Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-06-22

speak of licensing the retail of spirits, some seem
to think the law necessarily places it on the foot
ing of other employlnents which are licensed
This has arisen from regarding the license as only
another term for tax. In relation to other employ
ments, as keeping houses Entertainment or board
ing, exhibiting shows, selling wares and merchan-
disc and the like, such is true. The law does
not presume such empioyments probably danger
GUS to the peace and safety of the community, and
provides no such safeguards. AS in respect of the
liquor traffic, all are licensed who pay their tax.
But the liquor traffic is refused as likely to prove
dangerous, unless properly restrained. Those who
engage in it, are regarded as likely to do wrong,
unless they ARE persons Of unexceptionably good
character. Now law is public sentiment printed,
or concisey expressed, with penalties annexed
Thus far public sentiment has given its views, and
it is held that public sentiment must execute the
law. In other words we are not by law, though
enacted to undertake the repression OF exercising
this right to sell liquor, but leave to public senl-
ment this office.
4. But is this the province of public sentiment!
Do we as to other vices, leave culprits to public
sentiment? Far from it. We may entrust pub
lie sentiment in its unorganzed form, or before 1t
is concentrated in law, with the business OF cor
recting mems Thoughts, but mems acts need
something stronger. We might have safely left
the Connaughtmen and Fairdowns to the influence
Of public sentiment of this kind, to correct their
bad feelings to one another, but when they began
to quarrel and break skulls and burn houses,it was
thought best to give them taste of the other kind
of public sentiment-the law. Our civil authori-
ties were happy in finding in our valent Colonel
and his volunteers and militia police to appre
bend the rioters, and in our Judge and jury and
tipo nft IN hn mr.
leader IF vices are to. be repressed by public
sentiment we shall soon have new measures. In
stead of taking culprits to Jail we must take them
to church to hear a sermon; instead of placing
them at the bar,we must get up public meeting,
an indignation meeting, and resolve them into Or
DERBY citizens. Instead of experimenting the rogue
who is breaking open your smoke house you must
stand off, make bow and proceed to give lee
ture on the beauties of honesty and the meanness
of stealing. Instead of inflicting the penalty of
nine and thirty or fine and Imprisonment, you
must infct Hpmilies on fair dealing and peacea-
BILE living. This is the new theory Of education,
which, improving on Solomon, proposes to make
our schools embryo republics and enforce good or
der and diligence by fair speeches and the public
sentiment of little boys and girls, instead of the
sweet oil of birch or hickory. Instead OF little
wholesome punishment on the refractory little reb-
els who take law into their own hands, mothers
and fathers are to sing 'Let dogs delight to bark
and bite &c.," to repress the rinsigs of "angry
PASSIONS II is certainly well enough and in our
country Indispensable, that right public opinion
be created and kept up. But little of the law
is equally necessary. Those who argue for pub
lie sentiment as our safeguard against the evils of
drunken servants and sons and fathers and hus-
bands, tempted to become such by liquor dealers,
may call their neighbols names, as fanetcs and.
enthusiasts but it is surely as fair to return the
compliment by calling them radical conservatives!
5. And after all, under any Interpretation of the
existing laws, whether regarded as permitting the
court unlimited discretion, or implicitly requi-
ring some persons to he licensed-ths system of
legalising a business, which however pursued by
honest and good men, is yet, even according to
the law, dangerous, and according 10 fact, never
pursued without some evil results, is one Of the
chief obstacles to the creation and upholding Of a
proper public sentiment. So long as genteel men
are sustained by the protection Of law, iii the hab-
its of tipping engendered in bar-rooms and groce-
ries, the efforts of temperance men will prove ar
duous and inefficient. If we are asked-to repress
ntemperance by public sentiment, let us have
fair field. Let the LAW no longer give its implied
sanction. Let those who will drink, drink at
home. when the perricous effect of example may
indeed, tell ruin on their families, but will not so
much affect others. Let those who wish to train
their sons to habits of sobrety not be biudered by
the law putting the licensed toddy or juepin their
path. Let those who wish to keep their servants
from vice, not be prevented by the open and eff
tectual door to its commission presented by dram
shops. If the law withdrawns its support, we can
soon manage the evil. We want no Maine Law,
till public sentiment will sustain it; but to get