Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1853-09-08


temperance, in 1851:
Quarter ending June 30, $l6l 6sI
Do. Sept. 80, o OIL
Showing reduction Of $l56 81 or ninety
seven per cent.
Cost Of support OF common drunksids in The
House OF Correction, for Penobseot county, in
1851.
Quarter ending June 30, $l47 s4I
Do. Sept. 30, 40 67I
Showing reduction Of $lo7 IA, or ~ l-2 per
cent
We have The Marshars testimony that " c,n-
siderable improvement" is manifest in the con-
dition,of the incorporate classes, and that the
comforts of many families have been greatly
augmented.
There are attached TO the above report some
arguments showing the comparative advantages
of the Maine Liquor Law. These l omit, be-
cause am not trying TO show that the Maine
Law is better than any other kind Of liquor law,
but merely that prohibitory laws diminish, in
stead of increasing the evils attendant upon the
| liquor traffic.
We are said to be leagued with The abolition
lists. Last Wednesday an abolition convention
assembled at Syracuse, New York, at which
John Jay, John p. Hale, Senator Chase and
Garrett Smith figured prominently. An attempt
was made TO engraft the Maine Liquor Law
among their resolutions, but they voted the pro.
position down. The suppression Of the liquor
traffic is a principle by itself, which has never
been, and probably will not be, engrafted into
the platform Of any party, wing, or democratic,
or abolition, or freesol, until it becomes very
popular, as it is now in Ohio, where both wing
and democratic candidates find it necessary to
convince the people that they are sound Maine
Law men.
) Ii is said by some that the clause in our char
ter comforting the power to suppress the liquor
traffic in this city is unconstitutional. 1t is well
, known that the United States Government il.
self prohibits eIectually the sale of liquor tc
Indians, on account of the mischief it work:
among that people. But this is not all. Here
, are the opinions of several Judges Of the Su.
preme Court of the United States.
Chief Justice fancy said;
{" If any State deems the retail and internal
traffic in ardent spirits injurious to its citizens
and calculated TO produce idleness, vice and de-
bauchery, see nothing in the Constitution Of
the United States TO prevent it from regulating
; and restraining the traffic, or from prohibiting
=, it altogether if it thinks proper.
Every State, therefore, may regulate lis
own internal traffic according ts its own judg-
ment, and upon IFS own views of the interest
and we'll being of its citizens % Howard
537)
, If that does not prove that the Missouri Lee
I gslature had the right TO insert the clause il
our charter, giving the City Council the power
to prohibit the traffic in liquor within the city
!; limits l stand ready to confess that do not UNI
derstand the English language.
{ Mr.. Justice Mclean said:
c " If the foreign article be injurious to heatl
: or the morals of the community, Slate may
\ in the exercise of that great and comprehensiv,
c police power which lies at the foundation of ii.
prosperity, prohibit the sale of it," % How
a ard, 592
Y And in regard to the destruction of properly
e he said:
"The acknowledged police power Of Stat
10 extends often to the destruction of property
"a A nuisance may be abated. Everything preiu
dcial to the health OF morals of city may b
removed. Merchandise from a port where
! contagious disease prevails, being liable t
3 communicate disease, may be excluded; and j
8 extreme cases, it may be thrown into the sea.
'r Now be kind enough TO understand me.
ID do not quote this in advocacy of the Main
IL Liquor Law, but to show that the Mssoul
,r Legislature, so far from exceeding its powe
has fallen short of its full exercise
. The following quotation seems, in very plai
10 terms, 10 settle any difficulty that may be SUI
posed to arise under the STATE Constitution. I'll
v mere right TO license appears to carry with it
right to prohibit also.
10 Mr. Justice Catron said;
l. 81 admit as inevitable, that if the State h;
= the power of restraint by licenses TO any exten
~ she has the discretionary power TO Judge of i
30 limit, and may go the length of prohibiting
&c altogether, if such be IFS policy"
4 l have already made these remarks Il
Mt lengthy, but cannot avoid adding few wor'
more We have noticed the ruin, destructiC
TO and death daily occurring under sanction
=" law. We have seen that the license law
written in blood that law, linked hand in han
he with disorder and crime, where it hangs oi
he man for murder it kills hundred more. Wi
&c sorrow the friends of temperance have behe
on the ravages of intemperance, and have tried
re stem the fearful torrent. They first reason
he with the drunkard they implored him, by eve
'm consideration Of character, home, family a
go friends, to pause and consider. They call