Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-20

The whisky Question For three or four
nights, during as many weeks, the Board OF Com
mon Council did nothing beside talk on the sub
ject Of bill to suppress the sale of Intoxicating
liquors, as beverage, in tins city. The special
committee who reported remedy for the existing
evils, proposed 10 appoint two corporation agents
in each ward 10 vend the several kind OF hre
waters" but only for artistic, medicinal, and sa-
Ornamental purposes and they further provided
for the searching Of private premises 10 discover
the contraband article, on hand for sale. Viola
tons of the law were 10 be visited with forfeit
ure Of the properly, and fine and imprisonment in
the workhouse. Such We're the main features of
the bill, maiured by each ward, and which the
board about week ago rejected.
Now the aldermen have whiskybill before
them; not an ultra one, as compared with that Of
the other branch, and therefore better adapted 10
the present condition of affairs. To stop men
from drinking instanter would be as impossible as
10 prevent the canal from filling up, or to stay the
votes of the "Fathcrs" from annually appropria-
ting thousands Of dollars 10 remove from that
channel the mud accreiions. They propose TO ex-
ercse the power in the charter, as specifically
expressed, namely to suppress" the "tipping
shops" question may arise as to what these
are but this will be matter for the court TO de.
eide.
On Monday night the aldermen talked over the
matter, several gentlemen giving their experience
as 10 whsky-drinking in other days; but they did
not become infamed, like the members of the
Board OF Common Council. Their remarks were
temperate and in good taste. The probability is,
that next Monday they will pass the bill.
Every rejecting citizen must deprecate the
prevalence Of drunkenness, which, in many cases,
ia the source Of crime but all are not agreed npop
the character of the measures which may be ne
cessary to repress or restrain the sale Of intoxi
eating drinks
Before further action shall be taken this SUBJ
ject we prefer TO the present license laws en-
forced-laws less stringent than that proposed,
and which are constantly violated This end at
tanned. the corporate authorities might, with more
propre,y than at present, proceed 10 legislate on
this important subject of both moral and legal
form, in accordance with the sentiments of the
people.
Wife-Whipping.--On Sunday morning, about
two o'clock, several members of the auxiliary
guard arrested man for assaulting his wife, and
conveyed him 10 The watch-house She had given
the alarm, having been forced by the brute TO flee
from the humble tenement with the baby in her
arms. The poor woman was in deep distress,
and cried bitterly During the examination, at
late hour, she made her appearance, but refused
to testify against the offender. The justice of the
peace fined him SO IS, being satisfied of his guilt,
and then released him. The wife rejoicsd that
her husband was oEce more at liberty. The fel
low should have been bound over for his good be-
havior. When the guard entered the shanty to
arrest the wife-whipper, they found an empty
whisky bottle On the table.
On Monday night the same members of the
Auxiliary Guard had another similar adventure
Awoman, having sought, found them, and made
compliant that her husband had bruised her and
actually attempted TO kill her by throwing her out
Of the window; but said she, "ITl not appear
against him, for he is a good man, when he's
SOBER" Before the guard could arrest the guilty
one, he escaped into carriage-shop near by, and
barring the door, bid them defiance. They had
no authority 10 force entrance, and therefore
left the premises without making the desired cap
ture.
We noticed in Baltimore paper OF yesterday
that not less than four men had been arrested for
wife-whippng, in that city, during single day
They were held to appear before the proper ,ribu-
nal for examination.
A man wbo-shows his bravery by beating and
assaulting a woman, is afraid TO stand before an
adult of his own gender in battle array.
l.
Disturbance Of the Pcace.--Yesterday after,
noon, white woman, under the influence ofliquor-
drew large crowd Of men and boys around her,
near the corner OF Pennsylvania avenue and Third
street. Her language was, in an extreme degree,
disgusting, and she employed herself in throwing
stones al those who made merry at her expense.
Alas for human frsiliy. Unemployed backmen,
cart-drivers, and others the seats Of vehicles,
stopped TO witness the disreputable performances.
Persons were continually running, from all direc-
tons, to the scene. The proceedings would doubt
less have continued until late hour, had not
gentleman, who was directed thther by curiosity,
constituted himself committee Of one and made
complaint at the Fifth Ward police Office. For
tunately a constable was there found, and this
agent Of the law FASTENED at once TO the place OF
disturbance and arrested the female offender but,
il was not until after he received several smart
blows from her hand that he succeeded in forcing
her into hack. Taking seat AT her side, he
accompanied her TO the watch-house, where an
opportunity was afforded TO recover from the
effects Of the liquid draught which had crszed her
brain.
Declsion.-Several days ago Mr.. John B.
Lord arrested a runaway slave, and took him 10
the jail for ,afe-keeping but he was there told
that the negro could not be locked up until he was
fully committed. Accordingly, Mr.. Lord started
for Justice Donn's 10 procure the necessary paper
for that purpose, stopping at his house, on the
way, to put on his cost) When he reached the
magistrates Office be was informed, TO his great
surprise, that Mr.. Lsiruitte, Jail guard, had just