Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1838-08-31

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The NEW License LAW IN MAssAcHU-
SETS. Our readers are aware, that at the
last session of the Legislature of Massachu-
sets, a law was passed by an immense MAORI
ity, prohibiting the sale of Ardent Spirits in
any less quantity than fifteen gallons at one
time. The law was to take full effect in April
next. This measure as was TO be expected,
has highly excited the Indignation of those en-
gagged in the liquor traiiick, and they are now
making'great efforts to procure the repeal of the
law. For this purpose a great meeting was
lately held in Boston, at which resolutions
were passed denouncing the law, and a COM
mittee appointed to draft a manifesto on the
subject. This document, signed by several in
dividuals Gall of them however, men engaged
in the Spirit irade,) has been published, and
is in course of circulation through the state,
and no pains will be spared TO procure the cleo
ton of such persons to the next Legislature as
will be in favor of the repeal.
On the other hand the friends and advocates
of the law are not idle. They too have had a
meeting in Boston, and issued an address to
the people, setting forth the necessity for and
the advantages TO arise from the act, and ex-
posing the s~ophistry of the Grocers' manifesto.
We understand that the next state election
will turn in a great degree on this question,
and a gentleman from that state informed us a
few days since, that there was no doubt the
administration party were prepared to make
the most of the excitement on the subject.
The great argument relied on in opposition
to the new law is, that it is unconstitutional to
prohibit a traffic which has been so long car
ried OH. Nothing however could be more
weak and ridiculous than such a POSITION
Who needs to be told, that one great object of
government is to guard the public health, NOR
ais and pecuniary interests' II is an inherent
right in every community IN protect itself from
the infection of evil upon it, by individuals or
classes of its members. II is in accordance
with this principle that, we find in all our stat
ute books, laws restricting individuals from
practices, and from business too, which are
contrary to the public good. a man." it is
said, " has a right TO sell ardent spirit il he
+ p~lcases, but no body is obliged to buy" And
has he not the same right to sell lottery tickets
and obscene books and printsi And yet our
laws prohibit the latter. You say ga man has
a right Ia keep n house or store for carrying on
the business Of rum selling, and is not res
ponsible for its effects on the community, and
the Legislature has no right to forbid it," But
has not a man the same right to keep n house
of ill-fame, or open n room for the resort of
T gamblers and provide them with the means of
INDUCING in their immoral practices! Yet the
Legislature prohibits the latter. And why!
Because The public good requires IL. Expert
ence has shown that such business and such
practices are subversive of good morals end
tend to h einiury of the community, and there
fore the community by their representatives in
the Legislature, exercising an inherent right
require that individuals should refrain from thus
promoting their private interests, at the ex-
pense of the public good. So it has been de-
monstrated in a manner as clear as possible,
that the sale OF ardent spirits inficts an injury
on the morals and habits of the community
OF a most appalling character. Facts show
that it is the cause of seren-eighths of all the
crime and pauperism OF the land. And shall
/, not the community be allowed 10 protect Itself
, against a business which tends to destroy theiI
property, their morals and their lives;
r. Again; ifone man has an inalienable light &c
q pursue this traffic, then every other man ha;
the same right, and we should like to know by
what authority our Legislature has so lone
undertaken TO regulate and restrict this trade
Who gave them the right to require a license
, for carrying on this business; and to demand
: pay for it too! What, require a man to get
license, and pay for the privilege Of doing wha
he had an inalienable right to do before! VIVA
tyranny! And how can this Legislature say
that one man may sell and another shall not
This is creating a monopoly with a vengeance
This is a granting Of special privileges, a
which we all may well revolt. iii is a profit
v able business and useful to the community, al
e should be permitted to engage in it. We mar
vel much, that with all the horror which tn,
d Locos feel of monopolies, this has escaped tn,
n attention of that patriotic party
What the result of the struggle in Mussa
d chusetts will be it is impossible to foresee, bu
many intelligent men believe the law will b,
sustained. In several of the most populou
i counties there are large maiorities in favor o
g the law, as was manifested a few months sine,
y in the election of County Commissioners whic!
was contested on the principle involved in tn,
law. For a year or two past there have beer
y no. licenses granted in those counties, and tn
effect has been very apparent in the communi
ty. One thing is certain, that If the law cal
" be sustained till its operation can be tested
there will be no danger of repeal, so long a
~ ola ACKNOWLEDGMENT. - - 4