Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-03-25

candid man living in such States. 1t is
often asserted that the use of liquors has
increased in such States, b. the allegation
is uniformly found to come from persons
who are hostile to a prohibitory law.
The petitioners are believers in, and
supporters of, prohibitory legislation, and
they desire to extend and strengthen it in
every way in their power. They believe
that Il consolidation and aggregation of all
the terrible evils growing out of the use
of intoxicating liquors Will make picture
so dark and fearful that many who are
now unbelieyers will be convinced of the
efficacy and necessity of making the traf-
fic cOntraJand
The committee believe that such n body
of petitioners deserve the respectful atten-
ton of Congress. They belong to the most
intelligent and respectable classes of our
citizens: they are men long identified with
the best interests of society; they are MEM
bers Of various religious organizations
without distinction of denomination. They
represent. too, vast numbers of others who
believe in common with them, and who Will
look our action on this subject with in
tere>t and anxiety equally as great as that
of those who represent them. The class
represented by those petitioners are engag-
ed in a department of philanthropic effort
which has long commanded the eXcrtions
of some of the noblest and most gifted of
American citizens as we'll as of all other
civilized nations.
But there are many people in the country
who, while they deplore the evils of intem-
perance, and believe in the efficacy of le@is-
lation rs 4 remedy, do not agree with the
petitioners in the propriety or policy of a
l.
all that can be accomplished of good by leg
islation must be gained by a stringent sys-
tenn of license and regulation.
There is still another class, (and doubt
less among them many who would gladly
see the evils of intemperance 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 Judgment and conscience
that in no other way can men be won to
habits of temperance and sObriety; that in
no other WAY is it possible to create pub
lie continent that Shall be strong and eff
cient enough to make habits of intemper-
ance unpopular and di>grlceful, and there
by circumscribc and limit the evils of
intemperancc.
The committee find no occasion now to
discuss these various views and theories OF
the subject.
Whatever may be the best mode of meet
ing and combating the great evil. whether
by legislation OF BY bringing the power of
public opinion to bear against it, Il full and
comprehensive knowledge of the extent of
the evil is essential.
Those who claim that legislation is the
only mode by which the traffic cun bee stop
ped or circUmecribel, admit equally with
the others the necessity of creaJng II right
public sentiment, rs no law on lhc subject
not upheld and sustained by the popular
Judgment would be of any avail. 1t is IN
this view. in part, that the petitioners ask
this investigation TO be made, and in the
same view the committee recommend it.
that by Il more thorough knowledge Of the
evil greater wisdom may br obtained I,
devise remedies.
Your committee are unable to see how
the inquiry proposed can meet with any
reasonable opposition. 80 far a. they know
there is no anti-tcmpcrIncc party in til,
country; no party that : avowcdlyin favor
of the misery and degradation AMI rcunom-
! il waste Of intcmpprance. The only issut
made in the discu sion of the question i,
as to the best method of promoting tenn
/ pcrancc reform.
This commission is also to oinvestigate the
facts rs to the actual working of these diff
/ ferent forms of legislation, and ascertain :,
far as possible, what remedies have, by
/ experience, proved most efficient.
Your committee think it is most i'm por-
tant to ascertain the umolnt of money in
vested in this traffic; the amount of money
it brings into the treasures, State and ma
tional, and especially from what CLASSES OF
society and in what manner this revenue
is derive t.
1t is important for the people to know
the influence of this traffic upon morals
its relation to crime and criminals; its re
lation to paupcrS and pauperism; its rcla
ton to industry and political economy, an(
its relation to health and length of life
If such a commission should find. rs Il
result of their labors, a. your committed
apprehend they may find, that the sixty
millions Of revenue collected from til,
liquor traffic and put into the United State
Treasury actually cost the people of til,
nation. in industry, in health, in length o
life, in taxes. in the maintenance of law
in provision for pentcntilries and poor
houses and hospitals. many times tha
amount, it may well be asked whether thi
is 4 wise economy, and whether there ma
not be Il bcftcr tcay to supply the public
purse.
If such commission should find, rs voul
committee apprehend they may find, tina
the traffic in intoxicating liquors is de
structive of morals. makes men bad citi
zens,~ unreliable and unproductive mem
bers of society and demoralizing in thei
influence, makes bad husbands, bad father
and bad sons breaks up families, provoke
quarrels and generates crime, is it not i'm
port;tnt that these facts should lee know
to the people?
If these facts should be established, n
individual or class could complain if loca
. legislation should cut off gains derive
from Il traffic which saps the foundation
of the State; which undermines the mora
, character of the people; which make
needful expensive safeguards agains
, crime and expensive appliance for it
punishment. If these facts should ne
be established, no mans occupation
threatened to be put in jeopardy by the in
, quiry.
1t has been suggested against the aul
thorizing of this commission that the ~
complained of is already well-known IN
well-understood, and that a report of sue
a commission could ad nothing.
1t is true that every person knows ind
vidual instances, but very few know any
thing of the vast aggregate of the cos
crime and suffering occasioned by it, IN
would be appalled, by its presentation.
has been said, too, that the informatio
can be collected by State agencies and b
associations of private Individuals who ar
Interested in the reform. To Il certain e1
tent this is true; but the State agency
too narrow in its scope. AMI the report
and statistics gathered by individual ASS,
Citations nave; mo althorlt ,Gve voice, AMI III
always open to the charge that they AZ
the partial judgment Of over-zealous I'm
flnatical reformers. The evil is nations
in extent and magnitude, and the whol
truth of the subject ought to be show
with the guarantees Of official responsible
, ity and authority. so that, to whateve
remedy it may point, no doubt shall exis
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