The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-30

Important Judicial Decision 1bsVn Elections
Coz. Hatbard--Dr. Pond on the " Rapptngs'
st Patrick's Ddy-Lndies' Levee-t Watch
mans Clubs The BreweY Bank, &c.
An important decision was made last week b,
Judge Hathaway, in case brought to recover fort.
casks of liquor, which had been seized by the autho
rites of Eastport, on board a vessel lying at thu
wharf in that place. 1t was proved, on the part o
the plaintiff, that the liquor purchased in Bos
ton, and directed to man in the province Of New
Brunswick, and that the vessel put into Eastpor
for the sole purpose Of discharging other freight
The Judge instructed the jury, that if they were
satisfied the liquor was not intended for sale al
Eastport, but was en- route, as appeared in evidence
to the neighboring province, it would be their duty
to find verdict for the plaintiff. The jury found
verdict according to the charge of the Judge, and
the Court ordered the lqnors to be restored to the
rghtful owner. This decision will seriously inter
ferc with the plan long since matured by the ram-
rods as they are called, in this State, which was
to seize all the liquor in transit along the coast,
ready been seized, which was being conveyed in
vessels along the coast, and on teams through the
State; all Of which, according to Judge Hathaway
decision. was unlawfully taken and will have to be
given up to the claimants of the property.
Stringent the law is, it is curious fact, that
the over jealous and hot headed leaders in the tenn
perance cause cannot keep within its provisions, but
are urged beyond its limits by their madness and
haste, to the great disparagement of the law, and
the detriment of the State 1t so happens, that
nearly all the large seizures hitherto made have
been effected in violation Of the law, and the pro-
perty has subsequently been ordered by the courts
to be restored to the owners.
The town elections have nearly oil been heard
from, and in majority of the towns where the
law was made test, the ''ramrods" have come off
second best. True. in many of the towns they
Al.
in large majority of them, they have been badly
beaten. This is certainly the case in the eastern
part eff the state, to my personal knowledge. The
truth il, in the cities where the sad effects of in
temperate habits are constantly visible, the law
meets with vigorous and cordial support; but in
the 'rural Districts where these evils compa-
ratively unknown, the people regard the law as
unjust and oppressive in the extreme, and have shown
their dsapproval Of it by casting antiramrod votes
This looks bad for Governor Hubbard. That he
has the remotest chance for reelection by the
people, is not now seriously entertained by his
most devoted friends. Were the trial to take place
tomorrow, he would want more than twenty thou
sand votes of an election. His immediate political
friends do their best to allay the storm that 10
brewing, and to reconcile the hardy yeomanry, who
the main pillar Of the democratic cause, to the
Governor and his administration, but it is uphill
business. They tell them that the blame should be
laid upon the members Of the Legislature and not
upon the Governor, as he had nothing to do with
the passage of the bill. But the sturdy yeoman
answers the argument by an ominous shake
Of the head. They try to convince them
that it would have been disrespectful to the
Legislature, as well as bad policy in party
point Of view, for the Governor to have refused his
signature, after the bill had passed by decided
majority. But they answered by a look Of scorn
and loathing, which, being interpreted, means: ''We
care nothing about your Legislature nor your
Governor. We have certain rights; we know what
those rights are; and to the man, or the magis-
tr0t " n hem ma nd
the bill been placed before the people, previous to
its passage-had it not been concocted in secret and
sprung upon the Legislature, and forced through
such amazing rapidty before knowledge of its pro-
visions could have been obtained, even by members
themselves, it would have been much better, both
for the law and for the Governor. As it is the
have but little confidence in such preciptate
public servants. As matter of fact, there were
not probably dozen men in the State who possessed
anything like accurate knowledge ofthe character
Of the bill till after it became law. Neither the
people or the press had any time to record their
verdict express their judgment concerning it, but
it galloped through the Legislature at speed
which defed all attempts to keep pace with it, and
the Governors endorsement Immediately procured
to save i from spelling. Such precipitate legsa-
ton is obviously of the character contemplated by
case for executive interference. Had the Governor
pocketed the bill, andkcpt it till the re-asscmbng of
the Legislature in January last. and by the voice of
the people and the press in the interim, he had be-
come satisfied that the law was demanded by them,
he could then have signed the bill with much less
danger to himself then awaits him now.
The Rev DR.. Pond, Professor of Biblical Theology
in the Bangor Theological Seminary, delivered a
highly instructive and amusing lecture on Sabbath
evening, touching the I" sin and danger of holding
intercourse with familiar spirits'' The spacious
City Hall, long before the hour for the lecture to
commence, was packed literally full of human flesh
and multitudss were obliged to forego the pleasure
of the entertainment for want Of room. This dis
called forth in consequence of the preva
lence Of the spiritual manifestations" In this city
and the manifold dangers to be apprehended from
1t is enough to say for the present. that the learned
professor treated the subject in manner highly
satisfactory to his large and attentive audience and
well calculated to arrest the mania which hitherto,
to speak mildly. has been productive Of but little
good.
ST Pstricks Day was celebrated in this city by that
portion Of our adopted citizens who have sschewed
strong drink. and enrolled themselves under the
tues of their patron saint although hearty and sim
cere, far less imposing than former occasions.
Doubtless those who participated in the festivities
enjoyed a refreshing season; but to the citizens
generally, who have been accustomed, heretofore,
to witness on that day. grand parade, with martial
music, and banners flying, it tame affair.
The fact is, the 'dhrink"i is an indispensable ele
ment in the Irish character. Deprive nm Irishman
Of the divinity Of the bowl and you reduce him to
the level Of puritan. The Pat is all purged out
Of him, and he's a man no better than Yankee !!
he will do better for Slevegammon than for Water
loo: The following is one Of the toasts, given by
William Brady
Governor Hubbard-May he till he drives
all the rumselers into the St. Patrick drove the
ysncmous snakes from Ireland.
The meaning Of this sentiment is not quito so
transparent as one might desire. Whether Mr..
Brady intended to express wish that Governor
Hubbard might not :" cease" to be the executive
head of the State, or might not g cease" to exert
his influence in the promotion of temperance, or
might not 50 cease to pursue the tenor Of his
way, in the old beaten path-whioh habit has made
familiar-does not distinctly appear.
The ladies held grand lcvee on Thursday even
ing for the benefit of the poor Of this city. 1t
an agreeable social gathering, from which was de-
rived $500. This sum was put into the hands Of
the Rev. Mr. Wells, the faithful city missionary, to
be distributed amongst the poor aud needy.
In all the cities and villages in Maine there is
an organization known by the name OF the ''Watch-
mans Club The main object Of this organization
is, it is said to ferret out all places where liquor is