Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-08-23

class, and we are constantly made aware of
their idelity--and yet this worthy class of men
are stigmatized as rumsellers, and new pro-
vision, never before heard of, introduced to
frighten them from preparing a prescription
unless endorsed by temperance physician!
II any apothecary or druggist shall sell any
such liquors (anything that can intoxicate)
unless In the preparation of medicines ordered
by physician of sober life, he shall for the first
offence be fined 500 and be imprisoned three
months in the common jail and for the second
offence the fine is to be doubled and also the
imprisonment -
Did any one ever hear or read of such a
provision as this, and that too aimed at men
the most suitable of any TO act as the distribu-
tors of alcohol for medical purposes. Most
persons would entrust this business from choice
with apothecaries, and yet this class, trusted
with the lives of their fellow citizens are CON
sidered by this law unfit persons to be trusted
in dealing out N. E. Rum.
Another provision about the manufacture Of
liquor overshoots the mark. As liquors must
be kept and sold, why should Maine be de-
prlved OF the right to manufacture and a mo-
nopoly be exercised by Massachusetts Have
we not equal or greater facilities here to man
utacture than any other State-if so, are there
no men IN Maine fit TO be trusted to distil n
E. Rum.
But this law prohibits distilleries of all
kinds. No family can manufacture or distil
anything TOR their own use. 1t is now a
criminal offence A woman cannot make
malt beer for her family! One married lady,
of high standing In Portland, not having a
knowledge of the Maine law of 1855, did act
ually make some beer, and afterwards on read
ing the Maine law, discovered she was liable
TO fine of 5000 and six months imprisonment
In jail. Yet fellow citizens, if your wives or
daughters should have barley and manufacture
beer or malt liquor, they would be liable BY
this stringent law to actual Imprisonment if
the offence was proved against them. There
is no exception to protect him.
The provisions against common carriers is
liable 10 great abuse. If man buys liquor at
an agency and on his way home, meets one of
those prowling officers, who live on such laws
as these, his liquor may be seized and without
warrant 1t is in vain he says he bought it
at an agency, his word may not be credited,
and hence the honest citizen is liable to prose-
cution. The seizure of the liquor is prima
fdcie evidence of his guilt, and he must prove
his innocence or suffer the consequences. In
O'hOh "OAuo1 thC luIC vi CIltulldl law UGiIlp
reversed he must establish a negative, get
bail and appeal the case, or GO to Jail forth
with.
80 too, as to liquors intrdnsitu. If liquors
came into our State TO be conveyed to Canada,
for instance, and remained for twenty-four
hours, on our wharves, or at the depot for
transportation, they are liable TO seizure and
forfeiture, 'as being kept or deposited for unla,c-
tM SALE when no such intention existed, and
the laws of foreign state are to determine
whether an offence is committed against the
laws of Mainet But examine the law for
yourselves. Stage-driyers, expressmen, COM
mon carmen and teamsters are all presumed to
be violators Of law and by the 7th \ are liable
to heavy fines and penalties if they carry any
quantity of liquor from, or 10 any person what
ever, unless purchased of an agent and in the
case of these persons, they are required to
prove negative, or that they had no intention
10 violate this law
The 23d of this law contains provision
to encourage dishonesty and holds out an in.
ducement TO knavery never heard of in any
previous law whatever. 1t provides in sub
stance that if a man buys liquor in another
State or country, say one thousand dollars
worth in a foreign jurisdiction and gives his
note for the same, that note shall be null ano
void, and no action shall be sustained in any
court in this state for the recovery of the val
ue of the liquors thus purchased-and thai
too, when sold in place where it was as law.
ful to sell it as any other merchandise The
honest merchant abroad is to be cheated fol
the benefit of the knave at home. Is this hon
est or justifable! is it not rather an attempt tc
carry on moral enterprise by dishonest anc
corrupt means
Such provision, encouraging dishonesty
would sink us as people, if we should take
advantage of this fraudulent provision, to the
lowest state of degradation. 1t would be fal
worse than State repudiation, for the latter
may arise from necessity, while the former
must grow out OF dishonesty, encouraged BY
law A merchant of Madeira NAV sell car
go of liquors to merchant in Maine, on cred
it, and the latter may defy him to collect the
value of the cargo. The Maine liquor law
says that no action will lie, and the homes
merchant is TO be cheated. This may cores
pond with the morality of some men, but ne
honorable man, whether merchant or farmer
would tolerate for moment such gross inius
tice. So also it is provided that no actor
shall be maintained TO recover the possession
value of any liquors in this State.
This strange provision was decided to be
unconstitutional by our Supreme Court some
time ago under the old law, but still it is re-
enacted as if to compel its recognition some
day or other, when judges and juries shall bs
moulded to decide questions of law with refer
ence TO their own prejudices rather than theil
honest convictions.
A denial of the use of wine for sacramento
purposes is another arbitrary provision. The
men who in churches shout hosannah to thi:
law are ignorant of its provisions. MANY
think the use of wine for sacrameRtal purpos
es is excepted, but such is not the case unles:
the juice be expressed from the grape here il
Maine, where the grape is not cultivated =
Wine may be manufactured from currants o.
grapes to be sold to agents to be by them sold
for medicinal and sacramental purposes
Such is the law-it sends our churches beg.
glng to town agents for the means of celebrat.
ing the Lords Supperl Hon. VIM. Willis
of Portland, tried to get this provision amend
ed, allowing the use of wine for the churches
Internationally, but the effort failed.
In looking over the provisions of this law
you will discover many, that can never com
mand the sanction of fair-mitded, Intelligent
men, who ever felt spark of patriotism or a
love of liberty.
Our churches are to be put under the ban OF
its tyranny. No foreign wine shall be used
by them-and if they cannot raise sour erapes
in Maine, they must abandon one of the mos,
sacred religious observances that ever existed
in Christendom.