Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-03-25
Alcoholic Liquor Traffic.

dietary, submitted the following Report, which
was ordered printed;
The Judiciary Committee, 10 whom was re-
ierred large number Of petitions from churches
and religious bodies, as well as from individu-
ais from different States, praying for the ap-
pontmcnt Of commission to inquire and re-
port as TO the results of the traffic In alcoholic
liquors in connection with crime, pauporism,
the public health, the moral, social and intel
lectual wel-being Of the people secondly, con.
corning prohibitory legislation in Maine, Mas
sachusetts, and other States Of the Union and
thirdly. to recommend what additional legisla.
ton, if any, would be beneficial on the part Of
Congress to suppress in the sphere of national
authority the traffic in alcoholic liquors, have
given such consideration TO the subject rs
seemed proper, not only by its intrinsic gravity
and Importance, but also from the high charac-
ter and great number of the petitioners. Upon
and as the result Of this consideration, the com
mittee herewith report bill in substantial CON
formity to the prayers of the petitioners, and
recommend its passage.
The committee also beg leave to submit, in
the form of a report, n short statement of the
reasons which have induced their rocommen-
dation.
And, first, it is material to inquire whether
Congress has any proper jurisdiction TO author
i1e such investigation. Investigations, under
the authority Of Congress, whether by com
mittee consisting Of its own members or by a
commission composed Of other persons, are usu-
ally made into the conduct Of some officer or
department Of the government, OF are Of gem
eral nature, with a view TO furnish proper in
formation to aid aud guide future legislation.
The jurisdiction here must be supported, II
at all, upon the latter Of these grounds. u
was not claimed before the committee by the
gentlemen who appeared on behalf Of these pc
tti0ns that Congress possesses the power 10
regulate or prohibit the traffic in intoxicating
| liquors within the States. We understand
them to concede that such power and jurisdic
ton rest solely in the State legislatures
But they do claim that, within the District
of Columbia, and within all the Territories I'M
der the jurisdiction Of the national government
outside the limits Of organized States, Congress
does possess full and ample power 10 regulate
and restrain or prohibit the traffic As ques-
ton Of jurisdiction, the committee do not see
how this claim can be denied OF doubted.
Whether it will ever be thought advisable or
expedent for Congress 10 exercise such power,
| it is not necessary now TO determine. Tho fact
that the District Of Columbia and each Of the
organized Territories have a local legislation OF
their own, who also have power to create such
| legislation, if sufficiently strong local sent-
ment can be created in its favor will, Of course,
be a consideration of weight when the question
arises The result Of this inquiry may largely
affect the judgment Of Congress as to whether
they ought to exercise their legislative iurisdic-
| ton over this subject within the limits where
they coniessedly have the power. But il the
facts ascertained and reported by this COM
mission shall not induce Congress to legi-ate
they may have such an important and con-
trolling influence upon the public sentiment
and Judgment within the national domain out.
side the States as 10 induce restraining and
] int la
the local legislatures. These quasi govern
ments are legally considered as but agencies
and instrumentalites Of the general govern
ment and it improved legislation by them
shall result from the Information thus gained
1t may be properly regarded as of national
benefit
The nation now derives very large revenue
| from the taxation of the manufacturer, tie i'm
! porter and the seller OF intoxicating liquors
Can it be said that our national laws on this
| subject may not properly and c0nsttuti0ually
be affected by the consideration whether the
subject-matter Of all those laws he a benefit and
! blessing TO the nation and al the people thereof.
50 that its manufacture, sale, and use ought 20
be encouraged in all lawful ways, or whether.
on the other hand 1t is an evil demon. every
way hurtful TO the nation and people, and
which should be restrained and circumsaribcd
in every constitutional mode
Tie committee believe that the results Of
this commission may justly and con-titutionally
affect national legislation upon this subject,
and that incidental protection may thus be af
lorded to the cause Of temperance and sohrety
So, too, il the information thus obtained,
covering a broader field, clothed with a robe Of
more official authority, commanding more re-
spect, and less liable TO challenge or contmdio
ton than the individual efforts and statements
Of private philanthropists have hlthert1 at
tanned, shall have the effect to produce better
State laws, or the better enforcement Of State
laws for the restraint Of the sale and use OF in
toxicating liquors, it is a consideration not to
be lost sight Of. Though this is not perhaps,
a sufficient ground to uphold the jurisdiction,
yet if the jurisdiction Is clear on other grounds
it furnishes additional reasons for it, exercise
With this short statement Of the views Of the
committee as to the jurisdiction OF Congress,
is it expediont to order this commission and
inquiry
That the evils Of ntempeTance arc enormous,
and that the Increasing use OF intoxicating
drinks is one Of the dangers which seriously
threaten our national prosperity as well as ma
tional reputation, are facts which are very gem
orally conceded. Every good citizen will give
his countenauce and aid 10 any measure which
will limit and restrain these evils.
For considerable number of years the gen
eral opinion Of those most interested to break
up and suppress the use Of intoxicating drinks,
has been that the only sure and electual mode
was by prohibiting their manufacture and sale
and thus cut of the means of supply Of those
disposed 10 drink. IN many Of the States such
laws have been passed and more or less rigidy
enforced That they have ever been or ever
/ will be enforced so strictly that no intoxicating
| liquors will be used probably no one believes
or expects but that their effect has been greatly
to lessen the consumption Ia all the States hay-
/ ing such laws the committee believe will be
conceded by every candid man living in such
States II is often asserted that the use Of H.
quors has increased 10 such States, bat the al
legation is uniformly found to come from per
sons who are hostile to prohibtory law
Toe petitioners are believers in, and support
ers Of, pr0libtory legislation and they desire
to extend and strengthen it 10 every way in
their power. They believe that a Consolidation
and aggregation of all the terrible evils grow
ing out Of the use of intoxicating liquors will
make picture so dark and fearful that
many who are now unbelieyers will be con
WINGED of the efficacy and necessity Of making
the traffic contra5dHd.
The committee believe that such a body Of
petitioners deserve the respectful attention Of
congress. They belong 10 the most intelligent
and respectable classes Of our citizens thew
are men long identified with the best interests
Of society; they are members of various re.
| lgious organizations without distinction Of
denomination They represent, too, vast num-
bers OF others who believe in common with
them, and who will look TO our action on this
subject with interest and anxiety equally as
great as that Of those who represent them. -
The class represented by those petitioners are
engaged In a department Of phianthropic ef-
fort which has long commanded the exertions
of some of the noblestand most gifted Of Amer
lean citizens as well as Of all other civilized
nations.
But there are many people in the country
who, while they deplOre the evils of intemper.
ance, and believe 10 the efficacy of legislation
as a remedy, do not agree with the petitioners
in the propriety or policy of purely prohibit
tory law They believe that all that can be
accomplished Of good by legislation must be
gained by stringent system Of license and reg
ulation
There is still another class land doubtless
among them many who would gladly see the
evils Of intemperanee lessened, who do not
believe in legislation upon the subject in any
form. They believe that the only practicable
remedy is by an appeal to the individual iudg-
mept and conscience that in no other way can
men be won to habits Of temperance and so.
briefly that in no other way is it possible to
create public sentiment that shall be strong
and efficient enough 10 make habits of intem-
perance unpopular and disgraceiul, and there.
by circumscribe and limit the evils of intem.
perance.