Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1852-08-26
For the Daily Indiana State Sentinel
TIE Temperance Questionable Old and the
New Law.

TIE Temperance Questionable Old and the
New Law.
Mn. EDIToR:-ln answer to numerous, letters and to
prevalent misaPprehensIons propose furnish
inc you brief review OF the Old and the New Law on the
subject of Temperance. But before doing so, allow me
rapidly the progress Of some Of the meas
touching the traffic in intoxicating liquors, through
the two branches Of the last Legislature in relutaon
of charge the subject did receive the consde
ration its merits demanded Of that body shall
ton facts, only, and leave differences to others.
Impressed with the importance of the subject and
respecting the growing interest IN It, manifested
throughout the State the opening Of the late session
OF the General Assembly, distinct temperance COM
mitee composed OF the most devoted ends oil stTln
gent in the premises, constituted in each
House To these committees all petitions and resolu
tons concerning temperance, were referred Near
hundred thousand persons pettioned Tor Temperance
laws OF these one-eghth ladies' ons-twentieth
minors and about oneOurth prayed for the passage OF
law similar to that Of Maine. Many OF the petitions
asked the repeal of all license laws. BY reference to
the petitions il will be SEEN that in instance did
majority OF the voters OF any county III the Slate ask
the passage of law similar to the "Mane Law"
Nor did cneourth of the voters of the State petition for
any law. Some demonstrated against any change.
Yet topic of legislation occupied much OF the
tenton of the Legislature No less than eight bills
lating 10 the liquor traffic were introduced IN the Sem
ate alone Every petition presented in its regular
order and referred to the appropriate committee More
time consumed in discussing the subject than In
any other question Of legislation. The most dlstn-
guished men in the State participated in the debate
ions were entertained by Senators and Representatives.
That these would be easily reeonced scarcely to
be expected. Some contended for repeal of all laws
upon the subject and TO leave to moral sudson the work
Of reformation On the other extreme were the advo-
Of the s'Afaine Law" -Four five propositions,
occupying medium ground were introduced; and two
three received within three votes of constitutional
majority in the Senate. OAe bill, embodying Of
the provisions of the Wisconsin Law, but containing
others stringent, would have passed the Senate
had it received the entire vote Of the ultra friends OF
fapou has aan adj
various sections of the State by persons who have been
misnformed 1t altogether the stringent bill
introduced in any Legislature Of the State
general law. Towards the close oil the session, the
Senate passed bill similar to the present general law
This bill lost in the House- few days afterwards
the House passed bill which was amended In the Sen
ate by striking from the enacng clause and inserting
the Senate bill Ia this amendment the House refused
TO concur and the bill and amendment referred to
joint committee OF free-conference, where they ended
their pilgrimage being tied up upon disagreement.
The Repeating Act had been held await any
failure on the part OF the two Houses TO agree upon
bills pending, that the old law upon the SUBJECT
might be repealed. When it became apparent that
no law could pass differing materially from the present
law on the subject OF temperance the Repeating Act
amended TO continue in force the laws then in
force regulating the vending of spirituous liquors. In
counties the sale Of such liquors prohibited in
any quantity less than thirty gallons These laws
continued IN force
But Will. no temperance BILL as separate PROPOSE
ton, passed, several important change. made in
the laws regulating the traffic in spintuous liquors.
These changes are to be found in the misdemesnor
That the public be daily posted up the pre-
mises give below the old and the neo ia that the
changes may be the more readily seen and appreciated
THE OLD LAW.
Ia chap. 3d. 65, Rev. Statutes of 1S43 it is pro-
yided, that,
"An tipping houses, places wherein spirituous
Intoxicating liquors sold without license, TO be
drunk in or about the same, if kept in dsorderly man.
ner shall be- and they hereby declared to be COM
mon and public Buisances; and all and every person
who shall erect keep continues maintain, any such
nuisance TO the annoyance disturbance, injury OF
all any part Of the citizens Of this State SHALL
conviction thereof be fined in any sum not less than
twenty-five dollars nor than one hundred dollars"
THE NEW LAW.
Sec 10 Of the Msdemeanor Act passed at the late
session, is follows
''A places wherein spirituous intoxicating liquors
sold, if kept 10 dsordery manner, shall be deem
ed public nusances and every person who shall erect,
continue maintain any such Nuisance to the annoy
injury Of any part Of the citizens Of this State
shall upon CONVECTION be fined for cverv day the same
is kept, less than twenty than hum
bred dollars"
THE DIFFERENCE.
Under the old law, prosecution could ba maintain
ed if the accused had license Under the lao he
may be convicted regardless OF license. Under the
old be could only be fined less than SIS nor more
than 300, the time Of the commencement Of the