New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-09-21
UNLICENSED RUMsELLIyG.

We, who oppose all traffic IN intoxicating Beverages
as immoral and at war with the best interests of soc
ety. cannot be expected to realize any sharp distinction
between Licensed and Unlicensed Rumselers. One
has ten dollars to pay for license and gets it; an
other is destitute of the needful and hopes to shuttle
unObseryed without one or the former has made his
money by getting soakers half drunk at sixpence a
glass, and, thus prmed, they have proceeded to the
latter's freeand-easy cellar and kicked up row:
whereupon the cellar is reported dsordery and re-
fused license; though wherein he who sells tipper
the liquor which he gets the first half OF dead drunk
is any better than he who finishes him of ice do not
pretend to say. The License Laws are no laws Of
ours their morality, equity, policy humanity must be
demonstrated by those who uphold them by any body
not BY US who condemn them and demand their abb
clifton.
Still il is fact that we hare License Laws; that
they have for years stood satutebOOks as fairly
and fully as any other laws that they thus far to
be upheld by public sentiment; and that we have
chosen and are now paying officers whose sworn duty
it is to detect arrest and punish their vioators We
who loathe these laws not in power they who pro-
fess to believe in their wisdom and efficacy sit in the
seats of Authority and pocket the liberal stpends ac-
corded to the guardians and executors Of the Laws.
their OstenatioHs riOlators You, Mr. Mayor Weservelt
who pass for respectable law-abiding, well meaning
citizen-you in whose office licenses granted with
your tacit if overt concurrence-you Sir are per-
fectly aware-you cannot help being aware-that some
fifteen hundred to two thousand grog shops dealing
out liquid poison in our City in Agrant violation of the
lawswhich YOU and paid to execute and en-
force-you know that the IMMUNITY in lawbreakng ac-
corded them is breach of public faith to the Licensed
who have paid some S50OO0 into the City Treasury ex
pressly for the privilege which these men usurp for
nothing Is this fair and honest on your part Sup
pose 4 has leased Ferry of the City at the rate Of
So 900 per annum and C. d. starts one from the next
slip without authority-what would you do Could
you decenty allow the latter to continue operation
another day Yet see what you are dOing-or rather
not doing-with regard to unlicensed Grog.hOps
Then look at the impunity and universally of Sunday
Rumselling The policy or impolicy, justice inus-
tee of the laws against this business not now in
point You are perfectly aware that the laws which
you have sworn 10 execute forbid the sale Of Liquor
the Sabbath you took the office OF Mayor and swore
to discharge its duties with full knowledge that such
laws existed. and that your oath contemplated their
execution. What are you now doing When the
Licenses were granted last spring the grantees were
told every hour, Now understand that you are for
hidden to sell on the Sabbath if you do sell on that
day your licenses are forfeited and you liable TO pun
ishment. We warn you not to violate the laws, for
I'VE shall certainly enforce them Many were made
to deny that they sold the Sabbath others 10 PROM
ise that they would do so never more And now, in
defiance of these warnings these promises right under
the noses of your Omnpresent Police two-hrds of the
Licensed are openly selling k1Plor every Sabbath
selling more on that day than "a any other Is 1t con
sistent with the reputation you bear as private c
zen that you now iorswear yourself TO screen these
Rumsellers from the penalties OF their misdeeds and
give them IMMUNITY in the weekly violation Of our laws
We enjoyed the honor last Sabbath evening Of
riding up in the car with our distinguished
Chief of Police. Hon Geo ". Matsel- He was going
home from his days work whereof the staple is the ar
rest of offenders tie end Of ensuTns respect for and