American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-08-28
AMERICAN TELEGRAPH
A Personal Gard In relation to the
Liquor BilI-N0. A.

DllI-NOs H.
TO the Editors Of the American Telegraph. i
GENTLEMEN FL shall have mercy upon you
and your readers, by making this my last,
and very brief. l am inclined to think that
further discussion will not do much good,
and shall not run the risk of being thought
.desirous of newspaper notoriety by spinning out
the controversy further than what l may deem
necessary for the public good. aa.ti@##
/ bring this matter to close earlier than I
had originally intended because propose in
Producing next Monday q new, and, l hope
more comprehensive and successful act, wherein
Iiintend to embrace my own more deliberate
and final views in reference to the subject, and
the discussion Of and action on which attempt
Mt amendment of the " modus operandi" will, |
fatter myself, be productive Of benefit to the
community at large. ....| r"
have now to defend myself from the charge
that the ultraism and hardness of the bill, as
proposed by me, will defeat its operation and
bring the law into disrepute. 1t seems to me
sufficient, in answer to this objection, to re-
mark, that desperate diseases require desperate
cures. i started under conscientious convic-
tion that the abuse of ardent spirits is here, as
elsewhere, the fruitful source Of crime and
wickedness. wished to avoid both Scylla and
Charybdis--to steer clear of actual prohibition
and culpable encouragement. l sought to make
those living on, and owning property in, any
square of the city the judges whether an estab-
ishment for the vending of spirituous liquors
should be opened there or not. Perhaps may
have been wrong in binding the applicants
down to sac white owners of real estate, and
calling for an oath; but felt that the evil
was great one, and that would, if supported
hSyf fhn ifxy md hroth
bers, come as near prohibition as possible.
1t seems, from the result, that have made
miscalculation. therefore feel it no degrada-
ton or humiliation, finding that have counted
without my host, to offer q more practicable
and yet sufficient remedy for the disease. The
public interested in the matter will be able to
judge of the supposed panacea, when it is
brought before the Boards. Suffice it to say in
advance, that propose to make the majority of
the parties interested, and that directly, the
jugdes whether license for tavern, ordinary,
or drinking shop, is to be issued and located on
their square not We shall soon see who of
the Council are in favor of this republican rule,
that the majority shall control in matters of
public interest and import hope, by the pro-
visions of my forthcoming act. to reconcile eff
cheney with moderation, and to arrange 1t so
that the law shall be executed. aa .H
And whatever the members of the Councils
shall determine, trust, wiil be carried into op-
GRAFTON at all hazards. / want to try the ex-
pertinent, whether it is in our power or not to
| execute acts more stringent than those now in
our statute book, and fatter myself that our
community is not so far dead to self-respect
and its best interests, as to confess that our
legislation is farce, and the will of parties,
whose ill-gotten gains may be affected by reform
and Improvement is to be the only guide and
influence which those who make our laws are
to consult and care for.
| am glad to see that the Mayor has brought
the subject before the Councils, and recommend
ed some action on their part for the control of
this growing evil. This recommendation will
aid the consideration of the project which, as
substitute for my previous views, propose in
Producing at our next meeting In the mean
time, confident that all sensible and patriotic
citizens agree in the admission of the evil and
the necessity of devising some kind of cure, and
feeling satisfied that the ball which | have
thought it my duty to put in motion will, in the
course of its progress, bring benefit and conso-
lation to the majority, look forward with much
| of hope, not unmixed with some anxiety, to the
reception which my fellow members will give
my measure when it shall be formally presented
| for their examination and action.
Whatever may be the result, feel satisfied,
| from my acquaintance with the members with
whom have the honor to serve, that their de-
cision will be honest and conscientious If for
my bill, shall feel happy, and hope for perma-
nent and good effects for our community at
large. If against, l shall regret it; but, con-
scious of having moved from good motives and
for good ends, shall make up my mind to meet
the best way can the public verdict, assuring
those for or against, that for me, personally,
the result is comparatively of but slight i'm
portance--for them a matter of deep and real
interest and concern. BY the movements in
your Boards of Aldermen and Common Coun-
Gil, fellow-citizehs, shall you thrive or suffer.
God grant that we may legislate for your real
good Yours respectfully,
JOHN CARROLL BRENT.
To the Editors Of the Anerican Telegraph.