The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-07-11
COL. GENTRY's ANSWER.
HILLSIDE, Ap.il 8, 1855.
To Messrs. W. B. Ewing, Hugh Carroll, S. S. Hall,
J. B. McFerrin, and j. II. Curry.


To Nessrs. W. B. Ewing, Hugh Carroll, S. S. Hall,
j. B. McFerrin, and j. ID. Curry.
GrNr1EMEN:-Yours of the 29th of March came
to hand yesterday. You inform me that you were
anpoiuted by the State Temperance Convention a
Committee to PROFOUND the following interrogatories
to the candidates for Governor of the State of Ten
nessee in the approaching canvass, viz:
"Are you in favor of a law prohibiting the
sale of Intoxicating liquors as a beverage?"
q "Will you, if elected, recommend, in your
message to the Legislature, the passage of such a
law at an early period in the session p And you
request me "to answer the above questions at an
early day." I proceed promptly to comply with
your request, by stating unequivOcally what will be
my recommendation to the Legislature, on the SUBJ
iect of your letter, in the event of my election to
the Office of Governor of Tennessee.
| will recommend the enactment OF a law pro-
hibitlng the sale of intoxicating liquors, in small
quantities, except license shall have been obtained
for that privilege-which license shall be issued by
the Clerk of the County Court, only in where
application shall be made for the same in writing
signed by the person applying, and by majority of
the qualified voters of the civil district within which
he proposes to retail spurious liquors. law
founded UPON this general principle, embracing in
its details provisions for its efficient execution,
would, in my opinion speedily put an end to tip
plng in most of the civil districts of the State
and, at no distant day, in all of them; and would
be more effective in depressing the evils resulting
from the immoderate use of intoxicating liquors,
than any other that has been suggested theoreti-
cally or expermentaly tested in this State. Moral
reform, by this process, being accomplished ~ the
people, acting for themselves in every civil district
would be in harmony with the spirit of our free
institutions, and beautiful Illustration of the
publican doctrine that man is capable of self gov.
ernment and would therefore, be durable.
II all those who are aiming at a common object
with respect to a remedy for the evils resulting
fIom the immoderate use of intoxicating liquors,
would concentrate their exertOns during the ap-
preaching canvass in favor of this policy believe
their efforts would be crowned with success by the
enactment, at the next session of the Legislature,
of such Inv as / have indicated and great good
would be accomplished. By aiming at more, it is
highly probable that nothing will be achieved. -
But, gentlemen, you know full well that the Con.
stitution of Tennessee does not confer upon the
Governor of the State the power TO veto Of the
Legislature nor invest him with patronage to in.
fuence the deliberations OF that body | think,
therefore, that the nterrogatories propounded to
me, by you, would be more appropriately addressed
to candidates for the Legislature. | have respon.
ded, ouly to exhibit my respect for you, and that
numerous and highly respectable body OF citizens
whom you represent.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
N. P. GENTRY.