Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-03-31
GLORIOUS NEWS
FROM MASSACHUSETTS AND MICHIGAN

FROM MASSACHUSETTS AND MICIuGANn.
The last hope OF the opposition in
these states has fled. In Michigan. the
Supreme Court. which is composed Of
the eight circuit Judges. stood at first
four fer the law and four against it,
The result Of this would have been the
enforcement Of the law in four circuits
and otherwise in the remaining four, as
there was no power to reverse the de-
cision Of either.
The rumites rejoicod over this as a
great victory, thinking that half of the
State was yet open TO them. But the
triumph of the wicked is short. One
Of the four who declared the Jaw I'M
constitutional, on giving the subject a
sober second thought, has reversed his
opinion and agrees with the other four,
that it is constitutional and must be en-.
forced. The Supreme court now stands
FIVE TO THREE!i in favor of the
law. All hail, young democratic Mich
igan. That is pure, unadulterated de-
mocracy such as we love.
But, Massachusetts, is erect also. we
gave last week the triumphant vote in
the House, on the repeal of the Prohib-
tory law. 1t is our privilege. this
week to record the fact that the SUI
preme court has sustained every section
of the law but the fourteenth, and the
law without that section is very strin-
gent. This section relates to seizure
and con6scation, the things most dread
ed by rum sellers. They care but lit
tie for fine if they can only retain
the means Of renewing their business,
On hearing the decision of the court,
the rumsellers FASTENED away to the
Commons and fred three hundred and
sixty-fve rounds Of cannon by way Of
rejoicing over their victory. But the
smoke of their guns had hardly disap.
peared when, to their profound morti'
6cation, they discovered that the de
eision sustained the PRINCIPLE of search
seizure, confscation anddestruction, anC
only condemned the us,
the means Of seizing the liquor wa
too summary. The legislature is al
ready at work mendiug the section
which can easily be done, and will b,
done no doubt before the adjournment
Poor creatures, they wish they hat
saved their thunder for a more sigma
victory. One more such victory anC
they are undone for ever-search. seiz
ure, con6scation and destruction ar,
constitutional in the old Bay State.
LATER.
The bill for prohibiting the traffic in
intoxicating liquors, which had previ
ously passed the Senate by vote O
TWENTY ONE to ELEVEN, has pas
sed the Lower House, of the New Yor
legislature by a vote of EFSEvEN
TY EIGHT to FORTY TWOl!
goes into effect on the first of May.
STILL LATER.
Within two hours after the decisio
of the Supreme Court of Massachusett
had been announced, condemning tn
machinery Of the fourteenth section
} but sustaining the principle, a motto
was made in the House to so amen
the law as to relieve ii of its objection
able features, and yet retain the prir
: ciple Of seizeure, confscation, and d.
struction. Various attempts were mad
to kill this motion by attaching othe
things to it, but they were all vote
down, by decided majorities, and
committe was appointed, consisting (
the best temperance men in the Hous,
to report the necessary amendment.