The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-01-05
DIR. Davis's Liquor Law.

One OF the editors of the White Riv.
or Advertiser Or. Ira Davis, we pre-
sume) has favored the public with an
outline of liquor law exactly according
to his notions. Had he been as anxious
to give his views Of this matter-which
everybody knew was to be acted on by
the legislature last Fall-bcfore the law
was passed as he has been since, his sug-
gestions might have been influential in
preventing the great calamity which he
now thinks has befallcn the State. Let
us sec what this most Jealous opponent
of the Vermont law would have in its
stead. lie says
Our plan would be as follows:
LIST. Each town shall appoint annual.
ly an inspector Of liquors, whose duty
it shall be to test, or cause to be tested
all liquors kept for sale in such town.
I'd. If any person shall sell, or offer
to sell or furnish any impure or adultcr.
atcd liquor, or liquors which have not
been tested and appreciated by the in
spector, he shall on conviction pay for
the first offence $40, for the second Of
fence $50, and for each subsequent of.
fence 500, and be imprisoned not ex.
cecding 90 days in the county Jail,
Sd. If any person under the influence,
or in consequence of the use of intoxica.
ting liquors, shall commit any trcspass.
or any breach of the peace, or any capt
tai or infamous crime, any or every per
son who may have sold him such intoxi.
eating liquor, shall be deemed co.tres-
passer, or an accessory before the fact
to such crime, and upon conviction, be
punished accordingly.
4th. If any person shall, in conle-
quence of the use of intoxicating liquors
neglect his family, or become unable to
support them, so that they come to want,
or the town is put to expense for their
maintenance, any person or persons who
may have furnished such liquors. shall
be liable for the maintenance CT such
family, or to refund to the town all ex-
penses incurred for that purpose, to be
recovered in an action of trcspass
9Th. If any person shall become in
toxicated 80 as to disturb or break the
peace, he shall be arrested and held in
custody until sober, and until he shall
disclose upon his oath the name Of the
person or persons who furnished him
with liquor, and for second and subse-
quent offence, shall be sentenced to the
House CT Correction not exceeding 90
days.
9th. If any person shall sell or furnish
any intoxicating liquors, to any minor,
he shall forfeit and pay the sum of $50
for each offence, for the benefit of COM
mon schools in the town who're such Of
fence is committed.
Tho first section reminds us of a
burlesque bill that was in vogue two
years ago, providing for the appointment
of "tasters and smellcrs in the several
counties" 1t evidently conflicts with
the 25th article of the constitution, in
asmuch as the proposed Office would, eth
or on account OF its 'fees, /" '0r other
V''e," occasion many to apply for it :"
The fourth, according to the Aduerti-
ser'S arguments, would conflict with the
last clause of the I'd article of the bill
of rights and the fifth is even more
stringent than the similar provision in
the Vermont law, which some consider
oppressive already.
How anybody could go for the above
and against the present law, we do not
sec, unless because it omits the impor-
tant power of search and confscation,
aud restraints the privilege mot consti-
tutiOnal righf of appeal, when obvious
ly resortcd to merely to defeat the ends
Of Justice.