Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-05-27
" Below, we give the message oi
Gov. Boutwell,, Of Massachusetts, veto
ing the Liquor Bill:
Vetn ND0SsnDn

To The President Of the SenIfe:
A blll eniilled un act conceri
ing the manufacture and sale Of inIoxl-
raling and sriri,ous liquors." was laid
before .ne on the l4th inst. Tor my r-
vision. | have duly considered the
measure, and now communicate to the
honorable Senate the objections | enter
tain 10 its Passage. The will VI the peo-
Ile 10 usually expressed through certain
organizations called government. The
harmonious and elkclent action OF the
government is based upon the concur
rance or the moral, political and physic-
al power of tie people. u only one Or
two Oi these powers exist in reference TO
"a Partic ular law, iss inhuenre 10 Propo'-
tionally weak. WheD our laws are
tased upon the CONSTITUTION. and in har-
mony with well settled principles Of pub
lie policy, they need no popular approv-
al TO give them validity aud power
They rest Oh q e admitted moral and o.
l,Iira' judgment OF the people aid may
therefore command the phy sical force Of
he State. ln the progress Of events
great and peculiar measures may he pro-
posed, whose value depends .ntireIy u
OH the pol ular judgment. and under such
circumstances II 10 undoubtedly wise IN
the Legislature 10 seek AN expression of
Jutiic opinion. II il Tor this reason that
in sore States certain grave que.ti, ms,
a. the creation OF a public debt, tor eX.
ample. are by the Constitution submit
ted to the people.
The moral power OF a statute is great
ly increased by the Tree and decisive ap-
probation oi those who are TO be subjer-
ted tn It's operation. hen, therefore.
IN addition To the importance Of the SUBJ
ject legIslated upon, the act contains
new principles OF legislation, or is OF
doubtful expediency, stronger reasons
exist for as' erlaining the public will.
The measure before me is important,
anu contains new principles Of lcgIs'a-
ton; is oi doubtful exPedienc,y, and ]
therefore concur with the Legislature
IN the proprety of lie submission 10 the
people. Mere political power and ply
seal force are not sufficient TO secure
the perfect or even respectable admins.
iration Of the law. Our experience as a
State, and as "a member OF The American
Union. furnishes sufficient evidence upon
thIs point; ali sale and whoicsom legis-
iation must have a moral basis in the
heart and minds OF the people.
More especially is this true when that
cgi,lllion iuteriercs with the principles,
contiols the habis, or regulates the
morals oi men.
Whenever. in reference 10 great
measures. il is doubtful whether such
basis exists, the question should be set
tied hy an appeal to the people.
Although | could not recommend the
J. ,ssagc oi the bill before me, The chief
and sufficient objection 10 the present
movement lies against the manner OF
a." rtaining the popular will A. a
! oint oi principle ii,lnk all great quef-
TONS should determined by secret ballot.
1 here is NJ domestic question more i'm
portant than this. The use OF the open
ballot will divesi The decision oi the peo-
Jlc Of all moral power whatever. Ii is
not necessary to consider whether a
. snglc man even would be ovcrawed or
improperly Influenced in his action. A
f"bsequrnt allegation that many men
al been thus Influenced, or that the
zen ballot had teen uniav"rahlc to n
fll expression Of opinon would deprive
the verdict OF it's mor"l str ngth.
On the other hand u decision by Sc
cret ballot would be fnal. If adverse TO
The law. it's lrienIs could not complain
The decision would be conclusive that
the people are not prepared Tor tie
m asure. and ih $ save It's advocates
from numerous libors and contests
which mist finally. under such circum
stances, aid ia their discontinue.
Should The law be decisively sustained
by the secret ballot, il would then possess
moral as well as political basis on
which to have IA fair trial.
A d,cislon by open bal ot may leave
the law upon the statute books, but ne
r.ssarIiy shorn OF its moral strength
and am fully conscious that it cannot
stand upon mere political power and
physical iorce. Legislation deals with
~, n as they are. The province OF law
il TO re- der certain and secure that
which the moral Judgment Of man has
approved and moral reformation has ac-
quired.
After careful view Of the whole sub
irct. | am brought to this conc lusion -
That a measure oi this sort cannot rest
safely and permanently upon the mere
action OF repre- sentative bodies Of men
that il must have the sanction OF the
Icoplr that sanction must contain tie
moral as we'll as political power ot the
State that decision by open ballot
W uld possess very little moral iorce,-
q ii finally, that the secret ballot furn-
ishes tho only proper means OF ascer-
Ia nIng tie public Judgment.
Two Considerable have had great
influence upon my mind. know OF no
government, either despolic or repub
lean, which has permanently succeeded
in limiting the use vi intoxicating lIq uors,
except 80 tar as 1t was sustained by the
conscientious opinions and practice Of ~
majority oi the people.
And iurther, cannot, by any process
Vi moral reasoning. relieve myself OF the
duty Of resisting the passage Of a doubt
fol measure under such circumstances
that in the certain ultimate defeat which
awaits u, is to he overihrown the cause
II was int, nded TO support.
Guided IN my course and in the reI-
sons | have presented, by a sense ofdury
TO the Com,nonwc lth, which has hon
orcd me with its confidence, respect
fully return the act entitled An Act
concerning the sale and manufacture oi
spurious and intoxicating liquors" to
that department Of the Government in
which il originated.
-: GEO. S. BOUTWELL,.