The Washingtonian., 1845-06-28
EXECUTION OF THE LAWS.

any mere captious or tault-hndng spirit. Nor
is it our object to throw unnecessary blame
upon those who are charged with the execu-
ton of the laws Many violations Of law
occur, where il is really impossible to reach
the offender; and in other cases, the proper
Executive officers not being possessed Of the
great attributes of Ubiquity and Omniscience,
remain in ignorance Of such violations. Other
eyeslook upon the evil-other individuals are
aware that the wholesome provisions Of law
are treated with disregard-but these feel
themselves under no obligation whatever to
become the agents Or instruments in securing
conviction, and having the proper penalties Of
the law exacted. They will grumble and
complain of the claws delay"--the claws
uncertainty"--th failhlessness Of officers-but
are not willing, themselves, to be seen or
known in any effort to secure the due execu-
tion of law. They are afraid Of their popu-
larity, and are not willing to incur the hazard
of being branded as common informers. Who
has not seen and known Of such violations day
after day-violations, too, involving the best
interests of society-without ever supposing
that they were under the slightest obligation
to do any thing, directly, to arrest the evil
And why should this be the case? Is not
every member of the community alike inter-
ested in this matter? Feelings of personal
ill.will, hatred, malice, revenge, should never
be permitted to influence our conduct on occa-
sions such as we now name. These can only
exist in the minds of the weak, the depraved,
and the dishonorable. The brand of infamy
should be stamped upon the forehead Of any
individual who, 10 crafty any such feelings,
would seek to inflict the laws penalties upon
offenders. But where the course of conduct
is, manifestly, against the true interests of So
ciety-where public order is outraged
public morals are impaired, and in open vio-
lalion Of law, the flood-gate Of evil are thrown
open, then, we insist, that it is not only the
right, but the duty, of every patriot, philan-
thropist, and christian, to invoke the exercise
of all laws, constitutionally adopted, for the
suppression of such evils. 1t may bring
upon them the displeasure Of others-it may
result in some personal inconvenience-nay, it
may even involve heavy sacrifices; but still,
for the best interests of society, men should be
willing to forego some advantages, and to
submit to some personal discomfort.
Who, if he knew that an enemy was in the
midst Of the camp, would hesitate to proclaim
the fact, aud poiat to his hiding-places Who,
if iend in human shape, went forth at mid.
night to poison every well and fountain Of
water-who that knew the monster, and his
place of concealment, would not be ready to
proclaim the fact, and incur the odium Of
being " common informer?"
Let US apply these remarks to the case we
have more particularly in view.
By an ordinance Of the City Councils, ap-
proved by the Mayor, all Taverns and Ordi-
naries are to have their bars closed on the
Sabbath day; and all other persons selling
Intoxicating liquors, are required to have
their places OF business also closed, on that
day, under certain penalties distinctly stated.
Now what is the object of this law! Does
any man, not Immediately interested in the
sale of the drunkard's drink, whose patriotism,
whose philanthropy, whose christianity is
not measured by the pallry consideration Of a
few halfpence, hesitate TO pronounce this a
just and wholesome law! Was it not loudly
called for by evils "seen and known of all
men," who have resided in our midst for any
considerable time? Was it not right that the
desecraion Of Gods holy Sabbath, in the par
ticulars here indicated, should be prohibited
If the corporate authorities Of the city were
not prepared to do more, to restrain the evils
of intemperance, were they not justified, at
least, in what they have done in this par
ticular
And what has been the result of this action?
We pause for reply. A partial reformation
has taken place. Some low groggeries have
been closed on the Sabbath. A few offenders
have been tried and convicted. But, (and we
speak it with pain,) the evil has not been
cured. No attempt has been made to enforce
the law, in many instances, where it is known
to have been violated. There is certainly a
"screw loose" somewhere. Why is this
failure7 Temperance men rejoiced in the
passage Of the law, regarding it as the har-
binger of better things to come. But, alas
for their hopes, they have nearly perished, at