Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-05-08
THE LIQUOR LAW.


The laws Of the State ought to be obeyed
by the People. II a law Is a bad law let it
be obcycd until ii is legally repealed, II it
does require us 20 do that which our con-
sciences forbid US to do. We assume that
there men IN this State whose con-
sciences forbid them to obey tho Prohibitoty
Liquor Law.
Ihislaw aims TO prohibit the sale and use
Of intoxicating liquors beverage-to
prevent inebriety and drunkness with their
thousand evils. Its object then Is good
one
Secondly, this law provides that liquors
may be sold for certain useful purposes, by
Town Agents, TO be appointed by County
Commissioner. The law especially designs
to ohlbit the Town Agents from selling Ii
quors TO receive the profits on their salcs.-
The design Of this provision is that the Town
Agents shall receive a salery for their services,
and that the profits, ON the sale Of liquors, if
there Is any, over and above the expenses and
paying the salary of the Agents, shall 70 into
the Town Treasures The object Of this
provision is. 20 remove from tn minds Of a.
gents the Temptation to sell as much liquor
as they ran, In order 10 make as much profit
they can.
Thirdly. it is Of the utmost Importance
that the Liquors 10 be sold, by Town Agents,
for Medical purposes, should be pure and free
from noxious. poisonous drugs. To accom-
plsh this object. the Commissioners Of the
last two years, adopted the plan Of having
the Liquors for the County, furnished by
some one responsible House, having a large
deposit, kept at Montpelier, and these liquors
tested by a Competent Chemist. The under
signed, has concluded to continue the same
judicous course. The liquors, for sale by
Town Agents, in the County at Washington,
during the ensuing year, will be tested by
Competent Chemist, and will be furnished to
Town agents at Montpelier.
It's important that there should be suffi-
cient number Of Agents in the County, so
that all persons who are disposed TO be law
abiding citizens-who dislike to purchase Ii
. quor OF illegal dealers-may be suitably ac-
commodated, and not to be compelled to pur-
chase of those who are selling contrary TO the
laws of the State. Where there is no Town
Agent, it furnishes an excuse for illegal deal
ers, and tends to break down the law, and
create public sentiment against it. Tenn
perancc Man and a iaw-abiding citizen will
not buy liquor Of any man, but Town Agent,
4 It he can possibly avoid -. In the Town or
Northfed, as an instance, during the last
year, they have had no Town Agent and
we are fully convinced that the tendency of
this state OF things is, to encourage liquor
dealers to sell, and others to purchase liquors
Of them. Hence every such Town ought to
have place where liquors for medical pur-
poses can be purchased, of legal Agent,
and, not compel those who need them to buy
Of illegal dealers.
Lastly, the Law orght to be executed
against all illegal dealers in liquors, so as to
suppress the entire illegal traffic, or at least
Us far as possible. Liquor selling and in
temperate drinking have greatly increased in
this County, it is believed, during, the last
year.
lntemperanve is now on the increase. Tenn
peranee men have relaxed their efforts for the
cause. The War has claimed the almost ex.
ciuslVe attention, thoughts and anxiety -four
7e'uzens. But, this great and alarming evil
our midst. ought to claim, a share of our
attention. We hope, therefore, that, while
'he County Commissioner, shall endeavor to
see TO 1t that good liquor is furnished the
.own Agents for medical purposes and while
ie snail endeavor to see to it that such liquor,
a'o sold as Iudiciously as possible, the people
'peoSny, the friends Of Temperance, will
wv she'f influence to suppress the illega
tanlc' 1t Is of the highest Importance tc
's ~eiafe OF community that the sale and
liquors should be confined to the pur.
Posos, spaeited by law The Commissioner
"Ppea's 10 all good citizens to aid in this ne
sos'"'y work OF Reform--in the endeayor te
rP'eSs one OF the greatest evils of tho age
ELI BALLou, Commissioner