Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-10-21
Barstow and the Maine Law.

bdl6LOW dilu lllc IUd1lAC LAW
The Temperance League stated that Mr.. Bars
tow had pledged himself to a free trade liquor So
cietv of Milwaukee TO veto the prohbtory liquor
law should one be passed, in the event of his be-
ing chosen Governor This has been denied bv
some presses in his interest but never by himself
On this same point the Madison Journal gives the
following:
ave have been allowed, by prominent
democrat of this place, to copy the following
extract from letter addressed to him bv a
brother democrat who has long stood high i'll
his party, has occupied important official po-
sitions, and has ever been one of those who
have been admitted to the very Adytum and
inner shrine of Locofocoism He saws:
'Barstow has TO my certain knopledge
committed himself to tie Hquorites to peto
any prohi6itory tar that may pass tie Leg
stature If elected
at will take some strong lying to 'refute
as they term it-such an uneIuivocal state
ment as this, from so orthodox source"
Mr.. Barstow himself publishes the following
card:
WAUKEsHA, Oct 8th, 1858
H. D. BARRON, Esq.
Dear Sir: In answer to the numerous COM
muncatons addressed to me since my nomi-
nation for the office of Governor on the sub
ject of Maine or "Prohibitory Liquor
Law" | have to state that in the event of my
election to said office, if majority of the
electors, at the coming election, vote in favor
of such law, and the representatives Of the
people pass a constitutional 1ct, | shall feel
it my duty to- and will approve the same
Very respectfully yours,
VIM. A. BARsTCw.
We are inclined to think Mr.. Barstow has prom
iscd some kind of aid and comfort to the rum in
tcrest, suspicion which this card of his tends ra-
Their to confirm than allav. He says he will not
veto " constitutional " law.T Now it so happens
that these free trade gentlemen to whom Mr.. b. is
said TO have pledged himself, don't think any pro-
hibitorv law is constitutional Is not this pledge
intended to keep faith with theme 1t looks so to
Besides, it will be rccoIlectcd that four out of
five of the committee of the laStasscmbly to whom
were referred Maine law petitions reported that
the action prayed for by the petitioners, was I'M
constitutional. Why did not Mr.. b. tells us whc
tncf Ills opinion was lnat OF THIS cOnlnllUeet IN
our opinion, Mr.. b., don't answer what he knows
the public want him to answer in this matter, and
that his letter is a dodge" and was SO intended
We do not know whether Mr.. b. wonld veto IL
prohibitory law or not He is a gentleman by no
means unmindful of number one, and will not be
apt TO burn his fingers on either side Of the ques-
ton. But we do think this all the liquor inter-
est in the states on the side of BarStow; those
the men who nominated him and with whom he
acts and sympathiscs, and what he can do TO en-
barrass to indirectly nullify Legislative action in
this respect, he will do. Such is opinion.
Those who know any thin about legislation
know there many ways i'll which measure
may be killed, even by men protesting a warm at
tachmcnt to it. 1t is this kind of friendship we
fear in this matter. The legislature it will be re-
collected will not be by majority vote in favor of
a prohbitory law, tied down to any specific mca-
sure. 1t will have wide discretion, and it strikes
us the only way to have this discretion well and
properly exercised is to have the offices filed by
men who at heart are in favor of the measure.