The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1852-05-12

desired end has been attained. and that they
may now lay upon their oars. which vii
hurry them down the current they have beer
struggling with 50 much difficulty to stem
! night here reiere TO the practical effect oi
the well-meant law against seduction; but
that subject would require an essay. On
the score Of expediency, could furnish a
long list Of objections against direct legisla-
ton in support of the cause Of the use Of to-
bacco, or of imported tea. The drinker
will violate the law, and in doing so, make
that crime, which was before folly or impru-
dence, or, If you please, morally wrong
Severe penalties will only aggravate the evil
Ii disproportioned, they will not be executed,
or only serve as an excuse for heavier sxae-
tiORs, by those who run the risk, as in the
case Of the laws against usury. Inpractice
they will operate as premium for smuggling.
The severe laws of Elrgland against lhe in
production of brandy or tobacco; the heavy
duties on distilled spirits are constantly evaded
and the articles sold for less then the amount
of the prohibitory duties. The illicit trade
is mere matter of business calculation, and
Its effects must necessarily be dcmoralzing.
The haine law, as it,is called, goes on the
principle, that the drinker is an Innocent
person, victim, irresponsible as tender
infant, and therefore to be placed under
guardianship; while the displeasure of the
law is to be exclusively visited on the seller
of the drink! Now, l think the parties. TO
say the least, are on footing, or in pSri-
deitcto, as the lawyers say. If the seller
tempts the drnker, the latter also tempts the
seller. You may break up the traffic, but
the vice will remain. They have mere cor
rect ideas of jnslice even in Russia, for there
it is the drinker who is punished, as would
appear from representation in late num-
Der of Harpers' Magazine, where tipplers
OF both sexes, taken up during the night,
are seen scraping and clearing the streets,
object of public derision and contempt. The
act OF drinking should be punished as well
as the act of selling, if you punish either.
j.. l am not opposed to indirect Legislation
on the subject in question. The most strin.
gent law yet eontriyed, that is to say, the
"Maine law" acknowledges that distilled H.
quors are useful, and necessary in the arts,
and in medicine; and that wine is required
for sacramental purposes! When ardent
: temperance lecturers use sucl expressions as
; "double distilled damnation," these are not
arguments, but figures of speech. Now
the "Mainc law adopt, system of licenses,
or rather of monopolies, introducing new
classs of public functionaries SO obviously
Objectionable, that is scarcely worth the
trouble ofexposing it. would 90 back to the
old plan of granting licenses, altering AMI
; improving it as far as practicable. l would
take 1t as the foundation to build upon.
would grant licenses under heavy bonds
and penal restrictions, and as heavy tax
as could be imposed, without absolute pro.
! hlbluOn, SO as to increase the price of the
liquor sold, to double or three times the pres.
ent amount. l would punish severely all
dlsorderly conduct at those places besides
Withdrawing the license on conviction. |
would endeayor to make the drinker, in some
mode. feel the effects of his vicious indul-
gence. But | would by no means discour-
age the use of small beer, wine, or cider;
and encourage the home production. The
cases which produce intemperance are rare
EXCEPTIONS. Home brewed beer, and cider,
in many parts of Britain and on the contenent,
and used as part of their food, instead of tea
and coffee; SO is wine in the wine producing
countries, which are proverbial for their So
briefly. The manufacturer of malt liquors
shoald be licensed, and the articles inspected,
there should be a severe penalty on The use
of any thing but malt and hops in its COM
position. On the venders of whiskey, es-
pecially when imported from other States.-
l would exact license as nearly prohibitory
as possible. Whiskey from the west, is at
present deplorably cheap, and OF murder
ously bad quality, at least am so uniformed /!
All the "Maine laws in the world would
not prevent it from being gclandestinely intro
duced here, aPl the only course is to make it
as dear as possible, or have it of more
wholesome quality, like old Monongahcla; un-
less it be thought good policy to have all
the whiskey dinkers killed off as speedily as
possible. l am in favor of a good article, be
it what it may These views will of course
be disapproved by the over Jealous and in
tolerant who believe that no one who differs
from them in opinion, either in religion, NOR
ais, or politics, can beas honest and sincere as
themselves. . .#
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