The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1851-06-06
: WHOLE NO. a 53l.
From the Hancock Courier
THE LICENSE CLAUSE.

In the 18th section of the schedule 10
the New Constitution, il is provided that
at the time and place the vote shall be
taken for or against the adoption Of the
New Constitution, separate ballot may
be had and deposited in a separate box,
for or against the adoption of the follow
ing clauses, to wit "No license to traffic
in intoxicating liquors shall hereafter be
granted in this State; but the General
Assembly may, by law provide, against
evils resulting therefrom." On said bal
lots given for said separate amendment
or clause shall be written or printed, or
partly written and printed, the words
"License TO sell intoxicating liquors,
Yes" and upon the ballots given
against, "No," shall in like manner be.
written in part, or partly written and
partly printed. Ifatihe election major
ity of all the votes given for aud against
said amendment or clause shall contain
the words, "License 10 sell intoxicating
liquors, No." then the said clause or
amendment shall be separate section Of
article fifteen Of the Constitution. We
hope that no voter misundersiands the
object of this clause. II the people, by
an expression Of their will through the
ba'lo! boX, will hereafter suffer The Leais-
lature TO make it crime for one man 10
sell a gill OF liquor, and recognizes the
one who sells barrel, a gallon OF quart
as peaceable and law-abiding citizen, wo
shall not for one moment complain, for
it makes but very little difference 10 US,
whether liquors are sold by the gill or
barrel, or whether they are sold at all;
but we opine tha, the policy which directs
that the man who sells gill or ordinary
"bumper', shall be fined five dollars. and
the man who sells one barrel shall be 70.
cognized as law loving and respectable
citizen, is neither founded in common
sense, nor has the sanction and approba-
ton of the better portion Of community.
Indeed, when the Legislature dictates
that large quantities Of liquor may be
sold with impuni,y, but that the Grocery
man or landlord who sells his slhree cents
worth" shall stand erect before "Hs
Honor" and take his choice Of one of
two significant legal words, "gulty or
not guilty." and il he plead "guiliy" be
knd accordingly, or, if he chouse TO assert
his innocense, be put 10 the expense Of
employing legal assistance and be har-
rassed by SaIe prosecution !; it in effect
encourages the purchase Of larger guam
titles of liquor, and gives and increased
velocity TO the damning tide, which bears
its voiafies TO drunkenness and ruin. If
a majority OF the votes cast shall say "No"
to the granting of license, then Edison
Colt, or Godfrey Stegmeyer can buy Cr
sell one gill, or any quantity they please,
and no one will be permitted 10 question
their right They will only be amenable
to their own consciencies and 10 the
frowns ofa moral and liquor-haling COM
muni'y; while no legislative dictum will
say that you have done right, or that yon
have done wrong. This is right, and the
experience of those States that have
undertaken 10 correct the evils of intem-
perance by legislative cnacments, have
signally failed TO arrest the progress of
this liquid destroyer, and have, in almost
every instance, been compelled 10 reirace
their steps and wipe The restrictive clause
from their statute books. Great and de-
plorable evils arise from this moral degred.
alton Of the human appatie, and the
phlanthropist and the christian have
raised their voices in prolonged and
earnest warnings to fee from its alludng
grasp and destroying wrath; and legisla-
tive enaciments have been called in TO
their aid, but the,,ide is not yet staid, and
The storm YET darkens the moral horizon.
No legislative prohibition or sanctions in
our opinion, will, or can ever correct, or
in one jot or title abate the evils arising
from The use OF too much alcoholic drinks.
The intelligence and moral atmosphere
of every community most alone correct
this evil, and to them alone must we ap-
ply for just and effective correction.
One man should have liberty to sell
liquor, il he wish, as much as another
man. This each will have Alright 10 do
if the majority vote "Non on this amend
ment. While these views influence US
we shall vote .License to sell intoxicating
liquors, mo. ." sra ia'gr2 iel dald'
81, -. .tl a... lla-..ll ns.it.fst.faet