Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-08-19
UTThe hearing on the Liquor ca,

stated before, we trust tl,at all our cii-
zens will regard these men, who are so
lost 10 all sense of decency and self res
pect, with silent contempt, and allow
them TO complete their dirty and dcgra-
ding work, without moIcstaion. We
have never counienanred The attack
which was made upon them last week.
But one thing is morally certain. il a
similar demonslra ion should ngaln be
made, and these rufiians or any Of them,
should draw pistols and fire or attempt
to fire them, they must prepare them
selves 10 take the consequences, and
those probably Of rather summary ma
ture. The people OF Newport, of all
classes, will not allow such men to re-
sort to such means, because AL who
happen 10 be in the neightorhood, at
the time, are in danger Of their lives
Men who are entirely free from all par
ticipation in, or sympathy with, the
conduct OF Law less men who might
make an assault with eggs on these
witnesses, innocent women and even
children, are liable to be shot down by
these reckless fellows, who have come
here, as hired iniormers, fully armed
with loaded pistols. We repeat again,
the people Of Newport will not submit
to such imp positl, n and such DANGER
and there will be enough found who will
speedily remedy the evil.
One thing is certian, for all expert
ence has demonstrated it,-no law can
be enforced which is not sustained by
public opinion F; all laws, to be success
fuI in their operation, mus, be founded
in justice and equity, and must have
the appreciation OF the mass Of the COM
munity without these requirements,
they will be entirely wthou, effect
An obnoxious law may not be openly
resisted, although constantly violated
yet such law accomplishes no good,
because it fails TO effect the desired oh
ject,-and the reason OF this is that il
violates the rights OF the people and
robs them Of their property-property
which the law recognizes andthe Con-
stitution guarantees and protects
Hence the nullity of all such laws
Some, perhaps, will term this one of
the evils OF Republic; it is nevcrthe-
less truth, Tor in Republics the people
rule, and they will not submit to laws
which are obnoxious to them. Fortu-
nately, there is proper mode to rene
dy the evil, because the people have
the power TO repeal the law through
the same channel that it came into exi-
tencc.
In regard 10 this law certain Tenn
perance men, aided by few politicians
who were reckless and unprinciplcd in
their conduct, have pursued n course
which was contrary to reason and jus
ticc, and in direct violation OF all
Parliamentary usage. This law was
inde:ently rushed through both branch
cs OF the Assembly within twenty-four
hours its friends refused to have il
printed, thing which was never known
before IN regard to any public law Of
any considerable impor ,ance-they re-
fused to have il laid over to the June
session. only six weeks distant in fact,
they refused everything which was rea-
sonable or just in regard TO it, AT the
May session there were more new men,
bers Of the Assembly, meh who had
never sa' in Legislative body before,
than had ever been known in any
previous year; the law was revamped
from the Maine law, and WAS patched
up by Mayor Bars,ow & CO., wi,hou,
the aid or inspection Of any lawyer, ex-
cept one or two Of no experience and
far less legal requirements or compre-
hension,-- and in this indecent mann'
and under these extraordinary circum-
stances, it was rushed through the A.
sembly, with perfectly incorporate ie-
rocity. The law Is lame throughout,
and many Of it's provisions are contrary
to the principles Of Magma Char,a, il
direct violation OF the Constitution
and repugnant TO all the old ami we'll
settled maxims Of law.
The most severe and chicacious COM
mentary OH this monstrous law 10 found
in the fact that the British Ministry
have just vetoed it, as passed by the
New Brunswick Legislature, on the
ground that il contravcncs the rights of
the Queens subjects,--and all the world
knows that decision Of the British
Ministry is high and reliable authority,
for the Queens Cabinet is composed Of
the ablcs, talent in the realm. Well, if
the British Ministry thinks that this
law violates the rights Of the people Of
a mOndrchidi government, in the name
of common sense, does i. not most gross
iy violate the rights Of a free people, who
live under Republican Cover rnmen,,
and whose pride has been TO declare,
iron l776 down to this time, that man
is capable Of self.govcrnment, and that
all governments derive their just power
from the consent Of the governed.
Once more. History and experience,
in all ages of the world, with Uniform
ity which is truly remarkable, teach US
that no great moral reform can be effect
ed by acts Of legislation solely you