Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-06-08
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LIQUOR LICENSES.


The County Cour of Louisa, al its May term,
licensed TwENTy-oNE persons TO retail ininIica-
ting liquors. Several OF them were persons who
have been heavily complained OF in their neigh
borhood for dealing with 'saves-and keeping
such houses are emphatcally pests 10 any yicln-
age.
The liquor sales OF these twenty one establish
ments will average al least 500 gallons each IN
year, making in all 81 500 gallons. 10 the
consumer, each gallon costs not less than seven
ty-fve cents; making %, 775 dollars. But there
are supposed 10 be in the county as many unli-
censed as licensed vendors. Ihcp may be COM
SO. 755 dollars are spent in Louisa on intoxica-
ting drinks 10 one year. This estimate is rather
und.r, than orer the truth. The shrewdest and
most benevolent OF the lwenly-one, few years
ago, estimated The quantity drunk in Inc county
al 100000 gallors year.
The school commissioners Of Louisa have re-
ported 692 children whose parents cannot send
them 10 school, and all the money that the Stale
can spare Tor their schooling is 1922. Proba-
bly, third, if not lwo-thirds Of those children,
owe their deslilulion to the drinking habits oil
their fathers. as il is generally agreed, that four
inhs OF the .i3s white men and women in Louisa
who were found, BY the last census, unable 10
read or write, owed their ignorance TO The same
cause. For very moderate drinker-one who
never gets drunk-spends in liquor 20 10 80 dol
lars year-euough 10 school TWO or three chill
dren.
The 81 licenses above. mentioned. yield exact
" 800, subject 10 The sherifi's commission Of II
per cent, which leaves 1870 for The Treasury
Louisas quota 00Ih paT) OF The States expenses
about criminal justice, is 500 and all the best
informed people say, that hree-fourIhs Of all
crimes are caused by strong drink So that while
intp fl,p Ire
it takes 1882 out!
Again, the Louisa Poor House costs about
81 500 year. Statements from foor Houses in
many parts Of the Union show hat nine.tcnhs
OF their inmates were made paupers by inlem-
perance. Nine tennis Of |, 500 dollars are $50
dollars; but suppose only 1000 dollars OF The
cost OF paupersm in Louisa 10 be The fruit OF
strong drink then liquor puts 37O dollars into
The Treasury oil Virginia, and takes oni from The
treasures, Virginia and Louisa, 1882 dollars
A beautiful specimen OF political economy,
truly
A sensible magistrate said from the bench, Two
or three years ago that, for The sake Of Tie ,euennc,
he would grant licenses 10 all who asked for them
In wear from this lime The magistrates oil Louisa
themselves will lose more Than twice 370 dollars
by thei,s and other crimes of slaves nstigated by
LIQUOR bought at The licensed groggeries alone
besides the corruption OF morals, and hurt 10
health, which their slaves will suffer. But The
licensing is chargeabe also with most OF The
mischief that comes from unlicensed sellins-he-
cause The law ilsell, by granting licenses, sane
lions those PRACTICES and fosters those appeIlIes,
which afterwards rush 10 indulgence, regardless
of law And The dark and lurbid under.currenl
Of crime and vice increases in a yet larger pro-
portion.
have confined myself 10 the money view OF
this subject, and 10 but par OF thai; leaving IN
told The murders, Tobberies breaches OF The peace
in thousand forms, diseases and other leeions
OF evil that liquor occasions. II in the year just
commenced there shall be an unusual amount Of
drinking, and Of lis terrible consequences, we may
chiefly thank those l0nserrntors Of Peace, las
they are funnily called) and those lawmakers,
by whose combined 1r,stom The 1oodgates oil such
mischief have been opened.
From the too prevalent sackness with which
The lcense-aw is administered, i! is probable that
what has been said OF Louisa is applicable 10
great many other counties. May SAM avoid her
example