Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1854-06-17


An Austrian courier was 10 leave Vienna
on the 2d of June, with the formal demand
of Austria 10 the Gar Nicholas 10 withdraw
his force from the Turkish territory.
Doubtful iumors are again in circula'ion'
that the Gar will negotiate.
THE PRoHIBIToRY STATE CONVENTION.
The Prohibitory State Convention assem-
bled a, Harrisburg on Wednesday, the 9TH
inst, and organized by the election of the
Hon. Eli Sifer of Union, as President, with
a number of Vice Presidents and Secretaries
The lnterrogaiing Committee submitted a
number of letters, and among others letters |
from Governor Bigler, Judge Pollock and
others. The following are the interrogoiaries
of the Committee and the replies OF Governor
Bgler and Mr.. Pollock, the Whig candidate
for Governor.
INTERRoGAToRIEs ny THE PRoHIDIToRr IL
oUoR LAW COMMITTEE.
1. Do you believe law, prohibiting the
manufacture and sale OF intoxicating liquors,
except for sacramental, medicinal, mechani-
cal or arlis'ical purposes, 10 be constitutional?
and would its constitutionality, in your opin
ion, be affected by submission of its repeal
TO vote of the people, provided majority
voted in favor of the law!
2. In the event Of your election, should
The Legislature enact such law, will it re-
ceive your Executive sanction?
GOVERNOR BIGLER's LETTER.
HARRrsBuRG, June G, 1854.
Gentlemen Il have been honored by the
receipt of your communication of the 18th
ultimo, propounding to me certain questions
touching the subject of Prohibiory Liquor
Law.
To your first inquiry, | reply, that the
Supreme Cour, Of the State have repeatedly
held, and concur in the doctrine, that the
Legislature can exercise all law-making
power not expressly forbidden by the State
or Federal Constitution. Under this con.
struciion, believe the Legislature have au-
thorty 10 control the manufacture and sale
of spiriluous liquors; but in the use Of that
power, il must be obvious that law might
be passed, which, in its details. would be a
manifest violation of the Constitution, and
hence the impossibiity of answering your
question distinctly, without seeing The exact
terms of the proposed law.
AS TO the second point in the inquiry, it
must be very clear that law, constitutional
in itself, would not be rendered otherwise by
allowing the people 10 decide by vote whether
the Legislature shonld repeal it or not, no
matter what that vote might be.
To your second inquiry | answer that
sincerely deplore the evils of intemperance,
and am now willing, as have always been,
to sanction any measure 10 mitigate, and if
possible, entirely remove the vice, bu!
cannot pledge myself 10 sanction a law, the
details of which have not seen The terms
of the Constitution and oath of office would
seem to forbid this course on The part Of an
Executive. He should be free to Judge of
the consliiuiIonality and wisdom of pro-
posed law after having fully examined and
considered its provisions.
Very respectfully, your obedent,
VIM. BIGLER.
To Stephen Miller, Jas Black, Jas. Piper,
John Jones, Geo. w. Stanton, Esqs., Com
Inlttee.
JUDGE poLLocK's Letter.
MILroN, May 3Oth, 1852.
Gentlemen-Your communication in refer
ence 10 prohbiior, law has been received,
} and in reply, | say that the consitulonaity
of prohibitory law, similar in its essential
, | rafar to in int
togatories, having received a judicial deter.
mnalion by the highest Courts OF several ot
our sister States, and the principle having
been recognized by The Supreme Court oI
responsibility of a first decision. These
Coults have affirmed the consiiutionality o
{ prohbi,ory law, and being of the highes
authority, believe, upon principle and au
3 lhorty, such law to be constitutional an,
its cons,itutionali,y, in my opinion, would no
be affected by submission of its repeal 10
vote of the people.
Every measure Of moral or political reform
sanctioned by the representatives Of ih'
people, within the limits of the Constitution
should receive my official sanction. Th'
expediency and proprety 81 such laws ar
9 for the people, through their representatives.
and their will, constitutionaly declared
should be respected by the Executive.
= the people demand, and their representative
- enact such law, their will shohld not b
resisted by the exercise of the veto power
a power purely conservative, and only 10 b
exercised in cases clearly unconstitutional, @
; exhibiting indubilabe evidence of hasty
injurious and imperfect legislation. Sue
u being my views of official duty in the prem
ses, shsuld the Legislature, the constitution;
g exponenls of popular will, enact such Law
y i, would, in the event Of my election, receiy
~ the Executive sanction.
:, Yours, very respectfully,
~ JAMES PoLLooK.
The business committee in the afternoo
reported series Of resolutions, approving
'e the letters of tho Wing and Native eand
- dates for Governor, and declaring il inexp'
" dienl 10 nominate a candidate. They dee
lhe letter Of Gov. Bigler unsatisfactory.
7" The resolutions were, after long discu
sinn, adopted, aud the Convention, at III
T. ~, adjourned SINE die.