New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-05-05
License and Crime.

II there be any point on which absolute fro-
gress has been made by the Human Mind within
the last half century we believe it to be that which
regards the treatment Of Crime and Criminals
Time was when poor creatures guilty OF diseased
appetites and perverted faculues-guilty Of taking
which they had not produced in an Illegal way
guilty. in short, Of Ignorance. Hunger and Des-
pair-were strung up like onions a terror 70 their
class. while Responsibility in its gig trotted by,
fullbellied aud pous 70 thank God pro fornaa' for
it's orn righteousness the temporal rewards there
Of already in possession and the farther and eter
nal rewards Of which it enjoyed comforting pros
pect 1, IL not so at present. Men-thst IS some
men-have begun 10 look keenly into the nature
and history Of Crme-to analyze its character ana
search out its causes immediate and Ultimate
and it is beginning to be by no means singular
conviction that. however black and indefensible
NAV be the legally srraigned Criminal, there IS
guilt beside bis, perhaps in the eye Of AnseeIng
Justice as fragrant as his-the guilt namely, oil
those wiser and stronger than he who hedged his
dinly.lichted path with snares and Pitfals-who
surrounded bis tottering steps with temptations
which fhsy were able or cunning enough TO WITH
stand. bat which he could not.-or at least, saw
those temptations besetting his way, and had not
virtue enough sefdenial enough TO labor faithfully
for their removal but rather justified and sustained
the tempters, even though brothers. blood cred
against them from the ground
In the light Of these truths look at the strenuous
attempts now making 10 repeal the New Excise
Law Of our State. The lovers Of Alcoholic bever
ages maintain that they are great majority OF the
community and of course legalize the sale OF
Liquors wherever they see ft bat they are some
what ashamed and conscience smitten, and want
70 be relieved from the necessity Of voting License
want the Excise Law repealed Grave Judges
and high dignitares OF State unite their exertlons
with those of grog sellers and hard drinkers to pro
cure majority for License and this they proclaim
q popular verdict against the Excise Law, there
upon demanding its Repeal Let US suppose them
successful and, a few months thereafter, one OF
their party who has ceased for some years to talk
Of his love of Temperament short, become
drunkard-is hauled up before another member OF
the License party and put on trial for murder He
has killed his wife in a drunken phrensy-the proof
is indisputable-he is convicted and the Judge
about 10 pass sentence asks him what he has to
say for himself / have only this to say, an
swers the miserable object my wife was an an
gel, and loved her as well ever Man loved
Woman, and when sober treated her well, and
no pair were ever happier. But ] unfortunately
mbibed habit Of moderate drinking when young
and thoughtless which grew upon me insensibly
until became a drunkard-s miserable slave OF
appetite. was inwardly devoured by an intoler-
able thirst for strong drink and though it made
me a brute and mailman could not Withstand
the temptation TO drink at every opportunity. If
wiser men. with better command of their appe
ttes, did not sell liquor could not have obtained
Q it as did If the Law had forbidden the sale
and been enforced the overmastering temptation
woold have been removed. Yet madly cherish
ed my destroyer, for my reason had no controlover
. my actions voted License with you Mr. Judge
and we prevailed Rum was sold, and bought
and drank The first glass aroused the wolf within
me the sixth made me utter maniac l went
home and they say killed my wife though to me
it would be utterly incredible, had / not abused
her before when under the influence Of Rum.
have shed the blood of her who was dearest to me-
aud must die | deny not the justice of my sen
tence seek no mercy. NJ crime l will not
'palliate--What must be the verdict of Eternal
Justice on the rumseners and yours ?"
- Would not the Judge, probably wish to take
something strengthening before proceeding to pro.
nounce sentence