The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-10-06

rT-It seems impossible for one who
does not favor prohibition to speak OF
temperance agita'ors without indulging
in contcmptiblcs slsndcr which they
would he ashamed TO rchcarsc against
any other class. An example of this
tendency is to be iound in Col. WIN. &.
llnlbrook's very interesting and excel
In book, "A Narrative of The Service
Of the 7lh Regiment of Vermont Nulun-
tCcrs," noticed in these columns last
week. 1t is related how the regiment,
after leaving New Orlcons went into
quarters at Pensacola, Fla, in the late
autumn of 1862, and found Gen. Neal
Dow, the author of the Maine liquor
law, in command of the fort. 1t is re-
lated that il was customary at that time
TO issue rations of whisky TO the men
"whencver they had been subjected TO
any unusual exposure" and rs they
had had a wet passage TO Pensacola, a
rcquisition was at once made for suit
able allowance of whisky. Gen. Dow
refused to approve of the rcquisition.
The author, who evidently approved
Of the whisky, thcrcupon goes on to re-
tail the following slandcrous stuff
which, as will be seen, is merely hear
say, and unsupported by word of
proof.
"This great apostle of temperance, |
am happy TO say, was not destined TO
larry long with us, for in few weeks
he was ordered to New Orleans, and
| assigned to a command near the city.
where, il reports were true, his attach
mcnt for silver spoons became almost
as great rs that which Gen. Butler is
reported 10 have had.
pcnsaHc;ocIa, had discovered a great
fondncss for pianos and miscellaneous
articles of furniture, of which he had a
large and interesting collection at his
quarters. Numerous predatory raids
| had been made into the adjoining
towns; and when we reached Pcnsaco
Ia it was said that the looting had been
so effective that but little if any valua.
BILE furniture had been left in all West.
crn Florida. subsequently, near Porl
Hudson, this pseudo General was takci
iprisoncr. 1t was reported that Tho
| rebels offered to exchange him for sil
pianos, but the proposition seems no
to have been accepted, and he was,
believe, afterwards exchanged in thl
| regular way"
1t will be observed that this i all
rehearsal of what might be mere CAM
jokes, but so expressed rs to show the
authors personal animosity against tht
| temperance apostle, and his desire to
injure his good name. Ne know moth
g 81 GG g 9IroSakW vi S ahGGGRhGsc oha
from this book, but we are tamilia,
with the style of contemplate slandtl
which seems instructive with every
champion of whisky when speaking o
temperance advocates, and the abov,
is an admirable specimen. Gen. Dow
is not directly charged with being
thief, it is only "rcported' that he in
uui-SN IA i'iH'tlCco NliCii Wou'
expose him to the contempt OF dcccn
people. rms is for the purpose %
showing that Il temperance man Away
possesses some infamous qualities I,
ioilsct his temperance principles, an,
make him out more contcmptiblc thai
the average drunken criminal. Ii
other illusions to Gen. Dow the author
shows the same animus.
We submit that if Col. IIolbrool
knows that Gen. Dow is or was a THE
and fiji object for the popular con
tempt. it would have been more worth,
OF him as brave soldier TO say 81
directly. Shetering himself under
second hand hearsay in the wav no doc
induces suspicion that he knew hi
lnsinuations were untrue, and that ht
desired to iniurc a fellow soldier at th,
expense of truth for the sole reason
that that soldier was temperance man
We regard this attack upon Gen. Dow
'as most unhappy blot upon an ether
wise valuable history.