The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-28

commenced These are Russia and the United
States. For the others the war can only bring
revolution, disaster, bloodshed, misery and
ruin.
Passage Of the Liquor Bill-WNl the Governor
Sign Ns
After the severest struggle that any bill ever
encountered-after more hypocrisy, stultifca-
ton, deception Juggling and political chicanery
than was before ever practised, the Maine Liquor
bill has finally been carried through both
branches of the Legislature 1t is great relief to
important matters before the Legislature that
this subject has been disposed Of for the present
Alarge number Of members in both houses con-.
fined their attention to this BILL and nothing else;
they were elected for no other purpose than to
persevere until stringent temperance law was
passed and though the bill has been legisla-
lively adopted in both houses, the true friends
of temperance are greatly disappointed in the
result. There is not a temperance man in the
Legislature, nor in the State, who possessed the
least idea that another year was to run before
the traffic should be ousted. Many desired that
the law should have gone into effect on the first
of May, but a larger portion were in favor of
the first Of August, thus giving dealers and ma
~-H-..-..-- en.,~ o. nve montns Ilme IN which
to arrange their business but no man, woman,
or child in the State, ever petitioned the Legis
lature to make the first day of December the
time when the law should take effect.
The Senate passed the bill, inserting the
first day Of August. The same evening wing
caucus was held, and the next morning Senator
Dickinson moved reconsideration of the vote
by which August was placed in the BILL This
was carried, and he Immediately moved that
December be inserted instead. This, too, was
carried, all the wing politicians agreeing
thereto. This movement opened the eyes of the
honest temperance members Of both houses
They we're now convinced that the leaders of
the whg party were prepared to defeat the bill
rather than that it should 60 into effect pre-
vious to the next election. They now perceive
that the sincerity of Dickinson, Hopkins Field,
Robertson and others in the Senate, and of
Cook, Ward, Leavenworth and their co-patriots,
the dictators, was full Of doubt. The matter
was carried to the House. when that body, on
the first impulse Indignantly spurned Decem-
Der. A committee of conference was appointed,
upon which the Speaker placed five December
wings, and not single democrat. Mr.. Dickin-
son selected the committee Of three on the part
of the Senate-two wings and one democrat;
and although the House had, twenty -four hours
previously, determined to adhere to the LIST of
May, by vote of lO3 to 8, still the committee
of that body instantly obeyed the behests of
the caucus, and unanimously consented to
stultify the vote Of the House by cowardly ca
pitulation, and recommended the first of Deem
Der. Their excuse for doing 80 is the simplest
act Of special pleading ever perpstrated, wor-
thy of the prevarication Of the meanest petit
logger in justice courts
Well, the bill is in the hands of the Cover
nor. Speculation is rife as to the executive ac-
ton. Some assert that his Excellency will sign
the bill-othcrs again affirm to the contrary.
Now, all this is premature. He has expressed
sue, and it would have been highly improper
for him to have committed himself in adj
vance. The wing party having taken the
responsibility Of frustrating the tens of
thousands Of sincere and honest advocates
of temperance in their efforts to suppress the
bill, the Governor has now responsibility de-
volving on him Of equal Importance. He will
undoubtedly make the most minute examination
of the bill-give to every word, line and sec
tion the most careful consideration and the
closest scrutiny, taking into view the bearing
Of the bill upon the constitution of the State
and of the United States, both of which himself,
as well as the members Of the Legislature, are
bound to preserve from all kinds of invasion,
mutilation and violation. The people of the
whole State are now awaiting the action of
Governor Seymour An opportunity is afforded
him to distinguish himself and his administra-
ton, which none of his predecessors ever en-
joyed. II remains to be seen whether he will
be found equal to the great emergency.
But should the Governor return the bill with
his objections for emitting his signature, what
thenf Why another vote would be taken, and
IL would require twenty-five votes in the Sc
nate--being two-thirds--to pass it. Gould that
number be obtainedi There are twenty-five
whigs-just the number reqnired--bnt there j.