The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-11-17
Gov. Dutton on Prohibitory Law.

The Ner Englander, aquarterly religious
magazine. contains an article frsm the pen OF
Governor Dutton, Of Connecticut, on prohibi.
tory law, We make the following extracts :
We have not shadow Of doubt but that
the total prohibition Of this kind of traffic
comes within the Legitimate sphere o. legis
lation. No one can doubt for moment that
a grocery is nuisance. It's injurious ~
the community in its vicinity, us a pes,
house would be. 1t is as destructive to the
morals as bawdy house; or gambling sa-
loon. Why, then, should it not be abated
by Law, rs we'll us those establishments |!
But the QUERY is raised, that men are not
compelled to buy or drink. and that they
ought to do as they please in this respect
and yet are prohibited from doing as they
please in other matters far less injurious !.
No man woald be obliged to buy lotte nv
tickets if flaming advertisements were stuck
up on every corner d.ludinS and tempting
the weak-minded and incautious TO waste
their earnings aud leave themselves or their
families destitute OF the necess,ries of life.
Why has not man rs good right to
buy lottery ticket, as glass Of LIQUOR
The ticket will only strip him Of his mon.
ey. The liquor will deprive him not only OF
his money, but Of character health and
life.
Ye, no one complains Of any infringement
Of liberty, in not being permitted to buy lot.
cry tickets, nor is there sympathy for lot.
terry ticket vender, for being up in his bust.
ness. The Governor does not hesitate, :,
sanction u law making gin enterprises high.
ly penal, vet his conscientious scruples com.
pei him to veto bill surpressing business
in New York, which is cons antly filing to
oyeraowing the almshouses and the prisons.
What consistency! One Of the great objects
Of legislation always has been and always
onglIt to be. to protec, men against the con-
trolling influences Of their own appetites
and passions when excited by temptations
presented by the cupidity ofthe fellow men.
We rejoice that the Legislature Of Connect.
cut have iearlessly asserted this sulutary
principle.
The law itself of the most uncomprcmising
character. Ii carries tho war into the enc
my's camp. IL proceeds both by assault and
by siege. The law FIRST very properly makes
all sales ofspirituous and intoxicating liq uor
except in q particular way, and for other
purposes than rs beverage, unlawful -
I, prohibits absolutely and under all circum.
stances the traffic in such liquor, as bust.
ness for the purpose Of making gain. The
remedy Is applied directly to the cause Of
the mischief. The law is not an abstraction.
IL is eminently practical. Ii does no, pr o.
coed on the assumption that the sale OF
liquors is sin per Sc. without regard TOT
consequences 1t 6nds merely that the traf.
tic is pernieious, and therefore prohibits
it.
Speaking ofthc couneclicu, Law, he says
Another valuable enactment in the law. is
that which authorizes an officer to take the
testimony ola drunkard, whenever he recoy-
ers bis senses enough 10 testify. Hitherto,
have eniiced their victims into
their secret dens, and deprived them Of
their money and then turned them out upon
the Common TO lie in the Common, or to die,
according 10 the strength Of the doses which
have been administered. But hereafter this
viii be hazardous operation the drunkard,
affer ne has recovered his senses, can take
his choice either TO 60 70 Jail himself, or 10,
The author Of his degradMiion do 1t. The
whole proceedings vii. be rather unpaiatable
to- ne prisoner ind 10 the poisoned: We
,hini Il win DO almost as efectual to pre-
vent suoh selling as the provision regarding
searches and seizures.
Aher alludipg to the important provisions OF the
Law, he closed thus:
ave ure at q loss to conceive how anything