New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-19
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPIS,
LIQUOR LAW MATTERS.
To "A. Esi,0v sJ Txs ~ " T,ssuse

To ne Edsfv ~ Ihs ~ ~ Iroune
SIR: When man with peaceful and lsx.r,
professions in his mouth knocks you dow, -
occur TO you that bis professions are not a..
sincere. To suspicion OF taat kind two re.... ~
of those opposed to the stringent measures d;,,.s
the Maine Law have laid them open: the po.s.TT
melee in the first instance, and vile, riotors A.
less assault upon one Williams, an informant -
the law, at Albany, within the last few i.y.
former Of these occurrences has been discusses -
increasing accuracy as stronger and cet,er-,.s.,.I
light has been thrown upon it. The first mpv,.,
gesied by that instructive regard for human ls 40
al times forcstals the due of reason was ;. 10
sure Nsyor Dow in very emphatic terms Sao.s~>
information tended 20 mitigate the apparen, 49,
Of that gentleman proceedings, and even 49,
doubt which every fair man would be anxious 10 ~
pret in his favor whether underthe circumstance -
different course could have been pursued in def,s
TO the safety npd peace of the community. The 49,
dict of the Coroners Jury, which has inst reaehe5
in full does not impair that charitable view Of A.
matter; ard indeed IL savors so strongly OF the On,
violent and intolerant spirit that gave birth 70 4
whole mischief, that the impression IN favor Il M
Msyor must. we think, be very decidedly highiaaea !
it. Whether on a calm, mature, retrospecoa tse ~
strike gratul'ous Is not the question. All tie g.
and uncertainties rushing upon the mind OF nsr.
traie in view of popular muster, not to say moA E.
must he estimated in the light which inspired IL
ard by no means interpreted with the and Of etc,s
stances which have been subsequently discovered M
which. could they have been knowa a. che er.t.
moment, night have shown the employment Of sem
measures 10 be needless. No position In the psx
service has more awful responsibilities than us. Of,
gistrate ia the presence OF an excited, ps9slas
gathering, convertible a; moments notice iasa,
mob. For it is Epon moment that the whole ns,r
turns, and in that time his course must oe dcc12
Il a.. =. tsraf.
and to use harsh measures 20 dlspsrsa IT, ID TO oas
immediate, and often ncurable obloquy upon the hs
of the official the very next moment the ma
encouraged by IMMUNITY, may suddenly proceed ton
mud violence that no force Can stay; and the Il
is charged to tie inertness of the mag ssrs
For not having done moment earlier whs, I
successful. il would have been telo de Sc Of rea
tation To have DONE tue unfortunate officer Is sumu
ily and Incidentally condemned. Where tbs polnii
so nice; where the exact and due adjustment Of il
duires seemingly The attributes OF Deity
precedence and omnipotcncc at least-that cannotL
lust censure which declines 10 interpret all doubts
issues TO the Advantage of the magistrate. HIS ven
errors have powerful claim TO pity AMI excuse. VI
cannot regard the verdict of the Jury as deserving u
slightest respect, for the simple reason that Il gaou
ali such difficulties attending Il position OF Msw
Dow, and presents him in the character of crinins
notwithstanding his severity followed, not preeeded u
violence of the MOI, and notwithstanding oely &
bfe-that Of a worthless rutian-wes saerihced 70 u
cause of social order No one, we imagine, can hos
estly doubt that in the absence of prompt mterereas
on the part OF the Mayor, The mob would have ~
ceeded TO fierce extremes The verdict implies nothar
OF the sort.
The spirit since exhibited in some quarters by u
ouuonents of Prohbitory Law is such, il must IA
Owned as TO 20 some distance toward justifyiHg II
apr reheDsions of the Portland authorities The Ls,x
body of those opponents contemplate Of course no ol
opposition TO the law than such may be supposeds
rect on constitutional grouZd. But there Is anoAs
vast body uncoDhned by such consider 4ons IN
treatment of Mr. Williams is unquestionaby dueb
this lawless class, and it proves several points q
tremey 10 the disadvantage OF free liquor. Prov
substantial want of confidence in the appeal to las
in which 20 much confidence is pretended. Toe sut
icct IL not willingly brought to the test of legal deco
ion for the ageut who proposes 10 raise the issus
subject TO instant and Illuminating vengeance h
proves what an Anti Maine Law mob is capable 4
when unrestraned, and how powerless tue authorize
are 10 arrest that violence in full career which eyt
and energetic action might altogether prevent. NJ
Williams, il seems, was threatened and insued iat
Court Of Justice; and bad barely left it, whea he We
seized and inhumanly beaten aud il-treated By .
reckless crowd, whose number and unanimity bespou
deliberate prepaT alton for the assault. The transt
ton must be regarded illustrating the dolngs at Pos
land and lending that color of right to the me
OF Dow and his fellows there, that in any inA aJ
would have otherwise wanted. Ii Is IN VAN 10 Nfecf
pacific intentions with such daily evidences OF yioen,
before us. Those to whom the law is dstasteul mur
employ all their influence to repress Illegal resistance
or they must certainly lose the support OF very may
moderate PEOPLE who think more of public order aE
quetude than of constitutional rights to juleps I'D
cocktails. If Mayor Dow ia TO be proved wrorf
those interested in the demonstration must take care
keep themselves right. MANY CrTILEsS
her. iork, July IA, 1855.