Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1853-10-19


they may be seized by the proper all
thority and destroyed.
This is as effeciual as annihilation =
The Instrument of mischief is poured
into the gutter where formerly lis vic
/ tim wallowed. 1t hides in rocks AM
/ crevices of the earth, condemned by Law
it calls OH rocks and mountains to hid,
it from scorn hooting boys pursue it
and torture it with fire. Such scene
is the most emphatic condemnation o
alcoholic drinks ever presented Voters
of Grant County, shall Intoxicating Ii
quors run down your streets, or dowi
1 the throats OF your children? What {
deep and emphatic lesson is Taught Il
the rising generation by the exterlniiia.
ting edict of the Maine Law. Carthagt
must be destroyed, was the inspiring
watch4ord of ancient Rome. Let Us
substitute alcoholic drinks for Carthage
and transmit nobler motto to posteri-
-tv. The first act of obstruction tia,
takes place under this law in our state
will be remembered as the hanging d
murderer. Public opinion will be re-
volutioniZed, and the now tolerated anC
| licensed vendor of rum, will hide in the
same den with the gambler and counter.
feiter, and ply his trade of ruin will
the few abandoned men that know his
haunts. 1t is true, law cannot annihi-
late vice but it can drive it from the
face of day, and circuu.scribe it, till il
has lost the Juror TO corrupt and de-
prave /; and to the masses of men, its
very existence will become doubtful and
fabulous. Knickerbocker says that the
ghosty crew of Hendrick Hudson are al
the presen, day rolling nine pins and
drinking Holland gin in the CaatskiIl
mountains. The Rev. John Lewis OF
Plateeville, in a speech recently deliv-
cred to the County Temperance conven-
ton, stated that during the last summer,
he had travelled several hundred miles
in the state of Maine, aud in the whole
route, in the city of Portland, in its
lowest alleys, he found not, saw not,
smelt not, a single grocery, doggery or
saloon. A great social change had com
menccd, and was advancing. Such ire
the facts reported by the civil authori-
ties in that state, and as appetite grad
ually loses its power over its slaves, they
rally to the support OF the law that has
rescued them. Every successive elee-
ton in that state communicates a more
fearful pain to the entire fraternity OF
dealers throughout the union. A new
king has arisen that knows not joseph.
Voters are growing up in Maine who
know not alcohol, or who remember him
only TO hate him. The Maine Law,
supported by increasing MAORI les in its
own State, rises like Washington's mon
ument, and smiles at the weak malice of
its foes. Every state shall furnish a
block for the edifice, till it becomes the
ralying point and glory Of the age.
The constitutionality Of the Maine
Law we believe, is al present conceded
by every body, except the modern Dutch
commentators in Washington County
As our address will not reach hem, we
shall not argue this point. But it is
worthy of remark, as coming events
cast their shadows before, our leeisla
ture las already sanctioned the bump of
distructiveness, SO prominent in the
Maine Law /; look at page 243 of our
Revised Statutes. Chap, 80 is To pre-
vent the sale Of Intoxicating liquors 10
Indians. Sec. Cd says. it shall not be
lawful for any person to sell, give or
dispose of any intoxicating liquors to
the Winnebagoes within five miles OF.
the mouth Wolf river if so, any In d.
an agent, magistrate, sheriff, "a consta-
bic, shall have power to seize and de-
stroy such liquor without any further
warrant therefor. The session laws Of
1852, page 800, has extended this law
to the large county of LaPointe. Had
we been Indians, all Of us. you see orr
kind law-givers would have granted us
protection, long ago. Intoxicating
drinks respect not persons, and affect
white man and Winnebago alike. This
prohibiory law is copied from similar
law OF Congress. The officer Of the ar
my, or the Indian agent, who finds in
toxicating liquors in the Indian country
destroys them. This law acts feebly on
the frontier, but it is mighty in the
heart of the Indian territory. Congress
saw that nothing but the destruction of
property would check the trader. The
wisdom and efficiency OF the Maine Law
is manifest. Men will not risk their
money. The Supreme Court of the
United States, in late division, have
gone the whole length Of sanc,ioning The
destruction of intoxicating drinks by
state authority. This vexed Question
has been queied forever.
And does the Maine Law restrain
liberty? nothing is entitled to the name
Of law that does not in some degree re-
strain human action. Our whole legis
lature hitherto-lhe legislation of Con-
gress, in reference TO Intoxicating IL
4uers, has been compounded of restraint,
prohibition, penalty, destruction of pro-
perty. The only possible position for
the rum advocates to take, is, that Con-
gress and the state legislature are mis-
taken as to the nature of Intoxicating
liquors. If as Mr.. Biddlecome's law
says, they lead to murder itself. and all
other grades of crime, then societ Y
ought to protect its members against the
poison. 1t is bound so to do.
A n