The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1852-04-21
n)rrklg Grprrss.
WEDNESDAY MORNING. APRIL Fl.
THE ELECTIONS.

The ELECTlCNS.
The municipal and township elections held
on last Saturday and Monday resulted disastrous
" to the Temperance cand dates 1t is no criterion
however, If the real sentiments Of our citizens
in respect 10 the cause, there division
among the advocates If Temperance We hope
ere anotlc, election rolls around, all differences
may be recanced, and Temperance men will
act in concert to carry out the principles they
profess. We have the satisfaction OF knowing,
however, that though defeated, many OF those
eli cied are Temperance men, and will use the
power invested in them to forward its principles,
Davenport Gazette.
Many ofthe Wing journals OF the State, have
taken ground in favor of Temperance. This
has not been dsne of their own free will, but it
is in furtherance of grand design, conceived
at head quarters. 1t is plain to be seen, that
This question is to be foisted upon the public in
the approaching political contests. Already has
the .catch ,oora gone forth, and the echo is sent
back from every little Wing print in the coun-
try.
We regret this result, not because we fear to
meet the iss,ie, but because we feel assured that
it must greatly njure the prospects OF saluta
ry reform.
Legislation should conform to public opinion,
and not run contrary to it. 1t is the legallaed
head, which gives form and character to public
sentiment and is not the tribunal to shape and
coerce tha. public sentiment. In free conn-
try, like this, selected to legislate in
obedience to the wishes and wants of the peo-
pie, and are amer enable to the people for any de-
Walton from correct line of duty They are
to make such laws, and establish such regula-
tons, as the necessities of the people require,
taking good care to legis!ate for all, and not a
part. lfthis were not the case there would be
no virtue in the ballot -box-none in the elective
franchise. But the true secret of representa-
tive duty is, in properly ascertainlng and provi-
ding for the wants OF the people, and any strin-
gent and coercive legislative enactments which
progress in advance of this, and operate pre- Judi
cially to the wishes of the people, are contrary
to the true spirit of our institutions.
The "Maine Liquor Law" seems TO be the
latest invention of fanaticsm. The country
over is this question now being ngtaed And
WIFI, let Us SHquIt3 aiC 'ts Pio'isiohS. O'h-
GERS of the law are permitted. to search any
where, and anything, without the formalities Of
warrant. The whole community at The
mercy OF malicious spy, or fanatic intormer
Although enc of the fundamental doctrines Of
the country is, that every subject shall be free
from unreasonable searches and seizures of his
person, his houses, his papers, and his posses
SONS; and, indeed, 81 jealously do the laws pro-
tcct the subject in This particular, that they pro
vide, that any warrant issued shall specially de-
signate the person or property to be searched.
Yet, this indscreet measure abnlishes every
thing ofihc kind. II encourages an unwarrant-
able interference i'm the traffic of the country,
creates local strife, and runs contrary to public
sentiment.
This is a question which addresses itself d.
rectly and powerfully TO the moral sensibllity of
every citizen, and all ,tforts TO make 1t part
and parcel of the politics OF the country should
be frowned down, as highly indiscreet and in
furious.
We shall have something further to say upon
this subject soon.