Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-09-26

publish it for the purpose of giving a
''whom it may concern''-and the subiet
Of temperance deeply concerns every bod
n an opportunity of reading and ihink;n
about it. previous to signing their name.
d We cannot too strongly recommend thi
petition TO the consideration of every cit
: zen-'.na,iye" or naturalized-[ Eds. Pa
TEMPERANCE MEMORIAL.
To The General assembly Of the Sfate Of Iadsana
:, The UNDEEsIGEED. Citizens of the Stat
of Indiana, would respectfully represen
that the use Of ardent spirts-as a beverao q,
10 men in health. is not only useless be-
pernicious, producing a vast amount O
suffering. and crime, and death. and tina
more than twenty years effort has demon
>trated that these evils cannot be suppress
sed while the law sanctions and protects
as at present, the liquor traffic. We would
respectfully submit the following facts:
First. Byrequringa license and other.
wise restricting the traffic, the law already
ackno Wedges its Injurious character. while
it is exceedingly doubtful to the minds OF
your memorialsts whether the genius OF
our government recognizes the right OF
the State to permit, for 4 pecuniary. or
any consideration. the existence of an
acknowledged evil.
Second. That the use OF liquors is evil.
we need only state that the statistics OF
crime show that almost ninety-three hum
dredths of the criminal cases adiudued in
our courts are connected with drunken
ness
Thru. The system of license makes
the State an accessory in the suffering and
destituton Of families, and the riot, and
bloodshed. and vice inseparably connect
ed with drunkenness. license properly
considered, Is but permit in the name Of
the people to make drunk ards, and cause
the innuAlerable crimes and domestic suf.
ferngs consequent upon drinking. And
we would respectfully submit to your hon
ofable body this question: Can any
amount OF money justify suicidal an act
as the State 5 becoming an accessory in
the mlserles and ruin Of her own people,
especially considering that The money thu,
paid into the treasury is in most instances
Il per ccntage OF the money diverted from
the feeding. and clothing, and educating
Of families, thereby left destitute and
ignorant!
Fonrth. The existing laws pre-suppose
that the greatest good will result to the
greatest number by granting licenses, and
therefore they must be granted, unless
those who think differently. annually out
vote those who defend licenses and those
who neutral.
run. While salutarv laws have been
enacted for the protection Of our property.
such as nearly prevent lis loss. except
when the offender is under the influence
Of liquor. the laws protecting our families
in their lives. and morals. and health. and
happiness, as they are affected by iniem-
perance. are wholly inadequate 10 the
end designed, For instance. he who
steals five dollars NAV be imprisoned three
wears in the penitentiary. fined FIVE hun |
dred dollars. and dsfranchised for life: .
but he who sells liquor in defiance OF law.
pays few dollars fine. though in the act
lie deprives the purchasers family of sup
port, and causes him to commit the most
fragrant outrages upon those whom he is
bound to protect. or such crimes against
The State as make him an inmate OF the
penlientiary. or sufferer on the gallows I
The penalty j.. therefore. not only uncon-
being disproportioned to the
nature OF the offence. bul Inadequate to
,rotcc,. since the fines as inflicted are of
en- less than license would be. As cici-
,ens. we feel comparative Secrrsitv against
ne incendlary and the thief, while our
children are left exposed 10 the merciless
lquor seller, IN spite Of our best efforts.
hough. as fathers. we would infinitely pre-
ei being annually robbed, to having our
sons made drunkards
In view. therefore. OF the evils insepara-
BY connected with drunk enness. we. as
;itZens of Indiana. earnestly pray that ;
ne partnership OF the State in all drink /
ng establishments be wholly dissolved. bv
eiu-Ing TO grant licenses to retail ardent |
Pirits. unless q majority of the citizens Of
he county shall demand license bv en- /
'orslng upon their tickets the word eli i
;ense, at an annual election {
Secondfg- We ask that the penalty for $
cling without license. be the same as c
low for petit larceny-tiIe and imprison- /
nent in the county Jail. or imprisonment I
n the penitentiarv. al the discretion of /
he Jury
Thirdly. We ask that the same penalty =
e made for selling to minors. without the :,
onsent OF parents or guardians: for. as :
ithers. we. believe the State has no more =
ght to license men to make drunkards of I
ur sons. than it has to license men to ;
teal our property; and We earnestly ask :,
5 good protection against the ruin of our !,
ons. as against the loss of our property. u
Fourthiy We ask that no ardent spirits
hall be sold in any quantity whatever.
'ithout subjeetine the vender to the above
enalty. excep: when sold strictly for medi
lnal, mechanical. chemical. or sacrament ,
Il purposes. by licensed Druggist. .
II. however. your honorable body are "
opinion that the welfare of the citizens !,
Indiana would not be promoted by the Il
naciment of law embodying the fore
DING provisions. then we respectfully ask .
'e passage of law similar 10 the follow. =
lg. now III force in the State of Wis u
,nSln. VIZ: p
SEC. ]. No person shall hereafter be y,
lowed TO vend or retail spirtuous liquors. .,
ntil he shall. in addition to any other re- r