Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-11-19

At our last meeting Mr. Fred +. Smith pre-
sided The Rev. Mr.. Allen, formerly pastor Of
the church oftho Messiah, and Rev p. n. Gran.
ger agent Of the state Temperance Society, ad.
dressed us.
Mr. Allen said he heard before coming here
Of our work, and since his arrival had been
very much interested in detailed ac-
count Of the whole matter Montpelier has
taken noble stand on this subject, and is
greatly in advance of her position when re.
sided with you. The fact that in this Hall,
every Sunday evening, men and women Of all
denominations are called together by com.
mon sympathy Tor their fallen brother, and for
those who are more than widowed and orphaned,
to devise ways and means for their relief is a
credit to your christianity. II is practical
christianity. ! am proud OF Montpelier am
proud that | once had residence here You
have made the enforcement Of law possible
You have made it respectable to be temperance
men and women. Go on with that strength
and pcrsistency Of purpose, which you have al
ready exhibited, and which is really an express
sion Of your conscience your sense Of duty,
and stamps your whole work as grand chris.
tian enterprise. It is right that you remove
temptation from the young md the weak But
at the same time they should be educated by
prcccpt aud example to love and admire the
truth and right for lis own sake. The Gospel
did not DO away with law neither can the law
do away with The Gospel Make every young
man feel that he is wronging himself soul and
body, in being anything Less than the man that
a generous cultivation Of all his nober facul-
ties will make Of him 10 may be said that
Eternal vigilance 3. Tie prcc Of freedom &"
from the connminating bat dcmoml.ling in
lrenccsor the world There are those to whom
the drinking Of cider and ale would be COM
plratVely harmless but 10 many others it
would create anappetIte for something stronger,
and in the end would prove the cause Of their
destruction. 1t is the same with vanity, pride
and ambition rhatwhicb is at first innocent.
may by indulgence become the besettng sin.
and finally master OF the man Mr. Allen
thought there was no reason for calling the
prohibItory law a sumptuary measure
Mr Granger said a sumptuary law is law 10
regulator limit the expenses Of men iu apparel
TODD, furniture, etc. The prohibitory law does
not indicate iolat or h9tg much men shall drink
Any man can drink until be kills himself and
law will not Interfere. lie is at liberty IN at-
tain the state of perfect drupkenness. bnt when
that state is reached, the public peace is en-
dangered, and law provides for his confinement
The law does say that none shall sell this poisou
In large or small quantities. excepttbosednlvnp-
thorzcI. and they only for medicinal and me.
chanical puruoses fla farmer baeor ov oro r,.,,
die Of disease or by accident. he and M. c,r,ily
are at liberty 10 cat end die or live os II han.
pens and law d Ic. MD, fYellIe with hi. nriyi.
lele but when be sells il 10 bic nei,ttor iov
intorf.res So of the pois,ns arsenic strych.
nine and opium We are az liberty IN use
them d make corpses Of ourselves. if we have a
fancy in chat way. but law would not allow MS
90 peiile out these uois1ns 10 a.,i.t onr nei,b-
Dor. 10 gratifying their taste in the same diroe-
ton We may iniure Ourselves I'M any degree
and tlc law regard. &c not. but when we en-
danger our ueighbor, then law intcrieres with
Der Thou shalt not 80 one ever heard
men complaining that the law against selling
bad meat was a sumptuary law But the law
against the sale Of alcohol. what il acknovl
edged % De- "a poison. is sumptuarv law .
Which Is the cause % more deaths. crimes
taxati1n-, aud mi.ory2 80 man who has not
a selfish interest 10 it, sale. or who is not a
subject to il by bis appetite, will say our pro-
hibitory law is a sumptuary law. LAWYERS