Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-03-29

times If oue6cstion for the places they hold. We hope
Senators and Others who recommend wings 10 secretaries
alone responsible will not shrink from theit snare
Of The odlum arising from their retention In place.
For the Enquirer.
THE LICENSE LAW.
DEAR SIRs You ask me what changes, in my opinion,
ought be made in the law granting the privilege 10 sell p
reta wne ardent spirits mixture thereof, 10 remove
the lis which press so heavily upon our community from
abuse al this privilege.
The subject i. surrounded by difficulties which can
know or appreciate those who daily called upon to
administer laws We hear constantly said, that Inc
Legislature clothed the county with pcnaty power
establish, close up houses for The sale oil uce'I
spirits and look The Bench and not to the
General Assembly for the suppression OF an evl "ch IL
increasing with fearful rapidly Ihls opinion Will ho' oedi
the test OF examination.
Lei us for moment notice The practice Of The country un
der the existing laws:
Commissioner the Revenue who asesse. the amount oil
tax be pad-he paid 10 the Sheri-ann inc nef
chant begins business. Look into hs store SPEAK oil
couse, of the siops which IN every county OF Eastern
Virginia embrace four s OF the stores and what does
contain? smnl quantity OF sugar flour, moIasss' ans
dozen barrels of rtiskey Will psss over Vie cases
which a.e occurring OF shOpkeprrs selling WIS
key licensed do but these cases as every prac
ca knows, form The rule and not Inc exceplon ana
SUPPOSE that he sells nothing bl goods wares and mcchan'
disc until The May term OF the court st 10 presented ~
tho court Of applicants for licenses includes the most
merchant in the county and the most abandoned
shopk. sFer Now is said the court mutt interfere
Lei us look the Law. NO merchant shall in addition To
the goods. and merchandise sell by retail ar
dent spirits without obtaining from he Court ol MS Coun
~ Ger icate that he ia OF good character and
that the Court objection 10 such permission beng
granied'
odous power conferred them that ui discriminating be-
tween shades ri character But, suppose THIS dhculty
slnnubtp. The Court determined 10 enforce strictly
this law What the Of tho applicant! H0 intro
uces host OF Witnesses who drink constantly ut his sop
and viii prove him 10 be pure and spoless as an angel
How is pro be cbuttcd2 II entirely an e1 pare
ua
slaves reng home drunk from the shop and are morally
certain that The potion administered mere YET they 40 MOI
step forward because the testimony OF negro cant be
nd fact therefore, cannot 30 legally established
In addition to this asr, lnsurmJuuiaolr dh2ulty 10
discriminating arises from The Dlce and almost mpe'cep
BILE shades o good character o persons forming ue is o
applicants. There broad md tangible marks OF dis
tnclion end how honest and upright The Bench
is i, cannot be guided By any hxed rule on ms SUI
difficulties their way ind concur WIN Inc JUSTICES IN
uur County that in the present imperfect state ot the law
licences should be granted 10 no applicant or I" all app
But The Grand Jury proven, violations of The Law
prohibiting The sao u. ardent spirits 10 slaves they have
the moral hrmness 10 discharge their duty go
Let MS examine this and how 1t works in future Wo
will suppose at the spring the Grand Jury presents
shonkeep.r- then is done have summons issued
against him appear the fall torn, To show cause why
information shall not be hai against him. he as 70 ap'
pear ana then capas Is lssued returnabie 10 ne next
spring term Twelve monhs have elapsed and have rot
him in court His counsel his appearance and asks
for continuance. II the Judge hcsitaes y grant IT, HE
defendant steps forward and swears TO the maetay oi
some absent This process repealed from Tune To
time until the is worried nu BY The ine'nnahle
length al The prosecution And if ct length tho case Is for
tun1teIy heard the cancet but You will have
the Jury some one or TWO men VINO VIII nahs " au PFC
vent vridict
This il no funcy ssetch.-I speak wha. do know.
