Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1853-12-26
COMMUNICATED.
To the Legislature OF Virginia.


The writer, although of temperance is well
satisfied that the laws against the improper traffic in sp
ituous liquors need careful and prudent revision And
being thus satisfied from observation and pretty thor
ough knowledge Of the abuses ofth law, stands
proposes first point the most Objectionable
features OF the present Law second to propose a
medy of course imperfect in its character for while all
admit that its improper free is the very greates
evil with which sociey IS cursed il will be denied
that majority, governed by the law of appetite do re
quire that they be allowed to il in temperate way
Hence the difficulty Of 50 regulating it, sale 10y law
to allow this right and the time restrain the
dnlers in It, from selling it to aves, ard from selling
prousey that class of population Who unior
unaely governed more by the law OF appetite than
by reason or prudence. shall stop descsut upon
the amount OF crime, paupeism and misery that pro
dnccd from its too free but content myself by saving
am we'll satisfied that the law hch authorizes grocers
and merchants TO retail 1t TO be drunk where sold is
the most fruitful source OF more than half the ills that
from its use. And this will undertake demonstrate
In the first place these grocer and merchants are mostly
men of Influence their position gives influence and
next the courts 10 which they apply for certificate OF
character aud suitabcness Of place. elected every four
yearS hence Il, that very seldom If ever they
fused the necessary certificate enable them TO carry on
the traffic, by which nearly every neghborhood
cursed with doegey TO corrupt the slaves aud many
OF the poor ot their daily earnings and ensnare many OF
our Youths in ntcmperancc, vice and crime. TIL,
dreadful picture, but not more dreadful than true. do
iiEnd mpugn the motives OF the courts that grant
such certificates for have 10 doubt thew believe thas,
places are suitable An be that they are especially
70 those who fond other dran and like have gene,
raj congyiliy about the time Of an election But suppos
such places suitable, End the grccer and merchant
Sucn a. VIII not abuse his privilege still il l. impossible
for him to prevent disorder because his business being
public he Of necessity locates himself in town or on
public road hence after he sells the liquor and the pur
chase steps out Of the house he is rot at the place
where the d,ror sold and there he can and does
drink in defiance OF a. seller and the law nox
stands Hence all groceries s.o.es that retail liquor
nc. 10 be drank where Sold soon sOon become more
les dyo!iery. And ak every member of tic Iors
ature, and ever. CHER that NAV read this COM
mpnicauou, 70 consider "hdIhes this j. true aud
1t tFgS ask lit not time it Was put end to. And
ask 12 Legislature oput stop 30 IT, by PAGING Ia pro-
hibltDE EruceTs and merchants from selling SprtCous il
qUns vine mixture thereof ia manner or shane
whatever And Jet ID not propose inhh;J the Of it
altorcthor but you'd ssE for the passage Of law which
provide, mat keepers OF ordinances houses pub
lie entertainment may be allowed to sell it under certain
restrictions, and doctors to deal medicine My
plan, which wOuli Ike TO see passed into law a.i sub
mittei the Of the State for ratification or rice
ton with provision, that in each county whore MAORI
. (" those who vote Oh IT, vote for H. IL shah be Law
IN such counts rEl il majority OF the in the
state vote for o. let 10 tie l'v Of the STATE Wy plan
= Is fellows Allow all persons vho ucs.c - make IL
b.: prohibit tcm from selling t any person In this
state. ecs. - ordinary keepers and doctors Also pro
hih Ill persons cher State. counties selling in
> State auy person in this state bringing into this
state from ans other State country. And would
provide, it1 all persons tbs STATE desire to make
g. shall g. license iTDm the Court Of the county where
th5y 1--we lltHose IncE 70 make it, AID at the same
tins require them to take oiih, ami give bond
and security i.t hey sill lot sell ia this State except a.
5u'Nozs! hy l~ And uaTiu Eoul! provide that there
should no. be more than ordinary keeper for every
eight hundred white i1habarts in each county allowed
u sell AMI that each county shall distribute and
select m-u OF GOOD character a= to give each section Of
the county lit or embrace as near as NAV be-
eight hundred white nh ataEis ore and such ordinary
keeper - .i-cusej shall be authorised sell 20 every
White male citizen o.e The ace Of eighteen years
al laiIr- not married who tey.rg house In their re-
peCtsc sections and 10 no o,hcr three a.aas Of sDr
uous liquor, OF wine, mNtlre thereof by the gallon
or auy smaller quantity, so thai they DO sell 10 all IN
--y 10 any such per-Jn more than three sal.
Ions I'D c,-a1veT. 7ti ordinary keeper shall be
4l,fel O. take 80 o,. no.! i've bond with good -ceurty
that tbcy Wli nc: ~ -Uy yiclIc said law. And
would pEssie that al! doctors Msy be Slowed ~ deal
cut q medicine provided LURescr, tai 10 GoclO, shall
be- allowed to deal out than gallon in On.
year 70 any patient and provided EJreoscr, that
such Doctor -hi before be- i7 permitted to Use . a-
medicine, by dealing ont 10 h- PATIENTS, be required 10
take out license and givc bDrt aud security aud Es az
oath that lac sl not violate the Law licensing him ~ deal
ii out And would provide, that 9uch OrIi-
nary Keepers stall not be lJari sell profit Of
more Than one bluGgca p0T cent under penalty And
10 ensure Observance OF sac. ,5Dr.-iOu wOuli re-
rure the seller to take oath that he iii iO.e the
law II does seem 70 me that to save our people on
crime wrechednes degradation and great aud alarming
plupsr-m some -uch stringent Laws absolutely
sA-y. aud while fear that drnl-ogue4 would work up
the worst phfA-ns Oi the dram drinkers against any law
that would b. more -nn- .UI tl-H tie one propose.
think IL likely majority would e sspsa 10 try how such
law a. the one prOPo5e would work therefore Hoe ib
plan may meet With favorable consideration from the
members OF tie Legislature ] offer u a compromise
upon Eh'ch the sou. Of Temperance aud the dram drn.
Eer- NAV meet aud restrain tie excessive drnker, aud
st the sons Of Temperance may al a their power by
moral -uasou 10 carta the intoxicating drinks
Aud II after Lr uIl this las j. found 10 work vel.
let other aud more stringent Laws be passed but should
restrain or check ntsmpeaucc crime MISERY aud paupcr
ism to any considerable extent tie writer will be iny
compensated for his suggestions lie hopes least the
Legislature will pass such Law 1nd submit il to the
voters It can d. no harm aud nj 10 much good
NELSON.
IN, Al editor in the STATE, Who favor ny plan, are
requested 70 copy