The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-04-29

A FARMER.
GOV. HAMPSTEAD AND TIE LIQUOR
LAW

A fortnight since, we published an extrac
from the Keokuk Uhig, stating that TWO mel
a, Iowa CITY, had been found gnilty of selling
I1icur al retail. rs a be eTage and fined in The
respective sums Of $40 and SIP, and THAT il
default Of paymenf, 1.-The latter was imprisoned.
We have since learned that the circumstances
pof the case mnde known to Gov. Hampstead,
who 81 an abuse OF his power remi.ied the fine
and released the man frnn, imprisonment
81. hen il is known Thar Gov. Hampstead was one
Of the three persons who drafted the code OF
Iowa under the provisions Of which this man
vas Imprisoned. our readers vii be as'nnshed
M his inconsistency. The conduct of His FIX
celenc,' requires an explanation. = Davenport
Gasette
Weknow nothing abont The remission Of the
fine and the release OF The prisoner as stated BY
he Gazette: hut suppose that the Governor ex-
ercised no'authority, but what he had right 10
do, and released no one from pr son, unless
there was ample ground for H.
As 10 the Governors implied connection with
the orianation of The presrn, sta,uary provision.
regulating the sale OF ardent Spirits, he had Moth
ing to do witi,it. This law was engrafted INTO
The Code, after the Governor had resigned his
Office as one OF the Commissioners. His views.
NJ VIC undo island them correctly, have always
been opposed 70 any legislation upon the sub
jec,. unless specially authorized BY the people.
The editor Of the Gazette is perhaps TOO
strongly tineiured with the Name 1enperanc"
tannficisn, 10 do justice 10 The views and feel
.ings Of those who do not agree with HIM mall
nf his Temperance rxfrayagances. Let Us hope
hat he will do Justice 10 the opinions and conrs.
OF our Executive. although Democrat in poll.
tics, and that he will hereafter regard temper
ance as moral and no, loliiical question
His eff,,rfs in behalf Of temperance, II shorn
of everything Of a political ehnre'er, will be
comuendable indeed Dubuque Express.
We have few comments 10 offer on The
above, ms The only assertion made by our
contemporary il, that the provision Of ,he
Code regulating the sale Of ardent spirits.
was eneraded upon it after Mr.. Hemp
stead Ind resigned bis office as Commits
.ioner. This NAV be true; If so, il deprive,
him Of ihs only .releemng feature hi,
character presents in the eyes Of Temper
4nce men.
The men pardonedby tho Governor had
violated law that is in constant reqnisi.
ton; they had had fair and impnrlia
tria. and been found guilty, and the rer.
lorest penalty attached to The statute ha'
been inflicted, and yet with knowledge
Of all these facts, Gov. Hampstead pardon
ed them. Our contemporary will Judge e.
himself if this be not an abuse Of the RICH
conferred upon the Erecutire Of the Stale
II is our desire TO ''do justice to ,h
opinions and course Of our Executive" bn
he may we'll exclaim MS The culprit 10 ,h
Judge, "Sir. that is what am afraid oiu'-
Some Of the staunchest Democrats Of To
place have publicly expressed the sam
willingness 10 see that justice be done Gov
Hampstead in this matter.
We think our contemporary for the ad
/ vice implied in the latter portion Of bis al
Iiicle, bu, with regard TO following il, "
refer him 10 our views, upon the subject j
the last Gazette.