The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-06-10

ed agents and for It's profit shah make and sell spiritaous
liquors and secondly attempted prevention Of private
by the perverson Of all just rules Tor
the administration Of law and by reentessy devoing TO
the suppression Of this msdemeanor all possible MAJ
ehinery Of deatiou and the entire physical power of the
State.
or this system Neal Dow present mayor Of the city Of
Portland in the State Of Maine is the reputed author
Now prior to the establishment Of the contemplated city
agency the city OF Portland for the sale OF liquors.
and ia anticipation Of any such establishment Neal Dow
purchased large quantity Of liquor which, IN the ord-
nary Of trade introduced into aud stored
ia the city of Portland. Whether Dow did this with
an eye to his pecuniary profit for the purpose
OF indirectly forcing the city councils 10 establish
city agency, is disputed point and quite mmaterial
Suffice II to say that the fact Of Dows having pur-
chased this liquor and holding il became known by means
discussion 10 the board Of aldermen The transaction
was on its Illegal one coming within the spirit ana
indeed the very letter Of decision Of the Supreme Court
Of the United States the subject The importation Of
these spirituous liquors State into another was
for the purpose of sale in the latter TO be sold without adj
vance in price perhaps but still sale to be sold to the
city still sale and therefore plain violation of the
laws Of the State Of Maine.
Under these it quite natural that the
citizens of Portland who have not been rendered amiable
by having all their private rights and interests ampled
under foot for the qualification of the bigotry and ambi
ton Of Neal Dow should have sued out warrant for the
seizure of The liquors in his possession But the warrant
had obtained from magistrate possessed with the
same onedca fanaoism Dow himself, and served by
officers subject his direction 1t suspected Of
course trick might be resored to to defeat the
of justice and this not without good cause the
showed for after the prosecution had been instituted
meeting of TIE board of aldermen oslled by the
mayor city agency established, and the liquor trans
it. by the casting vote of the mayor himself in
| equally divided board.
II would have been very extraordinary if embittered
all mems minds by the general question: these incidents
had excited popular emotion in the city Of Portland
AS matter of course crowd, mostly Of curious idle
spectators gathered around the place in which BOWS de
eced stock of liquors stored, aud some disorderly
the crowd peted the windows with stones part
II in froc and partly from just resentment against thu
mayor thus under prosecution for violating the very Law
whose odous provisions be himself had been active
| imposing upon the State.
i Thereupon the mayor forced out small body of militia
headed them in himself and by his direct
der caused them fire ball cartridge into the crowd
killing one the spot and severely wuundng sew
| eral others.
Such is the terrible tragedy with which the effective
ecuion of these laws which have been forced upon by
combinations of anacal aators and against the sobe
4 sense and sound judgment Of the community, opens.
Il We perceive in any statements of the case
Of the Portland Advertiser which alone pretend
to paae the conduct Of Neal Dow and which under
stood from of the city authorities compro
missed in this deplorable business, any sufficient ustfca
ton of the in this the last great remedy
the suppression Of instruction and popular violence
Whether Neal Dow in the legal proceedings which
ensue shall be convicted of murder is question
which belongs to the public justice of the State Of Maine
TO determine However that may be- he has the stamp
blood outlines ndelibly impressed upon him and BIZ
perncious influence be ended, except til,
fearful example which he presents may consstau alu
tary warning and contribute TO arrest to march of TIM
spirit Of treason, disorder violence cri, N the
Of humanity which stalks abroad like 0euius Of Evil
/ in so many of the northern States.