The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-03-05

Law, mas been bllghted the mIldeW OF diSap-
pOlntment has covered them, and they have
dropped with regret. Bat it is darkest before
daylight; the clouds will pass away and the
clear sky and bright sun will shine FORTH and
spirits that have dropped will rise again,
strengthened and renewed with fresh life and
energy. Truth crushed to earth, will rise
again. And so period will rise when such
fears and doubts as now fill the minds of honor
able and respectable men will not happen
when majorities are respected and petitions.
when couchcd in respectful language. will not
be unheeded. But let that pass! l shall brief
ly allude to the late Liquor Law. 1t is dead !!
Peace to its manes The evil deeds of men
live after them: the good is often inferred with
their bones" So let it be with the Liquor
Law.
The friends of Temperance have desired the
passage of law which should be equivalent to
prohibition of the sale of liquors by commu-
nifty without discrimination. They had pro-
posed to select through the Commissioners one
or more persons who should sell to them such
quantities of spirituous liquors as would be
deemed necessary for the public good They
with propricty. made discrimination between
licenses granted by the Commissioners to every
man asking for them, and license granted bv
the wish of the people, through proper officers,
for the sale of liquors fer medicinal, sacreme,,-
tai and mechanical purposes They believe
that a law which grants to a few persons who
comply with the acquisitions OF Il license law,
to be such law as wrongs those whose means
prevent them from purchasing such licenses
They believe that any law which brushes the
poor man to build up the rich man is law
which is ant-rcpubl;can, oppressive and unjust.
They believe that the spirit which suggests
such laws, is a spirit of IespOtism and Injustice
for it would be as unjust to prevent a merchant
from selling stock Of goods, which were in
value less than one thousand dollars, as to have
such laws as prevent such citizens from selling
liquors or other such merchandise when the
individual had not the means to 6uy such priv
ilege. How unjust it is. to force one man to
buy the right to make living in particular
line, and exempt another from the same neces-
sity, to deal in Il like species of business, when
both branches are deemed equally respectable
and equally honorable. Here is the distinction
we draw One person has as much right. NOR
ally and legally. as another, to sell merchan-
die without taxation; and any law to the con-
trary is oppressive on the poor and a monopoly
for the rich. All laws should accrue to the
benefit of the masses. and not be exclusive in
their nature and when they are made so,
such laws are unworthy of being continued
Then, if this proposition be not iallacy, how
can the principle stand on which the present
license system rests! The friends of Temper
ancc deem it proper not to abolish and prohibit
the sale of ''spirtuous liquors. in a literal
sense. They wish a law which is truly and
strictly restrictice law. and make a clear dis
tincton between law restricting the sale of
liquors by license system, and commissioned
officer delegated by the people, through their
Commissioners for special purpose. which
they deem to be for the benefit of the people,
and not for their harm and disadvantage This
they believe to be right guaranteed by the
Constitution, for says Chic: Justice fancy =
Every State may regulate its own internal
traffic. according to its own Judgment. and upon
its own views OF the interest and wcll-bcing of
its citizens. see nothing in the
Constitution of the United States to prevent it
from regulating and restraining the traffic. or
prohibiting 1t altogether, If it thinks proper.
The Constitution gives Congress power to
make treaties. II that power be 4 just power.
1t Is power which tends to the general well
fare OF the nation. And no law can he made
by Congress which ahrOgatcs the features OF
existing treaties. Congress makes laws which
aliect thc commerce OF the nation, and her tarlit
laws Apply universally ana uniformly to all
parts OF ner 'Trr'tory. these propositions are
W u nav rom mem me tlcofy Oh
Tu a, tI'o $50. Ia, D'ilt, .iat !. congress
,,,,n tne Pom mI o ueaesa'e Commissioners TO
ttar,i'.,, -, :. t ui go VI uoii!c''.o
r li't'oi or the oeheht Oh ihe cltizens
, ,:.u ut'.ne, "nIn 'o.aiv pIohipit certain
thn nrinoi,In ,,i,;oh =. 20 tu"l ucilai vi
o rrtnto tio 81 LA. VIC o.':riis vi
oeo "ta,. u.s. nh p ,.licSts Vi e'tl-ehS
y, 't.lo,n't ''"'' anu Witch laws are not Sener-
a. ~ antli "pi,a'".iohi anu not UNIVERSAL IN
r"ct onnos;t;cn to suI., laws arc III uI-
n,a,t"J t. Vi ..c 70, elirillI''!s
mm,.m 'i' ''e"'e' HUH 'he hia'efiais Oh 1hcif
pD rho ru,o : ,n,,,;oo,,. , "a, ,
Co,ra .s'a aI, "pi''I'oie upoi hc'h hahds.-
rocnnt So"x troat, 'ile provisions OF inc
aI,n IN, 20 1t 'e,rl'ory Ill sao p'ir
m,.e' ~ 10 'hc scl.iers ana EN-
y" vi .ic Su.i. ihey io>n no rights as
el'~e'iS ~ .'e n:teu states; residing IN Terri
'oitcs. ihc i'iih HiM' Apply 10 them Just the
S'hG "s " c',ic' PortioliS OF the nation. let
'he Ia" ", 'nc uct'!J Restricting? Inc sale OF
Spirit''ouH liquors. iof Il period which goes far
beyond iiie t'lie Minnesota allows herself to he
tne Wara ., hGr generous guardian, is constltu-
| tiohai, anu inc est argument we are enabled
10 aNaice iOc or general proposition. We
pciieVe that II congress permits the settlement
OF the west Suc Oh inc Mississippi river. and the
| cXtcnS.On OF the national and local laws already