Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1839-01-17
MISCELl EE0 US.
JUDGE REDINGTGN's CHARGE.

II cannot be disguised that large guam
tities Of strong liquors are retained IN 'n'"y
nar,s of the country. OF the p"'icy or
bract,ce ofthose town officers, WI" gra''
licenses, have no cen>u'c to express ..
They are the legitimate judges. bu'
there he persons who retail without license
their procedures must give occasion 'of
thoughtful inquiry on your part. gent e"'th
of the jlry. relative to your oo''g"''o"S' III
view ofthe oath you have jn>t taken.
II is true the statute does permit the pen
Mites to be recovered by acti'n "l de"'.
Rut for obvious reasons that mode ra''''"t
he relied upon. to any considerable extent
As rs MI important purposes, II Is through
The action o'the Grand Jury Of this court
alone. that,he Inv can be enforced. II Is III
the power of the Grand Jury I" nn''iiy 'he
faw. Whether they haye the moran ''e"' '"
10 do is for them TO decide
Ii \ remark Of frequent occurrence '''"'
This owl is one which public sentiment Il
lime can correct. Without stoppn! TO con,
s;Jer how applicable the same remark
NAV he TO riots, larcenies and all "her
offences, we may well inquire, how II Is TO
he ascer,aned wha, the public sentiment on
this subject Is.
T, Government like ours when the pco-
ME. by their delegates, meet every yea, I"
make necessary amendments IN tue law
IL. surest indication of public sen''inr hts
IA the law itself, especially On subjects t"
which attention is frequently called. ~"
me,bml is known for obtaining inoie PEE
nary or convincing lie 'timony. fr"" the
foregoing recital of enarimen's' II IS aPpa'
rent that this subject has bee, under the
review of tho Legislature with sufficient
freouency. And yet, Penal enactnrnts iof
,es,r;ct;,p the sale of strong drinks, has
Neon the unyarying motto ot the Govern
mon, fran the origin Of our legal institution
Eor aim ,st two centuries the public them.
selves have made it the duty oil courts Oh
law to carry this primo pie into effect
Traffic in ardent spirits, has oeen
note of alarm to rally together, II, one
long continued resistance, the gooo a"a
the wise among our ancestors iot several
generations Aud the sam" wntchNord mas
wa;u, u,ea the same old principle. by
overwhelming mi ,rti"s, upon the statnl"
book. to the present hour; thus dtm"nStra'
ting that public sentiment IN favor "' The
law has existed in unbr"krn power 'nr"u! y
successive nges of our community. WIN
what proprie,y then can we be '"ld That
nublic sentiment Is against the Jaw:
II must here be adnnted thai numerous
retitions. presented to the last Legislature,
40 show a wide spread desire for some
change relative to the sale of strong liquors,
as drink. Let it however be remembered
that these petitions do not propose any M
fringmen, OF the old princii l., but mn ex'Fn-
sion of it. They ask total prohibition at
the traffic, with penalties TO enforce that
prohibition.
Refore such change should be called
for. il may well he asked whether the pro-
visions of the present law ought not TO he
fully ,es,eds If enforced, they may ac-
con,ptish the desired purpose. The pro-
nosed law if enacted, could not he executed
without the concurrence OF the Grand
Jury. Now if the present law. through
preyailinp belief in its severity. OF any re-
iuctance of the Grand Jury, cannot be car
ried into effect, it is not easy +" see nov Il
law, still more prohlbtory or penal Is 10 be
enforced.
Another inquiry is here suggested. II
may be taken for granted that pnoic SEN
timent would prefer that there should pc
some restrictions upon the traffic. Gould
such sentiment be made operative and
effectual, wIihou, the aid of penalties pre-
scribed by legal authority?
The devastating. demoraizing and cru
el character Of the traffic has of late years
been disclosed in floods of light. Aud yet
the traffic continues. Appeals and discus
sions through the pulrit and the press. in
personal importunitics and p "testa'lons,
have been urged in vain upon the minds,
the hearts and the consrienccs OF some,
who. to enrich themselves, still rcmrn the
willing and active instruments Of the sui
ferincs and vices of Others.
What reliance can be placed in the pow
er Of public opinion ovcs the man who