The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-03-05

- u7t - Wo Wclo solll8 W pres WoIecoifeu
from Columbus correspondent TIE bllowing
proposed action Of the General Assembly and
the comments ofour worry friend Jenkins. We
cheerfully subscribe 70 what he says, md unite
in a solemn protest against placing tie friends
Of the Maine Law in false position. Give Us
the question fairly, and give time to make the
issue known in Ohio, and we ara prepared for
the result Why not submit ~ QUESTION in
October instead of Aprill
LFsOm the Ohio s.ats Journal.
The Maine Law - Vote By the Peo.
pie, 60.
Mn. EDToR see that the Representstive
from Clark has introduced long pleamble ,and
sundTy resolutions into the House, the declared
purpose OF which is 10 submit this great qtes-
tion about suppressing the manufacture Of, and
traffic in intoxicating drinks 70 fie people at
the next Spring election. This. If honorably
and fairly submitted, the friends of The Maine
Law will accept readily and Willingly. But in
their name must earnestly protest against any
such propositions as the honorable gentleman
trom Clark seeks to present as thelpoints al
issue. We have unanimously asked douT hon
orable Legislators the enactment Of law sim
liar in its provisions to the Maine Law. We
wish for, and we demand as the rigkf Of freemeu
that this distinct and simple issue be Joined be.
fore the people. Surely there is nothing unrea.
sonable in this; and trust the honorable gen.
tleman will 30 alter his propositions as to sub.
init the question to the people in ierms some
thing like the following
For the enactment OF law th6f shall. AZ i
day not more than six months subsequent tC
the date Of its passage, prohibit under adeauat,
penalties the manufacture and sale Of intoxi
eating liquors as a beverage, within the Statc
of Ohio; which law shall in its provisions, a,
far as may be consistent with our municipa
regulations, be similar to the Maine Law"
If our Legislators wish us to meet the question
fairly, they will not seek by any such issues a
the honorable gentleman proposes, to force us L
vote yes or no upon propositions not warranted
by our petitions To show the unfairness 81
such propositions. | beg leave to transcube
them, and add very brief remarks thereto. The
propositions he desires us to vote upon are as
follows:
For seizing and destroying all intoxicating
drinks, (dJ except those imported, (b) and those
kept by authorized persons for medicinal and
mechanical purposes. Yes-NO."
For prohibiting the manufacture of iAtoxi-
eating liquors, except by authorized persons for
medicinal and mechanical purposes. Yes
No" (cl.
REMARKs.-(a) The Maine Law does not au-
thorize the seizure and destruction Of intoxica-
ting drinks kept by any one for his 0pg,f use. or
for the use Of his family, as drink optherwise.
No dwelling-house can be searched for it un-
less it can be shown that it has been sold there,
The most precious feature of the law is, that il
etfectually prohibits the sale or distribution oI
1t under the cloak OF gift, when The intention
| is to sell-while it does not pretend to dictate
what a man shall or shall not drink, if he
comes by it in lawful way II is, therefore,
maniiestly unjust to cause us to vote for sci
zing and destroying that which no one contem-
plates
Again: B) The exception of imported liquors
is an inyiduous distinction, wholly at war with
the whole spirit OF the law. That law does not
make any such exemption, except in so far as
it is under custom-house brands and marks in
accordance with the laws of Congress. The
moment imported liquors leave the custom
house they are on footing with domestic Ii.
quOrs, and 1t is (but we do not believe it was 80
lntended) an insnlt to us TO put us in the posi-
ton Of advocating a law which prohibits the
sale, and devotes to destruction domestic, while
it exempts foreign liquors. What friend of tenn
peFance will vote for such an absurd PROPOSE
ton Not one!
| (C) But why divide and isolate these proposi.
| tiOns1 No such petition has been presented tC
| the Legislature so far as know. We have
asked for and shall continue to ask for, the
Maine Law-the whole Maine Law, and no.
thing less than the Maine Law. IF the one
hundred and fifty thousand petitions already on
the desks of our Representatives are not suffi.
cient to convince them of the wishes of the peo.
| pie, we promise them to double it. sye treble it.
in six weeks more. There are many provisions
OF the Maine Law of such wholesome and be.
nevolent operation, that we cannot oe forced to
cast them all aside, and vote yea or lay on any
one or more isolated propositions. and espe.
clally if this be 80 stated as to mean adverse to
the spirit and letter of the law itself
| close this communication, then BY again
most sotemHty protesting, in the name of the
friends OF temperance in Ohio, againlt any such
false issue. If our Representatives will insist
upon it, and will place our propositions fairly
before the people for popular vote and viii
do this promptly, we will Cheerfuly accept the
issue, and abide the event, for the tine being.
But | may be permitted to say, that ten defeats
in such cause will not make us relax one
iota of our efforts, until this great and benevo-
lent cause is triumphantly vindicateC So say
we all.
WARREN JENKINS.
On behaLfofhe State Er. Com. on Temperance.