You will see from remarks, that IN my opinion. there
are two radical detects in present laws-ls Inc une-
scIsd privilege Of selling merchundise-2d. The delay in
furnishing violations OF The license laws.
l. would require of every person who wishes t" become
merchant before this privilege granted him. 10 enter into
bond with approved security in eayy penalty conditinncd
lhst he should keep lis store sell ardent spirits
wiauut obtaining u license do No respectable ncr
chant hesitate 10 give this bond and no disreputabe
merchant could give it, The s,r"Egholds Of the latter would
be broken up number of shOpkeepeTa care not
straw sell ardent sprr and many in defiance
of the cors cell it 10 those who are drawn 10 their shops
under The preicncc OF buying goods and merchandise The
root this great social evil is grounded In the unrestricted
privilege keeping shops for tho salc Of merchandise
would not add 10 the provision, now in our Code for
bidding the gale 10 slaves, &c, &c but would make s0.
aons Of these provisions cognzable before single JUS
lice
II ] occupied your seat, would frame the law after this
fashions
Be it enacted BY the General Assembly of Virginia,
That The loGrtsanlh section Of chapter 80 Of The Code OF
Virginia be- and the slme ia hereby repealed
. That second section Of said chapter be amended
as TO read Every Commissioner Of the Revenue shu
ascertain Al! lie persons in his district who wish 10 be IL
ceased merchants and report The same 10 The county and
corporation courts, annually al the May terms thereof dis
inpu.ing those who wish sell merchandise mad
those wp IN addison sale Of merchandise desire Ii
cell wine ardent spirits mixture OF the same
s. The conny and corporation courts, annually al their
May shall rc4ura every applicant for license to sell
oods and merchandise, cn;er Into bond before the
Court rcnaity al $500 with security 10 he approved by
the Court hat he will not for the space Of year. keep
in his sell wine ardent spirits mixture thereof
10 any pofanI.
A. If the applicant wishes mis- crns: include permission
sell hy retail wine ardent spirits mixture thereof he
shall the Court in penalty of 81 O00
with security 10 re approved by the Court thai he will not,
The space nf violate the first second section
Of chapter i0i OF the Code q! Virginia.
Upon the execution ~ the bond speciEcd in section
OF this The Commissioned of the Revenue shall as
sess he pi lie imposed for The privilege and
upon The exhibition 10 hin 81 the receipt OF the sheriff OF
the county, sergeant Of The corporation for the aums
thus assessed il shall he the duty Of the said commissioner
issue license 10 the applicant applicants 10 sell goods.
aud merchandise in addition 10 sel by RETAIL
wine ardent spirits mixture thereof as the case may be
for gear.
g. If merchant entering into bond under section Sd OF This
shall keep for sar cell wine, ardent spirits or iI-
ure thereof ne shall ore for every day he keeps for sale
for OF selling $50 half TO the incrmcr;
and if etchan: entering into bond Under sec 4th Of thi
violates the ls ~ section Of chapter lO4 Code Of
Virginia hs shall forfeit $50 fur every vioaton half 10 g.
The Di,tmer
T. ANY leituc under this act shall be cognIabIe before
cngic Justice whose duty il shall be, upon complaint
lodged boe him 10 Issue his warrant directed the
sao. 81 county, directing hin apprehead The often
der, and within f'e days 10 bring him before him
other justice, 10 answe! The said complaint II the offence
proved the justice shall Judgment against the often
der for $50 for every violation OF law specified in this act
END direct he constable deliver The and convic
ton The attorney for tho Commonwealth who aer ten
days nnie the ohRos in tho hond,o 'he said offender
shall .uo'on without any oeadines, tic psna
" Of nd II be- discharged ~ the payment of lie
:rted under ;s ac'; aud the cusniy shall
forthwith revoke the license ol the offender.
sleichcd out very huTrcdly my views this sub
Iec Il is one in which every STAKEHOLDER is deeply ineres
in the management of our slaves ta diies
inpc character discharge; and every sarrho
der knows that he cannot DO justice 10 himself The
slave dependent upon him. long the grog shop demon
aizes hn and units him for sersiiude
hope The Legislature will ake the subject under consd
Grafton II comes honc in all relations. CT life
AMI affects The safely and happiness OF The good people OF
the Commonwealth far than HE rise fall Of presi
Dental Gynaslics Yours, &c
To The Editors Of the Enquirer
CLARKaBURs, Va, March %, 1853.