The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-08-06
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE
PROHIBITORY LAW.
TEMPERANCE MEETING ON
WEDNESDAY EVENING.
A MEMORIAL TO THE LEGISLA-
TURE ADOPTED.
Speeches by Hon. ID. T.. Nicholson
Hon. w. G. DuntOn, Rev. Lew
II. stone and Others.

the proposed amendments to the prohibit
tory liquor law of Vermont, goodly num-
Der of ladies and gentlemen assembled at
the Congregational chapel ON Wednesday
EVENING" TO hear the report of said COM
mittee.
Deacon +. w. Horner presided, and the
meeting was opened by singing "Corona-
ton Prayer was then offered by Ben X.
Chase, followed by j. NJ. Haven, and a
portion of the scriptures were read by
the presiding officer, after which the hymn
"Mourn for the thousands slain, was sung
to the tune of % Boylston."
The president then announced the OBJ
jects of the meeting, and called for the re-
port of the memorial committee.
HON. d. f. NICHOLSON,
chairman of the committee, prefaced the
report prepared by the committee by a
few words of personal explanation, refer
ring to the fact that at the last temperance
meeting he had taken the initiative in the
movement which resulted in the appoint
ment of the memorial committee. He
deeply deprecated any misunderstanding
which might arise upon the consideration
of any important question, as deeply i'm
pairing the good effect. He was
more deeply impressed than ever
at the last meeting with the importance of
of the movement and the necessity requir-
ed in moving at once and in such manner
that definite action should not be deferred
until too late. He was very sorry that all
were not impressed with the same idea, and
that he should be misunderstood in his ac
ton by his friends in the cause, as he was
interested only in the proper advancement
of that cause. He regretted that he was
not explicit enough to be understood fully
upon the subject, and hoped that his error
would be pardoned if any had been COM
mitted. He had due regard for the sanctity
of the Sabbath and the efficacy of prayer
in the furtherance of all good work, and
would not wish to be understood as feeling
otherwise upon that occasion. He was
always prepared to meet the assaults of
enemies, and had had lifetime of disci-
pine in that regard the enemies of this
cause were developing symptoms of thh
disease from which Ananias died, but he
was proof against any assault from them.
The memorial which had been prepared
by the committee was no argument, but a
terse and comprehensive way of getting at
the idea which was needed, and made to in
vite the attention of the law-making power
of the state to the means necessary to make
the prohbitory law more efficient. Mr..
Nicholson then read the following as the
memorial prepared for general distribution
throughout the state:
MEMORIAL.
To the General assembly Of tile State of
Vermont, October session, 1874:
Your petitioners, inhabitants of the town
of -, in this state, respectfully repre-
sent that while we regard the present pro-
hibitory laws of this state the best in force
anywhere, we believe that the same can be
improved by making them more efficient in
operation and speedy in their results, and
to that end we pray that your honorable
body will SO amend chapter "a of the gen.
. eral statutes, that the penalty for keeping,
selling, furnishing and giving away intox.
icating liquors contrary to law, shall
comprehend fine and imprisonment on each
conviction; that the owners of premises who
knowingly suffer intoxicating liquors to be
sold thereon be subject to the same
penalty as the seller that the person sell
ing any portion of the intoxicating liquors
whereby intoxication is produced, be liable
in all cases to full payment for all damages
!, which such person may commit while in
toxicated and also to said persons wife OF
minor children tor all monies paid by hin
for fine and costs for intoxcation or any
other offence committed while intoXi
Gated and also for all other proper
and constitutional amendments which will
tend to render SAID statute more effective
in suppressng drunkenness, paupersm anC
crime.
To the Rutland temperance friends il
} meeting assembled:
Your committee pursuant to appoint
ment have considered the subject and re
specially recommend the accompanyin!
as form for general memorial to tn
Legislature.
ID. E. NICHOLSON
} w. &. DUNToN, Com.
. BEN. X. CHASE.
J RUTLAND, Aug. 9Th, 1874.
) The president then announced that tn
document was before the house for it
7 action
Mr.. J. NJ. Haven moved its adoption.
9 Mr.. John B. Reynolds thought a claus
= should be inserted in the memorial maxim
20 the rum-seller liable for the time lost b
the drinker while intoxicated.
Mr. Nicholson, by request, read til
memorial second time and stated thu
- the amendment proposed was ampl
of covered by the wording of the document
n HON. W. O. DUNToN
ne said his only doubt with regard to Il
a. practicability of the memorial as propose
Id was whether the pubic sentiment in We
id mont was strong enough TO enable Il
&c officers to enforce the law as propose
The sentiment was right in Rutland count
n he had no doubt, while in other counties
ne the state he was not so sure, and instanc
at the sentiments of Addison county as bel
re- wrong on the question. In drawing t
de memorial the committee endeavored to
ne as concise as possible and good ma
lie, little things which one and another mig
lie think best to add had been left out
led committee wished the memorial to
ter to be signed as extensively as possible, a
nd If Unnecessary, amendments could be sugge
The ed to the legislative committee who wol
,ht have 1t in charge and they would ma
ere what alterations they might deem prop