The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-02-05

But it is hardly necessary to so abroad for
testimony on this point, since our own Terrific
ry affords striking proof the same thing
When the Liquor Law was adopted last year,
there were about one hundred liquor-sellers IN
| the Territory. Many of these it was difficult
for the new law to reach. their traffic being pro-
tected by licenses previously granted. But
with very few prosecutions, and with Law
only nOminally in force, the number Of liquor
dealers among us had been reduced, before
Judge Hayner's decision, from one hundred to
fifty.
1t is believed. also, that the amount of in
temperance, and of crime resulting from it, has
undergone q similar decrease. During the
year before the Law was enacted, at least ten
of our citizens came to their death as the result
of the liquor traffic. 1t is out of our power to
state the number of persons who have died
from the same cause since the first of May; but
| 1t is believed to be much less than during the
same period of last year; though We must men
ton with regret the murder of one of our cti-
Zeus, IN drunken brawl, at the Territorial
capital.
Permit us briefly to sum up the beneficial eff.
1ects OF the Law, previous to Judge Hayner's
decision as follows
1t has prevented the establishment of any
new liquor establishments. -
1t has closed about half of the old ones.
1t has greatly diminished intcmperance and
its consequent evils.
1t has prevented making druukards Of sober
men.
1t has helped to impress the public mind
with belief that rum selling is a vicious en-
ployment.
1t has contracted high reputation for Min
ncsota and invited among us large and des-
rable class of immigrants
That it cXerted serious restraint over the
minds of liquor-sellers, is evident from the fact
I hat .o nl, ,nI H.
when the Law took effect. engaged in it again
as soon as the Law was set aside by the Court
Nor can these good results be traced to any
other source than to the prohibitory Law; since
one year ago. when the subject first began to
be agitated among the people. intempcrance
was rapidly on the increase, and several other
! liquOr-selling establishments were about to be
opened. We find it impossible to doubt that
had no such measures been adopted the in
crease of intempcrance would have been fear
full, and the number Of dealers in Intoxicating
drinks would have kept pace with the relative
increase of population. Had no judicial dccis
ion reversed the operation of the Law, nearly
one-half of the remaining fifty dealers would
have been obliged. by the expiration of their Ii
censes, to retire from the business next spring;
so that Notwithstanding the large accession to
our population, the number of pubic vendors
of intoxicating drinks would under the opera
ton of the prohbtory Law, have been redre-
ed from one hundred to thirty. Of the thirty
who sell without licenses, quite number are
to be found in remote parts of the Territory,
where the scattered settlements have felt little
courage in enforcing the Law, SO long as it re-
manned unenforccd at the centres of influence
| in the large towns. These facts would almost
justify the opinion that, had the law been I'M
fettered in its operation, this injurious traffic
would have been well nigh annililated in .
single year-a result which we believe to be
sincerely desired by a large majority of the
people.
Honorable Legislators, it is in view of the
above facts, which we would respectfully sub
nit to your consideration, that we join with a
multitude of our felow-citizens in soliciting
your deliberate action upon q subject which
has enlisted the deepest interest of our hearts.
We approach you, gentlemen, as the consttu-
ted guardians of the public wclfare--as the
honored men who have been designated by the
suffrage of your respective constituencies 10 the
high and holy trust of framing the civil insti-
tutons Of our infant commonwealth and con.
hding not less in the integrity Of your motive.
than in your official oath Of fidelity to our in
terests, we supplicatc You to re-cnact the Min
ncsOta Liquor Law in such an amended form as
shall leave 10 reasonable doubt of its constitu-
tionality, and at the same time secure its uni
versai and efficient application.
We are prompted to present this Memorial
and petition for this object by the belief that
III cnacting the said Law you will perform an
act which will bring lasting honor upon your
body, and upon us your lowctizcns; that
most desirable step will be taken TO secure our
adopted home in the Northwest from becoming
the scene of violence, poverty, misery and
shame: that those who come after us will be
saved from the intolcrable woes and degrade
ton OF intemperancc, and from the hard toll of
clicctlng great social REFORM; and that our
Minnesota no ,,1,c 6,