Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-08-11
DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION.
FOR GOVERNOR,
ALBERT PILSBURY.
Gov. Crosby on the Maine Law

OoV' OrOSDy on Inc Ma1ne Law.
AS this gentleman has acquired considerable
notoriety for his skill in riding two horses, and
latterly has got well astride the claw" hobby,
letting the other horse ego to grass" it may
be well to quote from his inaugural address,
that all point and no point document which be-
wildered many temperance wings into the be-
lief that he was really law man until he made
his first appointment.
This extract will afford an opportunity for
comparison and making up final judgment of
the man, putting il by the side of the recent
letter expressing so much love for the "Maine
law" Then, he "forbid the banns' '-norc, he
gets up letter 10 bind ''the banns'' between
whiggery and the law. In his former OPposi-
ton to the "banns" we presume nc was only
playing the cunning policy of coquettish
maiden who wanted 10 show her lover how
independent she considered herself; now, like
her, he is for making up all quarrels, aud for
the sake of the gubernatoral office and its
emoluments, bringing about the celebration of
the very bunns which he deprecated.
"That it [lhe shame Law has been pro-
dnctive of evil as well as good, is what may be
predicated Of all human legislation. That it
has enlisted ardent friends in its support-that
II has met with strong OpposiIion-ihat it has
been made the instrument in the hands of warm
hearted, phlanthropic men for the redemption
OF the degraded, the temporal salvation of the
almost lUstF-tbdt 1t has been a moral tiro6rand
an the hands Of the fdn0tic,-thdt ii has been
prOStituted to the base purposes Of the dcmqgogue
are as much matters OF authentic history as The
existence of the law itself.
lou are aware that some Of the provisions
contained in The law in question have been made
the blect of examination and adjudication
IN two of our sister States, and in courts whose
Judicial opinions are Of high authority. If the
principles recognized by those courts are to be
adopted by the courts of law in our own State
and there IS reason for the belief that 1tlder a
similar state of facts they WM 6c-and applied
as the rule of construction to our own statute.
those features trhich hare been regarded as being
an conflict ruth the constitution, and therefore
Objectionable, have become, still more SO. In
such contingency, the objection should come
from the friends Of the law, rather than It's OBJ
nents. If il be true that the material provi-
slOns, those which are its distinctive character
lstlcs, which constitute lis vitality, are an con-
tfiCt rith the constitution and therefore cannot
be enforced, the law, so far as the attainment
OF It's proposed object is concerned, has become
lnOperGtire. That the people of the State de-
mand law sufficiently stringent to close eff
fectualIy every haunt Of intemperance within
its borders is PROFESSIONALLY true; but astatute
1ChoSe provisions cannot be enforced ~ courts of
Lal0, although even sustained by the moral SEN
timent Of the people, IS a dead letter upon the
statute book. Under such state of facts it OBJ
viously becomes the duty of all who would pros,
mote the cause Of temperance, SO far as it can
be promoted by legislation, 10 adopt that course
which will, with the least delay, settle at once
and forever the questions which are already
beginning TO embarrass the execution of the
law, and the still more important question,
whether the law of the land and public senti
nlent are in harmony.
| am not aware that any further legislation
upon the subject is contemplated. If it is, !
can only invite you to give il the calm and de-
liberate consideration 10 which subject matter
OF such magnitude, involving principles so mo-
mentous-the moral welfare and civil rights of
the people,-is entitled. But wond here,
as elsewhere, .tordid the bdmnS between tenn
Perance and religious sec: or party"