Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-02-26

MEssRs. EDITORS Some time since an article
appeared in the Democrat stating that much excite
ment existed on account of the passage of the
=. Licence Law" Was it true Is it true !! do
not believe it. Why should there be! Was not the
passage of the law fairly procured | the
subject had been publicly discussed through the Fall
and Winter; and the public-every body-was inyi-
ted by notice in the papers of the city, to take part
in this discussion Petitions, asking the passage Of
such law, were circulated throughout the several
Townships-each Township for itself-and venture
that there never has gone to the Legislature petit
ton any subject with large proportion Of the
whole population as in this That looks pretty
fair.
Again, the law itself, what is it! Democratic
throughout 1t asks that majority shall rule an
matter Of great public interest. Nothing more
Where then is the cause of excitement! No mans
RIGHTS are invaded. Is that clear! Yes | take
the bold ground that no man has a right to keep
liquor shop. Has a man right 10 keep gambling
shop q speak not of legal right, bat socially Has
any one right to maintain house of ill-ame Has
any bold daredevil right to attack traveller and
take his purse. These things are done-and some of
them tolerated by society. Yet there can be no doubt
that they are all violations of RIGHTS-ofall rights
moral. social, political. But groceries effect
devastatlons than them all together. law prohibit
ing them is not like law to prohibit honest and use
full callings-the farmer in cultiy atng his farm,
trame the artizan in his trade. Every body knows
the difference. These and other useful occupations
lie at the foundations of Society," and to prohibit
materially interfere with them would be TO dissolve
society. No body pretends that selling Whisky
is such an emplovmen or that society is not greatly
injured by it. Those engaged in it not useful
men, mean in their employment They do nothing
for the common good. They bring wealth to the
munity All they do is prejudcial. They are public
enemieS-hostis bumani generis
Now, that they should be excited, / don't wonder.
The source Of their great gains is in imminent dam
R,tfh AZ hodv oil hn tod I do
greatly wonder. Why what is the subject of excite
ment! One portion of community is not arraycd
against another. Leave out grocery keepers, and |
should not only be ashamed, but afraid, to look ct-
zen of Centre Township in the face and say-you
will vote TO Incense groceries. | should expect to
be knocked down for gross insult, just should
deserve to be. said leave out grocery keepers and
only except them because their interest is concerned
And will do them justice, and don't hesitate say
that there are some among them, who if they were
clear of their investments, would manuly oppose the
traffic.
| We all stand together then in opinion-all pro-
nounce traffic in liquors great wrong. Now shall
be much disappointed if we don't find a very very
large majority standing together in action when the
last vote is counted. do not expect the long faced
and the awfully solemn only be heard this SUBJ
iect-but the man who takes his glass-the hail fell
low well met-will also show himself a man, and for
the good of others, if not for his own, will come to
the rescue.
! | shall, moreover. expect TO find manv and many
man whose money has gone into the pocket of the
liquor dealer-who has been stript Of his property
and much injured in his good character at the polls
with firm and manly tread coming forward to unite
with their neighbors in suppressing this great nui-
sance. | call upon them Just adopt Davy Crocket's
motto be sure you right, and go ahead - If
groceries are great evil then it can't be wrong to
put them down.
have more appeal to make-it is to the Edi-
tors of the Indiana State Sentinel. You are bold
men-fearess, and able, in the defence of our great
political principles. We honor you the conductors
of the great leading paper of party, and proud
of the manner in which political questions are ham
dled-and sometimes moral questions oo-exampe,
mysteries of indianapolis '-and now I call upon
you to take stand and bear alo the public standard
on this great question affecting vitality the thrift and
good order of town and county. l ask from you,
and then racy article in support of this law so
fair and so important. / claim it right due the
patrons of the paper.
Finally: every Township acts for itself; and now,
a citizen of Centre Township l challenge our sis
ter Townships Honor to her whose vote in favor of
License" shall be the smallest in proportion her
whole vote. K.