The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-11-18
DEBATE ON THE LICENSE LAW.
In the Rhode Island House ei Represem,a.

DcpAr rE oN THE LICENSE LAW,
IN the Rhode Island House ot Represemfs
| l.. tires.
OCTOBER SESSION
On Mr.. Bull's motion to repeal tho 70
gallon set.
Mn. IiAILk, Of Warren, said, il has bee
complained by gentlemen on the other side
mat there was an excitement prevailing, o
ms subject. which they were extremc,
aesirous to remove, in order 10 place thing
where they were, before this excitcmcn,
" by excitement was meant the efforts nov
making in the cause Of temperance, he 70
one, rejoiced tha, there was such an excite
ment, nor did he apprehend that il wouIt
De IN the power ofihe gentlemen, or ofthi.
General Assembly. to do away that excite
ment and revive The views thar were for
neflg entertained in reference to tho use OF
Ss-iont spirits. But il by excitement, the
gentleman alluded TO any out door infu.
enee TO deter members from acting as they
deemed correct on this question for fear OF
their popularity, he felt no concern what.
ever on that point. So far, said Mr.. II. as
II regards my immediate constituents the
continuance or repeal of this law can aifec,
ihem but very little. They sell but little
spirituous liquors, and drink less; aud sir
u The restrictions that exist or may exist
10 the extension ofthe use Of ardent spirits
may have any influence in promoting the
public good, even at the expense Of por
'ion OF the revenue, ] am confident that
they are willing TO bear their part of the
bniden. do not, however. believe tha,
the revenue derived from licenses, is at all
diminished by the existing law. II was
found difficult to enforce the law not to
sell under one gallon without a license,
while any person might sell that quantity
without license. There seemed to be an
inequality in the operation Of the law,
which required the existing provision, ms
much for the benefit Of those who paid for
The privilege of ofrelailing, as for society, by
rendering a detection Of the yiolators Of
the license law more certain.
But the greatest difficulty with the gen.
tieman from Newport, is this out door ex.
cl,emcnt. do not profess, sir, to act here
from the influence OF ont door excitement.
utf,om the dictates Of my own conscien nee,
and ny convictions Of what | believe To be
right. ! regard no out door excitement.
bnt, cir, IL there is excitement on this sub.
Ject you cannot do il away by Legislation.
II is agreed on all hands that intempernnc o
ts an evil in this State; Ills . great evil in
this country. The gentleman seems to
think that this evil will be increased By the
lstcmpcrs.e MEASURES adopted to check il.
suppression, and Il certainly has done much
ia accomplishing this, BY the very means
which the gentleman condemns. Let pub.
lie opinion regulate itself. There may be
q difference Of opinion as to the best means
TO be employed, and one portion of our cit.
izens may consider that they are villiisd
snd traduced by another. ! should be sor.
ry, sir, to see any such impression prevail.
ing. But, sir, If the gentleman has been
abused, if he 10 injured in his feelings or
business, this is not tho place 10 come for
legislation upon his private grievances.
We have nothing to do with tho abuse BY
one citizen ofanothey citizen. For oil such
personal injuries the Courts are open for
redress.
Mr.. Bml-We shall be driven 10 attack
the whole system, (the license lsw.)
Mr.. King--I so understand il. The
course the gentleman is now taking, will
directly lead to this. II would in fact bt
better 10 repeal the whole license law, AND
leave every m m to sell ss hs plesses, than
10 repeal the sct under considerations then
introduce the bill with which the gentle.
man is prepared TO follow up that repeal, or
by the repeal Of the present law, revive the
former act.
Mr.. King here went into an examination
OF the impvac,icability Of Mr.. Bulls pro.
posed ACT, TO give discretion to The Town
Councils 10 average the price Of licenses,
so as not TO exceed seven dollars.
MR. SIMMONS, Of Johnston, had no idea
that this General Assembly would counie.
nance any attack made upon the whole
system the license law. as was threatened
by the gentleman from Newport. lIe was
in favor Of q revision Of the present laws
II was important 10 have an uniform system
The. revenue too. ought 10 be replenishcd
from ths source, IL 'he evil must exist, end
he hoped the Committee would consider
the propriety Of increasing the proportion
which the S,nte receives from each license
Nr. T.. X. Porrss made a speech on
the same side with Mr.. Bull, bu, as II is %
difficult for us 10 satisfy Mr.. p. we do not
like TO venture on reporting It, except IL
very general terms. Mr.. p. praised th,
toWb vi ffovlosnce, hno totbWoHteu VII
paragraph in the American stating tbs
there were 200 tippling shops in the place
which he said would require 1000 tipplcr'
10 support them. He also deprecated the
existence Of this excitement relative te
Temperance. and wss anxious TO legislatc
or do something to get rid Of il. and TO pre-
vent this abuse Of the town Of Providence
by ils own newspapers. lie went into q
history Of the late war with Grea, Britain
which he sOid settled nothing, and disap'
proved of the treaty OF peace. tTbis Was
quiie out of character, IN Mr.. p. who GER
tainly forgot that he now ranks as tho lead
er Of tie "Rrpubiieon party" in Rhode is
land. and of course ought 10 consider The
late war as perfectly jostinablo and gIo
rious affair.
Mr. u wanted Ia have a drnwn bat