Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-02-15
For the Grand River Times.

! For the Grand River Times
| Muskegon and the Maine Law.
Mr. EDITOR 1t will be recollected thai
there appeared in your paper, a few weeks since
an account of the doings of the citizens o.
Muskegon, in this county, on the subject OF en-
forcing the prohibitory liquor law, in which il
will be seen that they passed resolution to en-
force it, and that by an amicable agreement be-
tween the parties interested, it was to be OBJ
served without coerson or litigation. The
committee of citizens mentioned in that COM
municaton offered to purchase all of the liquor
in the place, at cost, that the owners might lose
nothing on it, and at the same time the law be
observed. This they declined, but pledged
| themselves not to sell unless the Supreme
Court should decide against the law. Things
went min this way and few signs ola violation of
this compact were observed until short time
since, when the owners of the liquor, concluding
from the croakings of that mercenary sheet, the
Detroit Free Press, and other enemies of the
law, that it is unconstitutional and void, and
would be so held by the Supreme Court, and
that the resolution above referred to was like
those of orthodox polticans-composed of
gas and without neutrality-suspicious. deal
ing out the contraband article, and intemper-
ance with its thousand horrors was in their
midst. The friends of the law, like true re-
publican statesmen, understood their resolution
to mean as it read,and seeing their first very laud
able effort TO rid themselves Of so great q
scourge, thus ingloriously thwarted, caused to
be issued on the 9Th inst, by magistrate, sew.
eral search warrants to seize the liquor. The
officer, the noted town constable" true to his
trust proceeded to execute the Maine Law pre-
cepts, accompanied by the principal citizens of
the place, and took the saloon and ball-alley,
kept by Stevens g. Havens, as first in the cate
CORY, and as the great depot of the spirits"
where he found and conveyed to place of Sc
curity, notwithstanding threats of violence on
the part of those who insisted on selling and
drinking what was called for in his warrant of
search about 81 bbs. Of the inhibited bevera-
Ses! Yes, 81 bbls. of whskey, brandy, &C.,
in the hands of the aforesaid "constable," fill
ering wrath, and placing them hors de combat,
is glory enough for Muskegon, in one day !!
The owners answered to the case, and asked for
an adjournment to the lth inst, that they might
procure counsel from Grand Rapids, which was
assented to and team Immediately despatched
for that purpose, but returned, to the credit of
the " members" in that city, without any--saying
that they were there told by counsel that itwould
be of no use In the mean time, all the other
liquor in the place, consisting of about Is gal
ions, except little belonging to the druggist,
who only sells with drugs, was seized and
promptly condemned and destroyed according to
the law. The "big haur' was also condemned,
but it's owners took an appeal to the Circuit
Court, which prevented it from being destroy
ed. The citizens Of this aourishing village, have
gained great credit and honor for themselves
and the place by thus promptly enforcing the
law, after such bad faith on the part of the re-
tailers, and they are determined to keep their
grogshops in their present condtion--as dry of
liquor as contribution box, when shinplasters
and change are scarce This is a fair example
of the folly Of persons following the counsels
of the wicked, and those opposed to the righte-
Gus Michigan Maine Liquor Law. Let others
take warning! BY the way, hear, Mr.. Editor,
that meeting of our citizens is about being
called, to be held at the Old School-House, on
Saturday evening next, to take into considera-
ton the subject Of the said law. This is as it
should be, and ] trust there will be general
turnout of all classes and sexes.
Grand Haven Feb l3, 854. H..
A Mr. Trotter was married to Miss Gallop.
1T Saratoga Springs, last week. full team.