Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-03-26
For the Journ al.
Reply to Clarendon.

FRIEND BooTH:-In the language of your
last weeks correspondent, should not now
trouble you with this communication but for
the product of that gentleman over the coguo-
men of clarendon" l beg you to under
stand that it was not from the pen of the Earl
of Clarendon, but from the pen of his Honor,
John Shrenk; whether he holds an agency
from the Earl or not, cannot say. When it
is known that this John Clarendon, alias
Shrenk, is grocery keeper, the reasons for
his objections will need no further explanation
his is the first and only pen at work oppo-
sing. But John seems to think he has the
right to question the legality OF the ordinance
he SO obstinately opposes, and the motives
which induced its passage. would not for
the world deprive John of the right to call any
and every thing in question, for never pre-
sumed that he has changed his nature so as
to be found in favor Of any measure of reform
or of advancement But pray, John, what
motive could the Council have other than to
free the town from wthering blight? AS
to the outsiders, do not pretend to know
whether they are few or many; but as con-
slider the measure both necessary and Just, |
trust they are many and will be so found in
the time of need. AS to the learned legal
opinion expounding the constitution and laws
of the State, would only observe that if John
had been lille better lawyer, he would have
known that the question he so greatly argues
has been decided against him by the courts
over and over again. 1t is not new to find
persons inslructing the public on the most diff
ticult legal questions. who will hasten to con-
suit lawyer if a dollar of their own interest
is at stake. l had fully anticipated such a
state of things in this matter and expected the
grocery keepers to lead off. for it is fact well
understood that important measures which
largely effect whole community will produce
no excitement, but the moment the liquor
question is touched, every vender of alcohol is
in a panic and set about controlling or proh;b-
ling the actions Of the public authorities, and
no matter what the proposed measure may be,
it is at once declared unconstitutional and H.
legal, and Of all the measures put forth in the
different States Of the Union on this subject,
believe not one has escaped the charge of be-
ing unconstitutional and illegal; this is a ster
eotyped objection of the yenders and their al
lies. Suffice it to say we have courts OF JUS
tice in which we are ready to appear and test
the legality of our doings. AS John passes
along he conceives the idea of playing the
demagogue a little, and forthwith sets about
endeavoring TO prejudice the poor against the
rich. This idea of Johns can be found in the
constitution of the burglars, portion OF whom
were lately convicted in Loraip county, but
whether he go; from them or not, we cannot
tell; it may have been born with him. Eve
nv man who sows seeds of dssension in COM
munity is engaged IN wicked business. The
rich and the poor are mutually dependent, al
ways have been and always will be; neither
can live without the other, and he who seeks
to embitier the one class against the other, is
either too stupid TO appreciate his work Of
wickedness or is so vicious that he will destroy
the quiet Of community for sinister purposes.
Had the author been disposed TO deal fairly he
would have stated that the person to be de-
sgnated to keep liquor will keep all the diff.
ferent kinds where the rich and the poor can
obtain il for lawful purposes, and can obtain it
at the same price, no matter whether 1t be
wine, brandy or whiskey, but that neither can
obtain it for an amtawfM purpose. The whole
object Of this measure, as John very well
knows, was simply to prevent the sale Of H.
quor for unlawful purposes. This gentleman
has all his life been worried with the idea OF
"favoritesm;" 1t haunts him like the ghost OF
Hamlel's father and by it he can be as easily
told as il he wore ear marks. The poke ber-
ry brandy" which several of the twenty odd
groceries Of the place have been so layshly
vending until they have poked the money out
of the pockets Of great many of their Gus
toners. their knees through their breeches
their elbows through their coats, the brains
. out of their heads, the bread out of their chill
dren's mouths, and have poked their custom
: ers into the jail, and Oft times on to the gal
. lows. for poking the dagger into their neigh
bor's breast, is ono Of the articles the sale o.