Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1853-02-24
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This subject haa beer. forcibly brdnglt Lefore
he people Of this city, during week pan. by
Rev. ID, J, Snow. Ought the traffic in intoxi-
,aiing liquors 10 be suppressed by legislative
ind n,ihiclpa enoclhehiH has become aihOst
exciting topic Of conversation. Part of the cx
Element il is true, has arisen upon certain perl
'onal matters. With these we shall not make
i our business 10 NEEDLE, in apy shape. =.
The foundation in which the arguments in
favor Of the suppression-uf the liquor traffic are
mainly to rest, was brought more clearly into
view on Thursday night, by reference 10 the
suppression of The slave trade. Congress de-
clared this traffic to be piracyinot because there
can be no property in slaves, for our Constitu-
lion and the usages Of our society, recognize the
rights il. such. property. The slave trade was
suppressed on account of its inhumdnay; and
for lis inhunGniiy, the traffic in ardent spirits
should also be put down by the strong arm Of
the law. Entertaining this view Of the ques,
ton, we now proceed 10 lay before our readers
the substance Of remarks on the Maine Liquor
Law, made hast Monday night, at the Baptist
Church, by, Mr. Snow. A law in this State
built on The model OF that law, would probably
be the best means of supervising traffic SO in.
furious 10 the most exalted interests of society.
Mr.. Snow said that the first provision Of the
Maine Liquor Law is that no liquor shall be
made or sold in the State of Name for the rur-
pose Of drinking. II can be used and manufac-
tured for medicinal, mechanical, and sacrament
al purposes. Some may imagine that il would
be easy 10 open medicine store, and sell il for
medicinal purposes. Well, good many peo-
! pie did get sick very often, soon after the law
passed, but they soon found that they were moi
allowed to prescribe FOR themselves. Or you
may think that man might open store with
liquor for mechanical purposes, and that rum
might be supplied on various pretences; for in
stance house TO be raised, and demand made
for liquor 10 help raise the house that being a
lnschanical purpose, But The Maine Liquor
Law prevents that also. Liquor sellers have,
however, resorted TO variety of methods Of
engaging in the concealed traffic of ardent spir-
horse stealing cannot entirely prevCn, the per-
petration of such crimes. In one instance man
opened book store, with, apparently, fine
stock OF testaments, and great many copies Of
Pilgrims Progress. Some men seemed 10 have
4 become suddenly devotional, who bad probably
never read Pilgrims Progress, and more edi-
tons OF that work were soon sold than had ever
been sold i'll that place before. The truth was
this new edition whs lin box made in The
shape of book, and labeled on the back, Pill
grim's Progress and through an opening in the
box, the purchasers drew their spiritual conso.
lation. Cabinet shops were opened, and collins
SOLD which contained more spirit than matter;
the vendors put liqnor in their collins. Thus
it was sought to avoid the grasp of the officer,
appCmtedt to execute the law.
The Maine Liquor Law creates new Office
it appoints an agent. or town liquor seller in
each town, who sells what may be needed for
mechanical, or medicinal. or sGcramrn'al pur
poses. He is obligedto sell at cost. He enter,
into bond, under heavy penalties, 10 perform hi.
duty.
Upon the statement Of two men that they be
lieve person hot authorized is selling liquor
the magistrate issues writ, ind il the liquor il
found as stated, il is destroyed. ' q.
Liquor selling is thus driven into secret pla
ces by the law, and obliged to be done by stealtl
and in darkness. In Maine, the kind of mel
now engaged in selling liquor are the same kim
as those engaged in co,lnterfe;ling and hors
stealing men who don't care for law. - .
1 Portland, the home Of Neal Dow the autho
! of the Maine Liquor Law is an illustration o
; its effects. He had been sometime endeavorin
to get this law passed, but without success.
until two years ago. A year before its passage
e he reported to the city council, as Mayor. q
tie city, that it would be necessary TO build
larger prison, the number Of prisoners increasr
r too fast for the one they had. The law passC,
: and in his next message, he stated that the pri
: on was large enough, and would be sufficient f
the next fifty years. With one fonrlh of ii
e population twenty years ago, more prison roo
S was required than now.
He would not dwell much further upon n
Maine Liquor Law, except in relation to i
c cOnstiiutiOnaity. r1 a4e.sr
1t is plainly said and firmly maintained b
many, that the Maine Liquor Law is unconst
tutional. Why? Because, say the objecor
it destroys property and intcrferes with trad
whereas the constitution guarantees to men the
. rights of property. Now, let man erect
this city any building which the citizens belle,
y to be nuisance, and see if it would not be toi
: down. Lei q ciliznn nndertnLn 10 81 ,