Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-06-02
For the Spectacle.
FUF nc oPVCtU!OT'
Licensed Trafiic in Ardent SpirilS--
sim and Hsuin.

.Nesas. Editors The Petitions of our
citizens for permission to submit to the pop
ular vote proposition for preventing the
sale of Intoxicating liquors, has been pre-
sented to the Legislature, and the commit
tee to whom they were referred has re-
ported adversely ; and in this the Legsla-
ture has coGcurred. Surely some very po-
tent reasons for refusing so reasonable
request, must have existed. We are per-
mitted to tax ourselves for Railroads, Ca
nails and Schools, and the principle Of
County Legislation for a County by the
popular vote, though doubted by some, has
become we'll established as safe and prac-
ticablO by repeated presidents. We are
left to presume that the Legislature con-
ceives the existing laws fully sufficient
That the indiscriminate sale of Intoxicating
quors is an evil all previous le5 islation on the
subject appears to admit. But that underthe
prescntlaw the community is protected from
such evils is seriously doubted. Such cases
as that presented in the following paper
ought to awaken earnest enquiry III the
minds of our citizens. Here are detailed
evils which could hardly be greater did no
law exist. Under the present policy, the
facility for Obtaining license is even limited
when persons and places are licensed, which
become the source of such abuses.
This Petition was prepared for presenta-
ton to the Court last Monday MAY 24th,)
but owing to unavoidable circumstances it
was not put forward. 1t is now published
with the suppression Of names and other
circumstances Identifying the place. But
the place exists. The license is renewed.
Other places as prolific of evil exist.
II really seems, Messrs. Editors, that IN
the fear Of trespassing on the rights of men
to do evil, we are seriously infringing the
rights of orderly citizens. No man has a
right to set on fire his own forest near my
barn or house, or let his wild OK at large,
or leave furious mastif unclaimed to en-
danger the peace and comfort of his neigh
borS. Laws are not made for the annoy
ance and grief of the orderly and upright.
If licensed places are thus 10 continue, it
had better be considered by the orderly So
Der part of the community, whether the
whole law ought not to be repealed and the
matter be left to public sentiment If the
right to do evil be so precious, why restrict
it. Let as many as please be permitted to
prey upon the lives and property and hap
piness Of the community.
A Petition to the COuniy Court of augusta
The undersigned would respectfully pre-
sent to the Worshipful County Court of
Augusta, the following Petition That they
will refuse to grant farther license to sell
intoxicating liquors to any person whatever
at -, in this County. We the land
holders and residents of the vicinity, are
impelled to urge this petition by the annoy
ances and griefs which this traffic at this
place has long caused us, and by the con-
viction that it is not suitable and conven-
lent place for it. In support of this convic-
ton, we respectfully remind your Wor-
ships, that our neighborhcod is filled with
many Irish laborers; and that the sale ofin-
toxicating drinks there, has caused, and still
causes disorderly assemblages of these peo-
pie, and incidents vexatious or injurious to
orderly citizens. We inform you as GER
tain fact, that on one occasion the Irish la
borers congregated there by the attraction
of spirits, engaged in boisterous and vio-
lent fight on the Sabbath day, desecrating
the sacred quiet of that season secured to
us alike by the laws of the laud and the
laws FOOD. We state as fact personally
known to some of us, that persons of va
grant character probably Irish laborers,
have interrupted the peaceful slumbers of
orderly families, at midnight or later, de-
handing entertainment or other supplies Of
their wants, with oaths and violence, alarm
ing children and females, and this under
the influence ofintoXication Indulged in at
-, having been first made drunk, and
then at bedtime, and when becoming vio-
lent, turned out of the place Of retail. We
humbly beg leave to remind you that some
what more then two years ago,a savage muir
der was committed in this County, under
the influence OF strong drink, as was proved
on oath in the trial of the crime. We also
inform you that we have undoubted author
ity for stating that violent assault and at
tempted highway robbery took place few
weeks ago, at night, in the street of a viii
lage IN which the aggressor was undoubtcd-
ly stimulated by strong drink. We also
state it as our belief, amounting in our
minds to moral certainty, that spirits are
still procured at - on the Sabbath;lor how !
can we avoid this conviction when person
is met on the highway near the place and
coming directly from it on Sabbath evening,
pertaining Me quit air with the unmistaka-
BILE fumes OF whiskey from his nostrils and
lips, staggering in the acme of intoXication,
and polluting the ears Of a respectable Ge-
male with oaths and nbaldry, in spite Of
the restraints of companion less intoXica-
ted than himself We also inform you that
it is the statement Of many witnesses that
recently the decencies of a congregation as
sembled at the place for religious worship,
we're outraged by the retail of intoxicating
drinks on the Sabbath. We have reason
to believe that our slaves also obtain such
drinks without our consent at --, to
their own ruin and the detrIment OF our Just
rights not perhaps with the intention and
of those licensed to sell them, but
through the agency of white persons. And
we testify that the profanity and noise ex-
cited by this traffic at this place have long
been a nuisance to orderly citizens; since
degraded persons come thence under the
influence of lntoxicatlon, vomiting forth
obscenity and blasphemy along the public