Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-03-31
From the Montpelier Wstchmau.
An Ancient Temperance Lecture.

sitiye
From tie Montpelier Watchmau.
an Ancient Temperance Lecture.
The Journal Of the Vermont House of
| Representatives shows that on the morning
Of Monday, November ). 1872, MIR. Clark
moved that the conduct of several gentle
men of the legislature. on Saturday after
noon last, might be inquired into and eX-
amlned. There being no accusation filed
against any particular gentleman, Mr..
Clark was directed 10 make his accusation
in writing, and two O'Clock in the alter
noon assigned 10 90 into hearing and con-
slderatlon thereof The accusation was
presented accordingly, and it was read and
dismissed. Doubtless the public reading o
the -" accusation was deemed to be suih-
cient punishment and warning to the often
/ ders. This document Is here copied literal
ly from tie original manuscript
- RUTLAND 5NoTember-I792.
Sir As member Of the House of Rep
resent4tiyes for the state OF VERMONT, u
under the strongest obligation OF q Solemn
Oath to DO everything for the best Interest
Honour Of the State-I am in Conscience
bound in support OF the Dignity of the
State d the Honest feelings of every Citi-
zen thereoi-to inform this Honorable
House, That on Saturday last, Mr. Samuel
Hitchcock, Mr.. Lot Hall, Mr.. Daniel Far
lin & Mr.. Lemuel Chapman written. but
erased came into this Honorable House in
such Situation by reason Of lntemperanee
a. rendered them incapable OF transacting
the Business of this House with Dilibera-
ton a behaved themselves in Manner IN
becoming Members OF this House-at the
same time being Sensible of the imperfec-
ton OF my fellow creatures and deeply
impressed with Sentiments of Esteem for
the Gentlemen * acknowledging their Abil-
Ity u Utility sincerely wish that the
Honorable House IN consideration OF their
Reputation x past services would act in
eratIon-& that in the midst of Justice,
they would remiber Mercy.
SAMUEL Glars.
q" The Honorable Speaker of the House Of
Representatives,.
Mr.. CLARK represented Weybridse, and in
the history Of that town is numbered among
its valuable citizens. Hitchcock represent |
ed Burlington, was then Attorney General |
OF the State, and in the next year was ap-
pointed Judge of the District Court Of |
Vermont by President Washington Lot |
Hall represented Westminster, and from |
1874 until 1901 was one OF the Judges of !
the Supreme Court ; Daniel Farrand rep
resented Newbury, was Speaker of the
House in l79s, and Judge OF the Supreme
Court in 1913 and 1874 and DR.. Lemue
Chapman, of Pawlet, who seems to have
been exempted by Mr.. Clark on a second
thought, was a leading member Of the
House for many years. There il evidence
OF like folly in the legislature at Windsor.
as there has often been since at Montpelier.
and this reminiseence from the Vermont
state papers may be taken as hint that it
will not be out OF order. in selecting as rep
resentatiyes. men most noted for wisdom
and virtue, to add St Paul's injunction
OF " temperance.
Now that the freak Of these men, who
were distinguished by their talents and val
liable public services has been published
perhaps u the displessure Of their descend
ants-lt Is well Tor u to remember that the
habits AMI opinions Of the people generally,
at that day, were very different from ours
That very piOus old printer and bookseller,
Anthony ilaswell, ran distillery to work
up the surplus grain which he received for
his books and newspapers Governors
Thomas Chittenden, Moses Robinson. and
Paul Brigham (actlng Governorl were all
pions men, and yet all treated the military
and the clergy on election day, and the State
paiu Tue Dlils without question. clergy |
men and deaeons kept sideboards filed with
iecanters Of spirits and wines, of various
and the people generally were in
The habit OF indulging. Acting Governor
Brig ham 5 bill for expenses of the election
lay in 1897 amounted to one hundred and
'hree dollars and sixty-six cents and the
tens were as follows dinners for military
md clergy, forty-iiye dollars and thirty
light cents; wine and spirits, nineteen
dollars and seventy-eIght cents; loaf sugar,
me dollar and fifty cents and powder.
hirty-seyen dollars. This custom was con-
inued down to the administration of Gov
rnor Van Ness, of whose wine the writer.
t the age Of thirteen. and thirty other
'oys, some of whom were younger, par
ook by the Governors invitation. these
'oys having formed part of his military e.
ort {; and perhaps even Van Ness success
or, the staUnch Baptist. Elder Butler" as
&c was called, conformed to the custom. Ii !
e did not, he was brave man What"
sked an old physician, gave our grand
athers in Northern Vermont the strength
0 clear the forests and subdue the earth to
heir use ? They had no meat but of fish or
anne, and after tune little pork and
read. What was it ~ And he answered
is own question by declaring that it was !
'Iln. which was easily procured from Can
da. The change in public opinion has been
cry great. s