Piney Woods planter. (Liberty, Mi. [i.e. Miss.]) 1838-1840, 1839-02-23

10 ill Brduu JuTlcS, anu also 10 Dl0u OV-
or for trial all who may be reported as
violaters.
Sec. 9 provides for the amount and Sc
curity Of the inn keepers bond, and al
SO that all taking out licences shall take
an oath ',not to sell or to permit to be
sold al his house, or on his plantation,
any vinous or spurious liquors in a
quantity smaller than one gallon, and
that when sold in the quantity of one
gallon, he, she, or they will not permit
the same to be drunk in the house, or at
the place where sold.
The above is but the brief summing
up of the intent of the law. The Sc
cond section we regard as palpable
and unconstitutional violation of civil
rights. 1t is in these words:
2 Be it further enacted, that it shall
not be lawful for any person to sell or
retail any vinous or spurious liquors, in
less quantities than one gallon, nor suf.
fer the sanscor any portthereot to be drank,
or used, an or about his house.
This is an outrageous i1fraction OF
personal libertyrnaking it penal for a
man to 60 into his closet or any where
elseabout his, house and drink himself
or giveto his friends any spirituous or
vinous liquors. IL he should drink but
a single glass before evidence he would
be liable to presentment by the grand
jury and all the fines and imprisonment
which the law provides.
Where. the habit of drinking in small
quantities is so general as in most parts
of our state, it is worse than idiocy to
expect to put down the pernicious
practice by an inquisitorial and oppres-
sive law. The state of public opinion
will not bear the rash measure without
course of those more potent moral
appliances addressed to voluntary rea-
son and the good sense of mankind.
The Governor has not, as far as we
know, approved the bill. Should he
do so. and should it pass into law of
the states, we shall Of course publish it
and feel prepared to prove that it will
do positive injury to the cause often
pcrance and good morals, and become
dead letter in its practical operation!
The most ostensible object of the
friends of the law would seem to be ex-
treme ulraism on his subject. The re-
ward only will be that some score Of
three penny temperance papers will
cry "hus1a for Mississippi! See how she
thar is washed from her wallowing
i'll the mire Of drunkenness is now
white-washed, and got pretty de-
cent?' This may be said, but, under
the new law it will be difficult to proue
any such thing.
Every one must recollect how much
the State was lauded for the wisdom
of its legislators when the law was pas
sed to suppress duelIing, prevent street
fights and concealed weapons being
carried. BY that law a duelist is dis
franchised, heavy and severe penalties
to be visited upon the man who carries
concealed weapons or fights in the
street. Was it wise to pass such law?
Let the facts answer. If "a man Of
small means and the lower walks of
life violates this law, the grand Jurors
are sure to find him out and punish
him, but the man blessed with wealth
and numerous influential family con-
nections may trample upon all its pro-
visions with IMMUNITY, and no present
ment follows. An instance occurred
in this city very short time after the
passage of this law, and many more
since.
Not only has public opinion set at
defiance this law, but the very -legisla-
ture that framed it, sanctioned its vio-
lation by granting absolution to a dis
tinguishcd gentleman of Kinds county,
now member of the Legislature, who
had violated its principal provisions.
This same gentleman is the father of
''the gallon law" We are aware that
he abstains entirely from the use Of
vinous or ardent spirits, and commend
him fo' his zeal in the great couse Of
moral reform, but he should remember
that the severity ofa IasO prevents its ere-
cution, (as in the case Of the ''duelling
law.') until the public mind shall have
been prepared for it by the exercise Of
moral influence and the elevation of
the moral standard. If such exerticns
be made and people cease to drink
vinous or ardent spirits, we shall not be
troubled much with "tippling houses"
Free Trailer.
Gen. l.. A. Besancon, has resigned
his office OF Bank Commissioner. This