Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-04-10
Maryland Legislature and Temperance.

! We give below the report of the Chair
man Of the Comnit;e of Finance, of tn
Maryland Legislature. to which was re
ferred the subject of a prohibitory law. w
invite the careful perusal of all 10 thu
calm, and able discussion Of the subjee
therein contained:
Report.
The committee on finance, TO whom
was referred the bill from the House o
Delegates entitled, "an act to regulate the
sale Of distilled spirits, and intoxicating
liquors. have had the same under consd-
Grafton and respectfully report,
That, regarded in relation to its efI;c,
on the revenues Of the State, in which as
pect it is more peculiarly the province Of
this committee to examine its tendency,
the enactment Of the proposed law would
be productive Of serious loss and unquali-
fed injury.
The bill provides that no distilled or in
toxicating liquors shall be sold within the
limits of the State except for medicinal,
mechanical. artistic or sacramento uses,
and only by persons appointed BY the
judges Of the circuit courts for the several
counties and the city of Baltimore; that
there shall not be more than ten in each
county and the city, each Of whom shall
pay the sum of fifty dollars on his appoint
ment
If the whole number act and pay the
stipulated tax, the aggregate will be elev-
en- thousand dollars; the revenue derived
from licenses to ordinaries, during the
past fiscal year was $31, 1898, which be-
ing relinquished would iniiict on tie treas
ury loss of more than $50, 600.
The traders licenses yielding $4,000
woald be seriously affected. The smaller
stores would not be maintained, and the
larger, denied the traffic in lucrative ar
ticle now permitted, would in justice be
entitled to raleable reduction of the tax
imposed on them, for which it was part
Of the consideration.
q A large amount Ct capital employ ed in
the liqnor trade, and invested in the es-
Adjustments for The martha, tura oil
distilled and maltt9uors would De divert
en- to less profitable channels, driven from
the State, or impaired in extent, ard by
such diversion or reduction diminish the
resources Of the treasury.
Indirect, but more disastrous injuries
would result from the damage inflicted ON
the trade and prosperity of the city Of
Baltimore. The reputation of commer-
eial community, is extremely sensitive,
and interference by law TO restrict direct
or control its business must be we'll advised,
not to prove detrimental. II the capacity
OF market to supply every article Of ne
cessity or luxury bs diminished the value
OF all that Is to be found in its depots is
lessened; where the supply is most ample,
there the trader. Will resort, and will de-
ser. the limitedgAor the unrestricted mart,
where every demand can be gratiiied al
once,
III the almost desperate rivalry now in
progress amongst the more extensive com
mercial enporiums Of the country, it would
be suicidal to paralysc the energies, and
retard the advance Of the city we should
most cherish, and whose interests it Is our
duty to protect. Her grocery market is
he: peculiar boast, and upo, this the blow
would Immediately and most heavily fall.
The opinion Of her intelligent capitalists
and traders is sufficiently indicated b,
their memorials, and in that opinion the
committee fully concur.
I'VE ere aware that speculative caleula-
tons are exhibited, designed to enforce
the idea that this bill would prove advan-
tageous IS revenue Measure. 1t is urged
that our almshouses and Prisons are filled
with drunkards, and that the necessity for
and expense OF such institutions is at.ribu-
table to the use of intoxicating liquors.
Degrading and deplorable as the vice OF
drunkenness u.s. and ruinous as it may be
to the health, fortune and happiness Of in
diyiduals, we sie pnrsuaded that its pro-
ductiveness Of crime amenable to the law
is greatly exaggerated sometimes the
cause, 1t is oflener the, coneomitant oil
crime-as often the child as the parent
and although paupers and felons may be
drunkaIds, inference is as illogical and un-
true, that il temperance they would have
been prosperous and honest
We reterate the deliberate and unani
nous opinion Of the committee that to the
revenues OF the State the operation of this
bill would be prejudicial, and more to be
deprecated, as impairing that branch which
alone it is in the power of the Legislature
to appropriate for those salutary or charita.
BILE objects that may invoke the benevo.
lence or the justice of the Government
But eveu Invested OF its injurious eonse-
quences 10 the State finances, the commit.
tee are compelled to express. the opinion
that as a police reg ils.iop. i. is nnwarrant-
ed and as sumptuare law, odious. lis
inspiring principle is falacious, and its de.
tails initiate againet the spirit. if they do
not invade tie letter Of the constitution.
The desire fot, and use of stimulants OF
narcotics has been found in every nation
savage or civilized an instinct so univer
sal end the co-eXtensive means Of its graft
fica.on proclaim both as gifts of beneyo.
lent Providence, bestowed for the rationa
service and enjoyment Of humanity. A,
with every passion and every source o.
pleasure it may be used as blessing OF
abused INFO a curse. The exceptions IL,
this bill makes en- admission which reason
must extend beyond their narrow hmita-
ton. lie feel justified in the assumption
that the use as a beverage IF distilled fer
mented or malt liquors is not in itself Grim
inal, and to deny this is 10 disclaim this
purity of christianity and the sanction o.
human nature. !, true, the manufacture