxicating Ii
quors into the military camps has not been
unobserved, but has Weakened feelings Of stern
Indignation at such abuse of the noble and
sell-sacrifcing spirit of the people. Neither
have the efforts made by those in high mill
tary command TO correct the evil been disrc-
garded, but have been met with universal and
gratifed approval. The general order of one
commander, who has recently been so cor
daily welcomed to our state, is especially
worthy of notice and nublic coumendation
Tho ovt,act that f,lloys viII .ho fornd - I.
believed n 6tand an,,orri,,o ,,r, 81 I,;s 70
mort oIr y;o,. 81 ,t,o .l,r,,;,,,. -. :.
he rso ~ ,tis Neutrality-suspicious., -,
;r,, I;o,,,r> H., ,,o,,,r,l .ar,,.,i - M
oHiccrs ana soljiors 70 rso tho;r ,,,,,',,t ~
ertions. both Of influence and ,xar,,,I. ,o',,,o-
want tho vastin, effocts If ,t,is ~ iii
armies Tho General coror,ar1in,, d9os nnt
wish 10 conceal the fact tbat he has accnston,-
ed TO the use Of wine and otber lionors in b;s
ouarters. and to furnish tbon, IN bis frionds
but AS he desires never 10 ask cithor oficors
or mon IN under,o ary ,ri,.,,;on ,,l;.b 10
will not sbare with them he ,yilI NOT cxon,,,t
himself from the oneration of this order hnt
will not use it in his avn ouarters as no
would discourage its use in tI,o opartors n
any other officer. Amid the sacrifces NJ tine
property. health and life which tho ofBcors
and soldiers of his command are MAKING in
the service of their country. the GENERAL com
maudinr feels confident mat his 60 sl;,bt
hut so necessary a sacrifice of a INJURY ana
Wandering To annetite will be horno met
/ cbeerfpllv. now that its evil il kno,,r ana
annrociatod
This admirable "ordo, of tho d,y Nth
others interdictin, evcent for ,neJ;o.l ,.,,
poses alone, the presence in camp of any in
toxicating liquor whatsoever, illustrates at
once in military estimation the character and
magnitude Of the evil and its only practical
and elIectual remedy And this allusion to
what has trans pired beyond the limits Of the
State, is not foreign 10 our object as state
organization, for Vermont has now some
eight thousand of her citizens exposed to all
the hazards of military life. Besides why
should not this example be deemed as exem-
plary for the citizen as for The soldier--as
worthy and important for those high in civil
as in military life. If abstinence from all
that intoxicatcs and good example, is essen
tial for those in military array TO rescue oui
Institutions from their present danger and
peril, why is it not equally as important and
necessary for oil in crey department Of civil
life to do the same to perpctuate them.
Before turning the attention of the society
to what your Committee may have done under
the great and exciting question Of the day
they would express their regret at the death
among others, Of that eminently worthy and
, exemplary citizen of another State-Ex-Go
J ernor Briggs lie was at the time OF hii
death President OF the American Temperance
= Union, and man whose memory ought t.
be cherished by every friend Of Temperance
= and of his country, for in his death the caus
| of temperance has lost one Of its ablest ad
1 yocates and brightest eXomplars.
Your Committee held their first meeting il
= Burlington, Dec. 20, 1860. The Chairman
10 was directed TO secure the services of SOM