Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-01-20
To the PEOPLE of Indiana:

adversely or prosperity Of our State.
desire. in that spirit of kindness which
should always characterize our con-
duct towards one another. TO address
you on the subject which has occasion
ed our assemblage to-day.
tits useless, at this enlightened period
of our history, to enter into detail of
the facts, or to educe arguments to
show the enormity of evils arising from
the manufacture and sale Of intoxica-
ting liquors. The crime and misery
which are its legitimate and absolute
results are SO apparent that no man of
common reflection can deny their exis-
istence.
The great question. then, and the
one to which we especially direct your
attention, is, "How shall this crime
and misery be the most effectually ban
ished from our State?'s
All know that every attempt TO ac-
complish it by means of license laws
has failed. Indeed, il can no longer
be urged, as it was few years ago,
that the revenue derived from Ii
cense to sell intoxicating drinks is a
compensation for the mischieis IL in
flcts, because our Legislature has al
ready repudiated the idea that Chris
tan Government should receive the
money as the price of iniquity. The
efforts Of oil the various associations
for the promotion Of Temperance (al-
though they have done much good
have not been sufficient.
We think, upon proper reflection,
that all must be forced to the convic-
ton that il can only Be done by the en-
actmem Of a Prohi5itory Law; and that
such laws have been successful, the
most ample testimony is furnished by
the experience Of those States where
they now exist.
II is established, beyond oil contro-
versy. that the effect OF such laws has
been TO close the tipping houscs---in a
great measure to empty the poor hou.
ses Of their inmates--to greatly lessen
the number of criminals-to reduce
the taxes Of hepcoplc a,least one-third
in amount-to reform hundreds OF in
ebriatcs. and TO prevent thousands oil
the rising generation becoming drunk
ards.
When such have been the inevitable
results Of prohibitory Legislation in
other States. why shall not Indiana
pursue the same course, and thus nd
vance all the great interests which pro
mote the prosperity and contribute "a
: the happiness Ola peopleY
The new Constitution Of our State
not only secures the right 10 enact
such law. but II onjoins II rs u duty
on the law making power to do so. II
declares that the government Is inst
tuted TO secure the peace, safety and
wellbeing Of the People, and that the
Legislature shall encourage, by al
suitable means. moral and intellectual
Improvement" which can be done IN
no other way so completely us by
prohibitory Liquor Law.
So far us the Constitution OF the
United States Ia concerned. the Su
preme Court. that tribunal which set
ties all questions arising under It's pro
visions. has already decided. In tn,
following opinion expressed by judy,
fancy, that, "lf any State deems Oh,
retail and internal traffic in arden
spirits injurious TO its citizens. and cal
culated to produce idleness, vice, OF
dcbauchery. see nothing in the Con
stituiion Of the United States TO pre-
vent Il from regulating or restraining
the traffic, or from prohibiting IL alto
gether, IL It think proper"
As 10 the right, then, there can be
no discussion. That Is settled.
The propricty and expediency ofthc
law may, to some. be matter OF IN
vestigation: but, IL 80, tho friends oil
the measure court that investigation,
conscious Ms they ARE that not singl,
argument. founded on just views oftht
happiness and prosperity of the people,
can be given against L. Yet, we ar,
aware that many obstacles exist which
must be overcome before tho passage
OF such law can be secured.
Prominent among these obstacles,
are, ist existing prcjudices and the
alleged peeuniary interests OF those en-
gagged IN the Liquor traffic; and Cd,
the present organization OF political
parties.
IA 10 he First Many OF our most
industrious and we'll meaning citizens
have BEEN led 10 believe that such laws
are an infringement OF their personal
righta,-that their provisions arc such
as TO place II In the power Of any per-
son who may see proper TO execute Il,
10 enter their private houses and 10
make search for and destroy any liq-
uof which may be found on their prem
ises. This Is not true The law re-
lates 10 The manufacture and sale, and
NOT is use, IL provides, simply, for
It's suppression, where II Is kept for
sale and used for inhaming the passions
Of those already addicted 10 HABITS Of
intoxication, and for creating such hab-
It's in the youth of the country. II
can. even In ouch cases. only be sup.
pressed by warrant founded on an
affidavit oIIhrcepersons, thatlhey have
good reason TO believe that il is SO
Kept for sale and used, and TO such "a
procedure, for such an object, who is
there that can or that ought To object.
Ii is alleged as a reason, by some.
that, as there is u large amount oil cap
ital invested in this traffic, il would be
a hardship on such persons to suppress
il! This Is not a sound objection. In
a country like ours, where there are SO
many honorable pursuits, which give
hack IN those eneausd in then tha