Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-01-20
Dlattl)nIau s. State Iolraal.
4. p. WALTON, Jag., EDIEoH.
Trur.dny, Jan. 30, sk53.
The Liquor Law---Yes CT No.
Trmr.dny, Jan. 30, ts5a.
Day OF voting, Tuesday, Feb. 3.

We give mp large share Of this days paper
20 the champions for and against the liquor law
II will be srcn that one defends tie pr,ncpes on
which the act Is based. and the other assuils It's
details; aud if we could call up the contestants /
and subject them 10 cross examination il Is quite |
likely that he who argues for the principle would |
admit that the details afford fair ground for
conlrarieiy Of opinions while he who ussalls
The details would admit in the main the correct
ness Of the principles of The act. On tins state
menl Of the case, what shall The people do, Who
are neither profound lawyers 10 settle great legal
principles, nor experienced legislators to settle
matters Of detod2 We have heretofore indica-
YVES, that every man ought to vote U.s. vino is iu
favor Of eaeciually supprcss.ng the traifc'in liq-
uors for the purpose of ntoXlouton, and who
willing 10 subject himself to the powers and pen
altles of this act until It's alleged defects may be
Vmcdcd by the legislature, and its constitutions
alny tested by the courts. Every man, who cnn.
/ mt bring hiusef TO TINS point, should vote No
Whether You think the law very perfect, as does
+ Alr. Steele, or exceedingly onerous and lmper
feet, as does our correspondent "O me the PEG
/ PIE" we think we have stated the correct rule
be act has not been Submitted to the people.
~ 10 committee of the whole to perfect il by
amendment; nor os to acunit, % settle its con-
-iilu onaliiy il comes as a question of public
policy, or principle Of legislation, to be settled
I by the people; that being done, It is for the ia.
dieial tribunals TO determine the question 1f con-
: stiluiiona power, and for the legislature 10 rem
edy defects and correct errors in detail. Such
Is our view Of the matter. 10 tai il IS objected,
that the act really Is not submitted to the people.
but simply question of suspension from March
10 Doccmb'r. But why susp"d? The very
object was to get popular verdict and the pre-
Sumption IS, llut fiho people vote No, the act
Will be repealed in October next, and So moi 60
into effect at ALL The fact is, that tire list Log.
islature ,eomd mol pass the bill without subject.
iug il TO the verdict Of toe people and strong
Temperance men stood on TINT ground men who
deem IL guwlse 20 agislate ia advance Of pubic
opnon-,o maxi laws only to be violated or neg
locted with impuniy. The inquiry may arise-
why thcn did the legislature put the question Ia
the people IA the form of q suspension, instead OF
direct adoption a. lIecuon of the act; We
auswor;-it was done iu rider To avoid a cousti-
lulionui difficulty. Rya decision ofthe S preme
Count of thus State, II Is rendered doubtful, %
say ile least, whether the legislature can make
law conditioned upon The approval Of the PEG
pie, but it Is certaln that law can be enacted
and suspended IN that mode Article Is, part
ifsl Of the Constitution, provides for this, thus
. The power of suspending laws. or the exc.
p cuii"n Of laws, ought never 10 le eyeci-ed hui
by ihe Legislature. or from aVlhnriy derived
from n, To he exercised ga such particular cases
Is lhls onsinut.on. or the Legislature. shall
pgoyde ior"-C COMPETED Statutes, page 80.
. We now proceed to give the information de,
sired by a Stove correspondent a short umt
ago.
The Liquor Law was undur consideration
luring nearly the whole sitting of the last Leg
seizure. ~ an early day pc iuons began Z,
rn0in, 10 great numbers, for an act essentially
ike the Maine law, and ommutces were appoint
ID IN both Houses to consider. the subject, an,
public discussions were Lad f ON time to time.
IN THE SENATE.
Noy.3, MT. iates (whigl introduced The Sen
ate bill, which was referred with amendment
aud printed
Noy. 10, MT. Seymourtwhig)moyed to amend
% asto submit the bill to the people at the an
ual March meeting, aud "suspending the oper
,ion of the same until ii appears that q majority