New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-05-02
Tne pefeat OF the Excise Bill.

The Defeat OF the Excise Bill.
After the whole vitality OF the New Excise Bill
had been taken out of II in Committee OF the
Whole, by vote Of Is to II, the subject came up
again in Senate on Tuesday evening, and Gen.
CLARK Of Washington Co spoke on 1t as follows.
He tells some truths TO the majority of the Senate
which they would not hear or heed from U.S. but
which they will hear at the Ballot-Boxes if not
elsewhere. II must no, be that the interests OF a
few thousand dealers in Ardent Spirits shall have
power to stifie the voice of Tw billisas of Peo-
pie. 1t must and will be that the People will
claim and obtain the power OF deciding whether
the Rum traffic is not, In their judgment, per-
nicious and dangerous to Society, and therefore be
restrained by law. But hear the Senator from the
Fourth:
Mr. Clark resumed his remarks on the general
subject of the bill. He desired again TO call the
attention OF Senators to one point upon winch he
had dwelt yesterday. He said then, and he now
repeated, that the action OF the Senate yesterday
would, if persisted in, give political character to
this bill. The measure had been petltloned Tor by
many thousands OF the people of the State, without
regard TO politics, religion. age sex. 1t had been
passed 10 the Assembly, where parties were nearly
balanced, by very large majorIty about equal
number OF both parties voting for and against the
bill. But how was ii IN the Senate? Upon the
of one political purity, voed TO kill the bill For tins
act therefore, the dominant party would and should
be held responsible. He knew that this was not
palatable truth for his political friends here. Bur
it better that they should hear and heed now,
than wait until they returned 10 their constituents.
He repeated, therefore, that for the defeat OF this
bill, if it to be defeated in this body the De-
mocratic party would justly be called TO account by
the people.
guments, if arguments they could be called, which
had been urged against the bill One Senator had
insisted that IT was proper 10 leave It to the poo
pie 10 say whether this dealing in intoxicating liquor
was an evil which ought TO be suppressed, II was
much more proper for the Legislature TO declare II
an evil at once and to apply the necessary remedy
themselves. But who ever heard OF State Board
Of Excise Or what objection could be urged by
Senators, especially by. those who professed such
unbounded confidence IN the intelligence OF the PEG
pie, TO enrustiog the people with the power OF abat-
ing this great evil? 1t had been said, too that the
attempt 10 legslate for the suppression OF drunken
ness must fail, because men would not be coerced
into habits Oftemperance But this same objection
would apply with equal force to every law designed
TO promote the morals OF the community. Nor was
il true that this was simply question OF morality.
1t was also question OF political economy. Drunk
enness was at the bottom of great proportion OF
the crime, destliuton and misery which afflicted
mankind. Mr.. Clark instanced some facts in sup
port of this position. He referred to the invcstiga
ton of the Supervisors OF Saratoga county in 1898
which resulted IN proving that out of tax of SIS
900, Sis, 600 was rendered necessary by the cohse
quences of intoxication. He pointed also TO the
fact that nearly, fnot quite onehal OF the inmates
of our Lunatc Asylums had been reduced to their
present lamenfable condition by the use OF lnoxlca-
ting liquors He also referred TO the wellknown
circumstance that very large proportion of the an
nual taxes which weighed upon the people of the
State was directly attributable TO this same cause
And with all these notorious facts staring them In
the face was it TO be said that the Legislature must
not interfere to suppress the vice of drunkenness
because il was a question of morals merely, and in
such questions the attempt al coercion could not
and should not succeed?
1t was idle TO pretend that this the sole reason
why Senators opposed the BILL Better talk plainly
and avow the real motive at once. Senators had
declared that this was not Democratic measure,
and that 10 pass it would nlure the Democratic par
ty. Was not this eQuivalentto saying that all The |
drunkards in the country belonged to that party? II
this be so, said Mr.. Clark ii is high time that we
were regenerated. But he did moi believe that II |
was so, or that more drunliards TO be found |
on one side than on the other. This however, he |
did know; that large majority of the electors OF
both political parties in the section of the country
where he resided, ardently desired the passage OF
this bill, and mainly the ground that by reInov
ing the cause you would remove the practice. MIR.
Clark, in conclusion, made an eloquent appeal TO
the committee to retrlce their i'll considered action
Of yesterday and 10 pass bill so important TO the
best interests OF the State and demanded By vas,
majority Of the people.