Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-01-19
CFyom he Banner of TsmperoHes.
THR LICENSE LAWS.

to impress upon the public the necessity OF cut.
ting up BY the roots the odious system OF furnish
ing public revenue, by panderng 10 public im-
morality, as if to confirm every objection which
We have urged, and place our position in an im-
pregnabe point Of view before the public. comes
a Christmas, the most rioous, The most disorder
w. and the most disgraceiu 10 public intelligence,
OF any within the memory OF The Oldest innaol-
tant. II is unnecessary to give detailed ac-
count oil the proceedings OF The past week. They
are fresh enough in the memory OF our citizens
AT this time, nor are they likely forget them in
hurry. They are 4 rep'oach TO US, as commu-
nity-a reproach 10 the laws by which We are
governed, aud treble reproach 10 those who,
having The matter in their own hands, and seeing
these evils with heir own eyes YET show no dis
position to give force 10 any plan by which The
people can DC brought TO express their opinions
upon The subject.
II is true these disorders have occurred under
very peculiar circumstances. A number OF
men-oi-waI's men, taking advantage Of the
liberty allowed by The Christmas holidays,
thought proper to take what they might call
spree, but which our quiet citizens thought proper
10 dipniiy with the name oil Iiotous asseiDblage.
II was sufficient al any rate 10 Justify The calling
out OF The volunteers.
Some persons are disposed 10 blame The officers
of the Lesare; but surely without justice. They
merely gave their men The customary liberty TO
70 on shore; The season, absence oil imPoran dn-
ties. eve.y thing demanding such liberty. As
soon az they learned the consequences Of their
permission, they very promptly put an end TO The
whole affair, and rendered il impossible, for the
future.
Others again, throw all he blame upon the lars
themselves; and they certainly are very censura.
bic. Ia mitigation, however, II may De said
that fifty or sky men OF any kind can rarely
meet together where there is plenty ot liquor
wilhou, Ieuing The world know that they are
alive. Much more then, is poor Jack excusablei
who has spent all his days at sea, and probably
never heard OF Temperance in his llie. They
did precisely what was 10 have been expected
precise,y what landsmen would have done in
similar situation.
With more justice. a third party are disposed
to blame the rum sellers, those who allowed lhes-
persons to have liquor, knowing The nature Of al
men when assembled in large holies. and their
nre.disoosi,on 10 disorder. Their guilt however,
great as it is, we regard as only secon !ary.
We strike a, higher game Than any OF these
Il Is 10 The licensed laws of ihe State, mai me
civ of Richmond is indeb'ed for the disturbances
of The Iasr week! Can anything be clearer;
more entirely susceptible OF proof2 Men, IN
their cool and sober moments, are not disposed
m violence and disorder. But distribute rum
among a crowd, and sraish,way the spirit ut
evil breaks out. Does any man suppuse mat
the creators OF all this disturbance would hav'
been guilty of II IL they had not been drinking
And where did they gel The bquoff why from
those houses, which the IaO, Affecting 10 DC me
"pereclion OF reason" has taken under us special
pro,ecrionl From those pets OF our Statute oook'
Who are allowed 10 murder oy wholesale, al the
rare OF |, NAV be hundred year, the licensed
Rumse,ler>i If there had been NO licenses there
would have been no lqnor il there had been no
Honor there would have been no rows.
Yet there are we'll meaning persons, who 90
ieel 10 ab,,l,shiug the Incense laws why =
Can things be made worse by III Can there DE-
more disorder, where there IS no liquor at hand
10 stir up the split OF m'schleif WIZ mere De
more falling out more hgh'ins-more mu'der-
than there is under the system OF Iicensesl Lei
,nv man come iorwar! and show what good they
have ever done-what public benefit lh,y ever
cunferred-in VIVA, way they have contributed
10 The advancement OF moral principles, the pre-
serva,ion Of health or The general we'll h"'Eg oil
society," and we resign The whole ground To hirn.
II had been the custom tor FIVE hundred years
nreviou. 10 the great Evangelical reformation OF
The 18th century, 10 hawk The Popes indulsences
about throughout all the nations OF Chfis'erdom,
and 10 give any man WHO could afofG 10 pay l'G
il. full permission 10 commit any crime when ms
passion or his convenience might dictate. What
-
indulsences to certain persons, for consideration
not 10 commit themselves, but 10 stimulate the
commission OF every offence enumerated in the
Dscalogue1 The Pope's indalgences extended
on,y 20 The crime committed by the contracting
narty. What man can do OF himself, is ou, a
small matter compared 10 what he can stimulate
Eve hundred 10 do. II the rumseiler were 10
sab or shoot some person, the mischief would be
confined 10 that one isolated act But he puts
into the hands of thousands the cup which, for
aush, he knows, may excite each one of them to
the commission of the seven deadly sins. SO
far as society is concerned |, would be Tar better
for him 10 turn out and do his work with his own
hands. There would at least be much less OF H.
II the present system is TO be persevered IN; II
there is no hope OF change; if the people can
NOT be reused TO sense OF the evils flowing IN
mon them from This inexhausbe source OF mis-.
chief al least let the magistrates petition the LIE.
eislainre 10 allow these indu'gences 10 be called
by their right names. Let them go by The name
Of permits, 10 make dfunkards, to sell palsy,
epilepsy and apoplexy, TO create idiots, TO manu-.
fae,ure b.ggars 10 beat wives, to starve Children
10 recruit, mad houses to replenish the graves and
10 All hell TO oyerfowrg