Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-09-15
From the Meadvllie pa } New Era.
PHILOSOPHY 0F THE MAINE LAW.

The following eloquent extracts arc
taken from a Maine Law address deliver
ed in Warren, last winter. BY p John
son. Esq of the Warren Bar
The purpose of society in organizing n
government, and the purpose of govern
ment under such ali organization, Is a
most emphatic failure. when that govern
meut ceases to throw the egis of its pro-
lection over the moral Interests of society
Recognizing the duty and acting on this
principle, our legislators have passed the
various prohbltory enactments already al
luded to, for the suppression Of evil So
also, the legislation we have, on the sub
ject of the liquor traffic, is Il lame attempt
at obedience to the same great principle
1t assumes to be an evil, and prohibits 90
out Of every 100 from vending it in small
quantities, and then licenses the hundredth
one, to do all the evil that all might do.
under general permit. 1t restrains the
business as pernicious and dangerous, ex-
cept IN the hands of a few, certified to be
OF good repute for honesty and temper
ance' What solecism in morals As
If an honest man could do the duties of a
rumscller
Our laws even punish the drunkard for
his drunkenness yet sell the right to
make him drunk They tempt him with
their nice decanters, then smite him for
yielding to the temptation They first
create, then pander to a depraved appetite
and then chastise its qualification -
They license the tempter, and punish the
tempted. Strange inconsistency
Ii but one juror Of the panel is known
10 have been drunk. or even tasted liquor
while in the jury room. it vitiates the yer
diet. Yet the same court that sets aside .
the verdict and Furnishes the juror. grants (
to his landlord the permission to make 7.
him drunk
Can that law which licenses one man
to sell liquor and Furnishes another for buy (
ing 1t, be consistent with common sense or (
good morals ? Is there another instance
in the legislation of all christendom, where
the canSe is legalized by statute and the /.
effect punished as a crime
How often might the poor trembling /
culprt, when arraigned before the court
and asked what he has to say why the sen {
tence of the law should not be pronounced
upon him. retort with equal truth and bit
terness, Sir, was not 20 blame Your !
certified, licensed rumseler. in an evil /
hour tempted me to drink. My brain was .
maddened. my reason was dethroncd and 1
| did the decd, unconscious of the act
Again is it not passing strange that 4
this alone, of all the evils that prey upon 4
society, should receive the license aud pro /
lection Of the law 2 While other and les /
ser ores are forbidden aad punished this /
one is chartered and pnt in commission .
The rule adopted in all other eases. is to |!
prohibit and prevent the doing Of evil
In this to license and then attempt to reg /
ulate it. How vain the attempt, let ev
cry days experience answer. As well /
might the law approve the tiriog of a city. |
by the incenliary, to show the expertness
of its incorporated FIRE com pauies In ar
resting its destructive tendencies.
Is it an answer to this anomaly ia legis /
lation that the State is needy and derives /
revenue from licenses Not unless you |
traffic in the souls and bodies of Its citi /
zens for revenue.
The true object of legislation is, to pre-
vent and remove evil. not to protect and /
regulate it The business Of the lawgiver /
is to suppress and abolish all crime, not to !
patrOnise and permit it. under Whatever
safeguards or security as to the moral I
character Of him who does it.
Before the judgment bar Of an enlight
ened conscience let him give reason, why I
the interpositioD Of legislative power sho'd .
be invoked 70 protect this evil. against the I
moral sense Of the community, while 9th
ers that do not an appreciable part of the /
mischiefs to society, are permitted to rest I
under its condemnation.
The revenue excuse for the license law
is therefore futile and frivolous In this 1
solitary instance does the State become I
the huckster Of crime for mone7.