Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-03-22
An Ancient Temperance Lecture.

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moved that the conduct Of several gentlemen
Of the Legislature, on Saturday afternoon
last, might be inquired into and examined.
There being no accusation filed against any
particular gentleman, Mr. Clark was directed
to make his accusation in writing, and two
o'clock in the afternoon assigned to go into
hearing and consideration thereof The
accusation was presented accordingly, audit
was read and dismissed Doubtless the pub
lie reading Of the accusation was deemed
to be sufficient punishment and warning to
the offenders This document IL here copied
literally from the original manuscript
RUTLAND . Mountaineering,
Sir. As member Of the House Of Representa-
tiyes for the State Of VERMONT, & under the
strongest obligations of Solemn Oath to do every
thing for the best Interest a Honour OF the
State-l am In Conscience bound In support ofthe
Dignity Of the State the Honest feelings Of every
Citizen thereof 10 inform this Honorable House,
That ON saturday last, Mir Samuel Hitchcock,
Mr. Lot Hall, Mr.. Daniel Farrin & mir Iemuel
Chapman written, but erased came into this Hon
orable House in such Situation by reason Of In
temperance as rendered them incapable Of trans
acting the Business Of this House with Diberation
& behaved themselves In q Manner unbecoming
Members Of this ll0use-at the same time being
Sensible Of the imperfection Of my fellow crea-
lures; and deeply impressed with Sentiments Of
Esteem for the Gentlemen & acknowledging their
Ability 4 Utility sincerely wish that the Hon
orable House in consideration Of their Reputation
4 rast services; would act in this matter with
Dignity, Candor & Diliberation--& that in the
midst Of Justice, they would remiber Mercy
SAMUEL. CLARK
The Honorable Speaker Of the House Of Repri-
sintatyes
Mr.. CLARK represented Weybridge, and in
the history of that town is numbered among
its valuable citizens. Hitchcock represented
Burlington, was then attorney general of the
state, and in the next year was appointed
Judge of the District Court of Vermont by
President Washington Lot Hall represented
Westminster, and from 1894 until 1901 was
enc Of the judges of the Supreme Court ;
Daniel Fanand represented Newbury, was
Speaker of the House in l79s, and Judge Of
the Supreme Court in 1913 and 1914; and
DIR. Lemuel Chapman, of Pawlet, who seems
to have been exempted by Mr.. Clark on a
second thought, was leading member Of
the House for many years. There is evil
dence of like folly in the legislature at
Windsor, as there has often been since at
Montpelier, and this "reminiscences from the
Vermont state papers may be taken as hint
that it will not be out of order, in selecting
as representatives men most noted for wis
dom and virtue to add st. PauPs injunc.
ton Of temperance"
Now that the freak of these men, who
We're distinguished by their talents and val
liable public services, has been published
perhaps to the displeasureo of their descend
ants-it is well for us to remember that the
habits and opinions Of the people generally,
at that day, were very different from ours
That very pious old printer and bookseller
Anthony Haswell, ran distillery to work
up the surplus grain which he received foI
his books and newspapers. Governors
Thomas Chittenden, Moses Robinson, and
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pious men, and yet all treated the military
and the clergy on election day, and the STATE
paid the bills without question. Clergymer
and deacons kept sideboards filled with de
canters Of spirits and Wines of various varie
ties and the people generally were in tn
habit of mdulgng. Acting Governor Brig
hams bill for expenses Of the election da,
in 1897 amounted to one hundred and tire
dollars and sixty-six cents; and the item
were as follows dinners for military an,
clergy, forty-ive dollars and thirty-egh
cents; wine and spirits, nineteen dollars am
seventy-eight cents loaf sugar. one dolla
and fifty cents and powder, thirty-seyel
dollars. This custom was continued dow
TO the administration of Governor Van Ness
of whose wine the writer at the age of thin
teen, and thirty other boys, some Of whom
were younger, partook by the Governors in
yitation, these boys having formed par
of his military escort and perhaps eve
Van Ness successor the staunch Bal
list Elder Butler as he was called, cor
formed to the custom If he did not, h
D was brave man What, asked an oil
physician, gave our grandfathers in Norther
i Vermont the strength to clear the forests an
j subdue the earth to their use ? They ha
no meat but of fish or game, and after tim
a little pork and bread. What was it
And he answered his own question by decla
4 ing that it was rum, which was easily pr,
cured from Canada. The change in publ
!. opinion has been very great.