Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1853-07-02
aRrSES OF TIE LICENSE LAW.

1he law licensing PERSONS 10 sell al'
dent spirits, as it stands in our statute
books, is bad enough; but when it is a.
buscd or Graded, either by incompe;cntad-
minisiptoIs or Ivy sheer tritkcry, CT dis
graceful dOdgms. the matter is infinitely
worse. The last resort, in cases Of NAL
administration Of law, where there is no
appeal, higher Court. is the tribunal
Eof patlic opinion, Cases have recently
occurred, in this comfy, If we are not
m;sinfotmcd, which loudly call for such
IN appeal.
At the May tenn Of the County Court,
(is being "Ievy COrrt') the Magistrates
were nearly all in their seals-the qncs.
tion Of licensing Taverns was considered,
and some three, or at most -four houses in
the County were licensed. All other nP'
plicanis were refused for cause. The
friends of Temperance and sonnd morals
would have greatly preferred that no Ii
ccnscs should bsgranted; but they cheer.
fully acqniescel in the decision of the
Court, under the fond hope that in anoth'
or year ALL applications for licenses c!
this kind would be rejected.
At the June teTm--jnst closed-an op-
plicu,ion was made, not Immediately by a
person refused at May term, for that the
law positively forhids), Int by his son.
just arrived from Texas. unmarried, and
totally unprepared TO keep Tavern
This application, though opposed by an a.
bic exhibit Of the law and the facts was
granted. The house il doubtless kept by
the first applicant, and was SO intended
oil the time. The granting Of license TO
lhs son -is-a mere -flniac Of the lsw., II
| this Justice? lsit common honeays WIZ
public opinion sanction it? Justices DA-
Wis, SINE and BARB, have "taken the res.
possibility" Of this act (; and they shall
haze the credit of it-Justicc J. NJ. Co.
ruRy, who was also on the bench. to bis
honor be ii said, dissen'ed.
screnl licenses were granted at this
term, which were not applied for in May.
the applicants having foresight enough to
watch their opportunity; and they were
granted so suddenly tia, the first notice
that struck the eye or ear Of the vigilant
counsel employed to oppose them, was
the making on. Of the certificates by the
Clerk.
Anotlcr Case, was that Of gentleman
in high standing in society, and church
mcmJer-keers what is generally consid-
cred an orderly house--a good table, com
Portable lodging, &c,-but the boys of the
nciehborhood tippled a, his bar, and
sometimes got liquor on tho Sabbath; their
parents became alarmed, and no. with
ont causc-a rcmonstrance, mmcrously
signed, was presented 10 the Court-scv.
cral witnesses pro and con. were examIn'
ed-screal boys, Of from 10 10 Is years
Of age, testified That they bought liquor
there number Of times, and some OF
them thu, they got "tight,"-bat The
Court decided that this man ought 10 have
his license renewed, and he 60! ii.
We publish these iac's with deep re-
gret-thc parties interested are our per-
sonal friends, aud We hive no wish to for
felt their friendship. We respect tile
Court, and shall honor all their righteous
decisions, and submit, with what grace
We may, to those that seem 10 us improp-
or, and injurious 10 the public morals
But the Press is emincntly tho conscrva.
Tor of public morals, and we shonld be
recrcant 10 our duty and unfullhful TO our
trust, should we fail 10 speak out on al
occasion like the present.
We arc aware that some, even Of our
public men, are amcntably behind the age
touching the moral ,rrong Of the liquor
Traffic. But is this u sufficient excuse for
delinquency on the part Of the Judiciary
Should not the members Of our Courts
understand the law, not only in its letter,
but in It's spirit' Should they not espo.
ciully regard tho circumstances of those
who are luboriag day and night, in sea.
son and on, Of season, to rid the country
Of the blightins, crushing evils ofintcm.
perunce
We intend, at al early day, 10 publish
the laws of the Stale regulating the liquor
traffic, &C., so that vendors, consumers,
and all others, may fully understand the
ground they occupy; and wo earnestly
hope that every violation Of the law, Ell.
,hcr in It's letter, OF by "whipping tho ID
round tho stump may be held up TO pub
lie rcprobu lion, and, as far as possible, TO
legal penalties. Magistrates were design
ed as "teror 10 evil docrs,' and they
should be very careful 10 achieve their
destiny