Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-06-03
The Liquor rBill--GOv. Boutwell,
..The Pres.

hc AhYuOT nhHssSOSs nOWtwch
1.-The Pres.
Below we give the voice Of the Press
far as returns have been received"-
on the action OF Mr.. Boutwell, in connec-
ton with the Liquor Bill. The Courier
says;
"The Governor does nothing we'll; his
course has been the see saw Of blunders
"a zgzag perversity in wrong.doIng.
Who can understand him2 Had he
gone straightforward, and said the law
is good, therefore approve it," all men
would have given hIm the credit OF see-
ing his duty, and OF having the courage
to do it, whatever hey might think Of
the law itself. But he has not done this.
lie appears either not to have seen his
duty, or not to have had the courage TO
perform it. In his veto message, he
says the law is not what ii ought TO
bel reject it, In his second message
he says-'l am Of the same opinion still
but | approve the law" God save
the commonwealth OF Massac chusetts -
W i'll anybody save The Governor -
A private man might be justi-
fled Tor having no opinion Of his own,
hut what was the duty Of the Execu-
tive in this case under the Constitution ?
That inslrument-Ihe supreme law Of
the land. says-'lfh he has any objection
TO the passing Of such bill or resolve, he
shall return the same &c; not, he may
return IT, but he shall return it,"
The JOufndi remarks;
"By signing the bill the Governor has
IN reality placed himself in curious
and anomalous position. He approves
OF measure which he says lis OF doubt
iul expediency,' the passage Of which
he could not recommend,' and which,
he furthermore thinks, Cannot rest safe
ly and permanently upon the mere ac-
lion Of representative bodies Of men,
To lay nothing oI the Inconsistency Of
t, Q course of the Governor, it is doubt.
tul whether the act is strictly in accord
ancc with his constitutional duty, as he
is req quired, IT he have any objection to
the passage OF such bill or resolve 10
veto the same. We must confess our
inability to see by what process Of rea-
soning Governor Boutwell, has convinc-
ed himself that he should sign bill Of
which he enteitalns so uniavorablc an
opinion"
The Atias, in its decisive manner com.
mcnts itself Oh the question as io!-
lows -
"Classing among the most important
bills which have passed, the act rcgula-
ting the manufacture and sale OF intoxi-
eating liquors"
The Commonwealth seems bewider.
ed on the passage ol the law aud
says:-
"One hardly knowo whom to thank for
the blessing. Not the Senate, for they
only gave the successful course their re-
luctant acquiescence. Not the House,
for they put the law in most imminent
peril, so that it is hard even now, to for.
give them. Not the Governor, for he
would gladly have vetoed The bill again.
We must receive II as one OF those tri.
umrhs Of the right which occur because
justice and reason prevail in the minds
OF the people, and the schemes Of ambi.
tlon and fears OF conservatism yield to
their will. We have the law, however
and as that Is what we wanted, we can
afford 10 thank all parties concerned.-
We thank the Senate for nobly receding
when the House would not the House
for having pursued the course which in.
spiration and true prophecy would have
pointed out the Boston delegation Tor
their unfriendly bu, Indispensable aid,
and the Governor for doing the noble
thing left for one who has taken wrong
siep-that Of retracting it,"
The Times rears like one OF Disbrow's
horses at the snap Of his whip-"s,ands
up like man 10 and gives the Cover.
nor "particuar Jessy." Hear "the
Senator from Middlescx:
ave thought that we knew the man |;
but we never did think that he could ex-
hibit such want Of courage as Is in
voIved IN his approval Of law, which,
according 10 his own showing, never
should have been enacted. To
have approved Of the first liquor bill
would have been bad enough, but it
would be only an error Of Judgment
The approval OF the second bill involves
an amount OF absurdity that cannot be
paraIleled. The Governor has contriv-
cd to offend every body, and we cannot
too strongl express our extreme regret
at the weakness he has evinced. The
card was in his hand to make for him
self not only q great position with the
people OF the State, but also Of the whole
country. His vascillating course on this
question will assuredly prove his politi-
cal DEATH"
The Post, too, raps the bill and the
Governor over the kuuckles with the
following -
The Governor having signed the
new anti liquor law, the attempt TO en-
force It wall be made in sixty days. We
regret that the executive did not con-
slider il lis duty TO withhold his consent
to this lava law which, IT appears to
us, is lraught with mischief and iDJus-
ticc. We look upon II as a measure in
Producing the most dangerous principles
in regard to personal rights, and Of i'm
moral tendency. We believe 1t will
give rise to strife, animosity and dis
regard Of law highly injurious TO tie
public welfare, and will finally fall be-
meath the execratlons Of large majori-
" OF the sober and discreet cltizeDs OF
Massachusetts, IL we had been Cover
nor Of Massachusetts we would have
seen the Legislature OF the Common
wealth into the middle Of next week be-