The southern press., 1852-04-08
For The SOathsr,t Press.
Relies Of gtraps and Musings.
MAINE LIQUOR LAW.

Relies Of gtraps and Musings.
No. SO.
MAINE LIQUOR LAW.
! II will be fecollected that this law authorizes
the selectmen of each town to appoint per-
son to sell liquor for medical, chemical, and
manufacturing purposes. In late speech OF
Mr.. Thomas G. Cary, in the Senate of Massa
chusetts, which treats the subject of temperance
with great ability, he states the following very
natural result:
"The senator from Worcester, / Mr. Walker
while advocating the law, stated striking fact
| refer TO il only because il is more definite than
other information which have of the same ma.
ture. He told us that the work will not be
finished when we pass this law, for that in one
town of only eleven hundred inhabitants, in
Maine, where the selectmen are said to be iii
quor men," they have appointed a "liqucr man
as the agent for the town to sell ardent spirits
at retail, for medicinal, chemical, and manufac.
turing purposes, agreeably to the law and thai
this agent has already sold one hundred and ie,
barrels Of spirits, since the law was enacted"
Thus it appears that the selectmen, being
themselves dealers in liquor appoint man also
a dealer in liquor, giving him monopoly of the
sale; and that in the course of few months he
has disposed of one hundred and ten barrels il
town of eleven hundred inhabitants, for medi
cal, chemical, and manufacturing purposes
Surely, the cause of temperance must flourish
under this law.
NEW SYSTEM OF PUBLIC ECONOMY.
Congress having given away some two OF
three hundred millions Of acres of the public
lands, provided for the printing of few hundred
thousand dollars worth Of worthless books, to
keep the organs blowing, and wasted almost as
much more in discussing the merits of "old TO-
gies" and "young Americans" has lately been
seized with an acute fit of economy. They
have determined to make amends for past pro-
digality, by curtailing the expenditures of gov
ernment cutting down estimates for the army,
navy, Notifications, and other necessary defen-
ces, and leaving most important, as well as
imperative, article of the Mexican treaty unful-
filled, by refusing the government the means
for that purpose. The greatest triumph of
economy was, however, exhibited the other day,
in authorizing the appointment of three addi-
tional errand boys instead of four, as first pro-
posed by an extravagant member. We may
shortly expect to see desperate attack on the
poor clerks in the Departments, who are always
the residuary legatees of Congressional econo-
my. If they can knock one or two on the head,
or cut off hundred dollars from their salaries,
after wasting few thousands in debating the
question, they think they have done wonders,
and return to their constituents with colors fly
ing. The fact is decisive in a stump speech.
This system Of economy reminds me of that
of a worthy gentleman of my acquaintance, who
practiced on the old saying that if you take care
of the pennies the pounds will take care of
themselves. Accordingly he saved penny
whenever he could, by scraping abroad and
pinching at home; and as the pounds could
take care Of themselves, expended all he had
saved by stinting his family, and docking the
wages Of his dependents, in two or three
splendid parties where the champagne flowed
in torrents, and the science of cookery appear
ed in all its glory. Thus among the common
people at home he got the reputation of close
listed fellow, while, with the better sort abroad,
who partook of his champagne and oysters, he
figured as the prince of liberality.
This is very much like the economy of Con-
gress, which is exemplifed in curtailing the ne
cessary expenditures of government, and the
salaries Of few clerks, while appropriating
80 10 I'D L..
kers, and spectators, millions of acres for rail-
roads through uninhabited regions, and hundreds
Of thousands ofdollars 10 print census, which
is more like domestic encyclopedia than any
thing else, for the sole purpose Of keeping the
"organs" in tune. This practice is not, how
ever, uncommon. We often see men stinting
themselves in the necessary comforts of life for
years, only TO spend their savings in reckless
prodigality afterwards.
GREAT ORATOR.
The speeches Of this gentleman may be d.
vided into two parts in one Of which he contra
diets what he had proved, in the other proves
what he had contradicted
LETTER WHITING.
lam always inclined 10 distrust man who is
afraid Of committing himself in familiar cores
pondence. II is sign, either that he has no
confidence in his own opinions, or in the honor
Of his friends. The most cautious man in this
respect ever knew, was very distinguished
public character, with whom kept up long
and familiar correspondence, during which he
never once committed himself, either as to pub.
lie men or public measures often told him it
was as bad policy to dstrust his friends as to
trust his enemies. / liked him much, for he
was a most agreeable associate, but never con-
sidered as friend.
Souri, AMERIcA-By way Of Panama, we
have later dates from different portions Of