Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-01-19
To the People Of Indiana.


To the People Of Indiana.
Your FELLOW CITIzLNs, alike interest
ed with you in all that concerns the adj
versity or prosperity of our State, desire.
IN that spirit OF kindness which should al
ways characterize our conduct towards
one another. 10 address yon on the sub
iect which has occasioned our asse m blage
to-day.
/, is useless at this enlightened period
OF our history. TO enter into detail of
facts. or 10 adduce facts. or to adtuce ar
gumentS to show The etioEinisy Of the Wis
arising from the manufacture and sale Of
intoxicating liquors. The crime and mis-
cry which are its legitimate and absolute
results are SO apparent that 10 man OF
common reflection can deny their exist
snce.
The great question. then, and the one
TO which we especially direct your a,ten-
ton. is. How shall this crime and mis-.
cry be mos, eifec,ualy banished from our
State?"
All know that every attempt 10 accom-
plish il by means Of license laws has fail
ed. Indeed. il can no longer be urged
as il wss few years ago. that the Ieve-
nue. derived from Il license 30 sell intox-
icating drinks is a compensation for the
mischief i, in9icts, because our Legisla-
,ure has already repudiated the idea tina,
Christian Government should receive
money as the price of iniqui.y The ef
forts OF all the various associations for
the promotion of Temperance (although
they have done much good) have no,
been sufficient.
We think, upon proper reflection. that
all must be forced TO the conviction tina,
il can only be done by the enactment Of q
Predatory Law; ana that such laws
have been successful, the most ample tes-
timony is furnished By the experience of
those States where they now exist.
1t is stablished. beyond all controver-
sy. that the effect Of such laws has been
TO close ,ipling houses-in a great meas
ure 10 empty the poor houses OF their in
majestic greatly lessen the number OF
criminals-to reduce the taxes of the
| people at least one third in amouni-tc
reform hundreds of Inc briates. and 20 pre-
vent thousands OF the rising general ior
becoming druakards.
| When such have been the inevita bic
results Of prohibitofy Legislation in OH
er States. why shall no. Indians pursu,
the same course. and thus advance al
the great interests which promote III,
prosperity and contribute TO the hsppi
ness of a people?
The new Constitution Of our Sta. ne
only secures the right TO enact such /;
law. but enjoins il as duty on th'
law making power to do SO. 1t declare
that the government is Instituted TO secur
the peace. and well being of the People
and that the Legislature shall encourage
by all suitable means. moral and intel
lectual improvement" which can be don
in no other way so completely as by
prohibitory Liquor Law.
S, far as the Constitution Of the Uni
ted States is concerned, the Suprem
Court, that tribunal which settles al
questions arising under its provisions
) has already decided. in the following opin
ion expressed by Judge fancy. that. Il
J any State deems the retail and interns
ira ffic in ardent spirits injurious 10 il
citizens. and calculated TO produce idle
ness. vice, or debauchery, ! see noihin
in the Constitution of the United State
to preven: il from regulating or restrain
e ing the traffic. or from prohibiting it a
4 together. if il think proper"
a As TO the right. then, there can be II
/; discussion. That is settled.
n The propriety and expediency of ii
d law NAV, to some. be "a matter of invei
J. tigation: but. il so. the friends of ii
2 measure court that investigation. COZ
}. scious as they are tina. not single erg'
ment. founded on just views Of the hal
" piness aud prosperity of the people. ca
n be given against il. Yet. we are ava
Il that many obstacles exist which must
y overcome before the passage of such la
e can be secured.
l. Prominent among these obstacles. ar
N lsi. existing Prejudices ond the alleg'
1f pc ,uniary interests of those engaged
o the Liquor Traffic; and I'd. the prese
ID organization Of political parties.
As 10 the First Many of our most i
e dustrious and well meaning citizens ha
? been led to believe that such laws are
h infringement of their personal rights
5 that their provisions are such as to pla