Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-04-10
For the Burlins ton Hawk. Eye.

MEssERs Ep,roRs:-Always having something
OF pencAanf for looking on and observing the de-
alterations Of Legislative bodies, from the Senate Of
the u.s. to those of the Fathers Of City assembled
in solem council, I availed myself last Wednesday
evening Of the opportunity of dropping with ma
ny of my fellow citizens, to witness the action Of
worthy City Fathers, upon the exciting subject
Of granting licences for the sale Of liquors. Unjust
acknowledge my qualification at the degree Of or.
der that prevailed among the members ,and the tone
of dignity that characterised their proceedings
And though small in point of numbers, yet in dig
nifty of department, and gravity Of deliberato, our
House of Representatives. at Washington and even
the Senate itself sometimes might learn q lesson
from them, that would enhance their own reputa-
ton and reflect credit upon their respective con-
stituencies.
But must regret to say, that the influence ema-
mating from the groceries Of Front street and few
other places had far more weight upon the minds
OF the members OF the Council than the remon-
STRANGE Of large majority Of the legal voters Of
the city, and two former votes Of the people
clearly indicating that they were opposed to con.
tinung licenses. And all in opposition to the will
of large majority ofthe legal voters Of the coun-
~, and in direct contraventon OF law Of the state
passed at the last session of the Legislature, and
in pursuance of the clearly indicated will Of the
people OF the State. The majority report of the
committee, to whom was referred the subject, OF
which Mr. Hudson was the Chairman and the lead
ing champion, was brief, impalpabe, intangible,
and spiritual produ cton 1t really looked to out.
siders If the committee themselves were asham-
ed oft and that they would rather leave no record
of it, to stand forth as monument Of their legisa-
| ton in aftertimes.
Each one seemed to have studiously avoided re-
dncing it to the regular form OF reports and in fu
ture he can stand up and say to the world sthou
canst not say did it."
Such as it was it expressed the belief Of the ma
ority of the committee that in their opinion it
| expedient to grant licenses for six months. The
grounds OF expediency all who heard the speech oi
| the Chairman will remember-revenue to the City
and opportunity to the retailers TO sell out their
stock in trade and set up in something else. How
different the minority report Of Mr. Grimes, clear
comprehensive, written and tangible, and enforc
ed with facts and principles, proving to demon.
straton that the best policy Of the city to
fuse any more licenses for the sale of liquor entire
ly independent Of the neral question of the bust
ness, which after all is the great question.
The chairman OF the majority report, in one Of
his speeches alleged that the report OF the minor
ty was untrue in point Of fact, but Mr. Grimes soor
put that matter to rest by . simple statement o.
facts Of which almost every citizen is perfectly ia
| miliar.
Perhaps the people Of the county, as we'll as tht
! citizens Of the town would like to know how The
vote stood, and for their inform alton will stat,
the numbers and names Of those for and agains
the licenses, in order that the grocery keepers ma!
see to whom they arc indebted for their six months
privileges and the ant-licenss portion OF the com
munity, which is overwhelming majority Of thu
people, may know who regard their wishes in thu
Council. The vote then stood yeas and nays
Those voting for license being Messrs Hudson
Sperry, Ray, Kriechbaum and Corse; those agsins
were some strong arguments used in favor OF tn
license, among them-that Of revenue to the City
which is about a, sensible as to put dime into
charity box and take GU: so cents in change. An
other was to give those engaged in the sale or Ii
quor opportunity TO sell out their old stock
Comment is unnecessary. But there is one fac
connected with this subject that should be remenl
berea, and that is that the known wishes and ex
pressed will OF large majority Of the legal voter
Of our City have been disregarded by the action G
the Council in granting licenses for the sale of in
toxicating liquor for the space Of six months.
ANTI-LICENsE.