Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-07-26
Sketch of the Remarks of HON. SAM
UEL WELLS on the 4th Of July at
Alfred.

Alfred.
Judge Wells arose, amid demonstrations d
A applause from the audience, and fixed the at
teniion of all throughout the course of his re-
marks. We can present but mere outline Of
his able speech.
Mr.. Wells was happy 10 meet so many ol
his fellow citizens congregated on this auspi-
cious day-uur Nations birth day-a pleasant
July, summer day-the sun shining in such
splendor upon all nature, and making radiant
the beauty and grandeur of its scenery. That
sun had performed lis rounds since light began,
and yet The sun itself was no older than the
principles Of democracy implanted in the hearts
of men. No false sentiment or transient emo
tion is democracy it dwells deep in the bosom.
Prompted by this sentiment, the frank, demo-
cratic citizens of Old Yurk county have this
day met together-to call to mind the heroic
struggles of their Revolutionary fathers and to
take measures 10 defend and perpetuate the
freedom which they bequeathed 10 their de-
scendants. sa F .-4lif ali -l
! Here the speaker turned for moment to
contemplate The sufferings and indomitable
courage Of the people of ITS. We were
then less than three millions Of people 10 meet
the proudes, foe the world then knew. Bos-
ton then with less than fifteen thousand inhab-
itants-ilet with solders-dared defy the
power of the United Kingdom Of Great Britain.
The people of the whole country rallied with
them. Then it was our fathers pledged life,
| fortune, and sacred honor for Liberty. And
by the blessings of Heaven, they come out of
the contest victorious in poyerty, but with
songs Of joy and independence.
| What are we, now grown to be great peo-
| pie, a strong and powerful nation, doing to
| guard and presevere the liberties we have in
| herited. Tyranny no longer comes TO US in
foreign armies, in battle array we hear not
the drum and fife but shall we set quiet
while tyranny comes against US in the no less
dangerous form of insidious legislation-laying
its stealhy hand upon the right to worship God
according TO the dictates of conscience unno-
Tested which our fathers fought for and obtain
ed shall we remain quiet, while persecution
arrays sect against sect,-whiie tyranny en-
slaves US in The Jury box, causing property and
even life itself, 10 depend upon jury one half
of whom may be pledged To stand by faction
at whatever sacrifice can we be silent while
open proposals are made to arrange jnries 10
do the bidding of political parties and factions.
These are the forms which tyranny comes to
u.s. seeking TO control the ballot-box, the courts
of justice, and thus to deprive US of the very
privileges aud liberties for which our fathers
fought. But tyranny must be resisted in what
ever form il comes, and we should resist it hon
estly and in the fear Of God. Tyranny can
even assume the guise of an angel of lght-a
divine messenger of peace. Under the robe of
Temperance and moral reform is enacted law
which has no parallel since the Revolution, and
whose equal can only be found in barbarous ma
tions; and yet this law is regarded by many as
hardly inferior 10 the divine law, and by some
as even placed above the ten commandments
The speaker urged every man 10 read this
law-and TO read it section by section-and to
let his family read it read it candi1ly and
thoroughly; though il is long aud muliftudinous
in It's details, its great features may be correct
lY distinguished and understood by all. Give
it all the credit due 10 it, and what is il is
basis is in this provision, No Intoxicating Hq-
uors shall be sold except for medical and mechara-
zeal purposes. Rum, gin, brandy, cider, beer
and every liquor that intoxicates-eyen all the
preparations of medicines in daily family use,
are forbidden by ii, except when bought Of the
agent erected by the law. But what can the
law do when it has once sold and delivered
these articles 1t then belongs TO the buyer
he has il in his possession, and he will use it
as he pleases The law cannot control him 10
the use of it. The law, then, is deceptive i,
preiends To do what law cannot do. The more
the law is read-ihe better il is understood-
the more apparent will be its deceptive chatac-
Ter, aud the less favor will il find among free
and intelligent people.
The penpe of Maine are the most temperate
people IN The world, and through their desire
To see his virtue universally prevalent, they
are grossly humbugged, as by candid cunsid-
Grafton of The law anv one may see The
agent is 10 consider the person TO whom he sells
he is to be jndse 10 whom liquor is TO be
sold. And who are these agents are they
better or wiser than others, that they are TO be
set as judges over the community ia this mat
ter Why, then. is not liquor forbidden TO
drunkards, minors, or Indians, or ANY persons
who have not judgment 10 use il properly, and
the great body of the people freed from the ty-
ranical control of such lawt
The speaker here remarked that he belong
ed TO no dumb party; that he formed his opin-
ions upon reflection, and did not conceal them
when formed he didn't want much liquor,
hadn't used two quarts for thirty-five years, but
if he did want il he should use it, he could new
er 90 10 one of these agents, humbling himself
with petitions and certificates and he claimed
for the great mass of the people the same free
dom from unjust restraint which he considered
his own right. fa r-
1t is provided in the first section of the law
that this agent shall sell only 10 citizens of the
town which appoints him. If one thousand of
you are sick here to-jay, the agent in Alfred
cannot sell you drop of liquor, if you don'l
live here you must run home. Is this the
liberty we enjoy in the nineteenth century 3
Then, again, if the agents sells you liquor You
must tell him specifically for what purpose you
want it. and he must record your name, &C.,
and thus your domestic affairs may be laid open
to public inspection.
The second section prescrbes the penalties
for violation of the law, and these are excess
sive, and unequal in their application. There
was a lime in England when men were hung
for petty theft But now such law would
be unconstitutional, because the penalty or pun
ishment is excessive. man prosecuted I'M
der such law would require the Judge to dis
miss him, because the penalty was excessive,
and therefore the law Unconstitutional. This
being the fact, the Judge would decide the
whole section unconstitutional and what
would the law be good for with an unconstitu-
tional penalty. An apothecary can keep such
liquors as are necessary for the preparation of
certain medicines but he is not allowed 10
sell il for any purpose however useful, even in
casa of the greatest necessity if he does he
is liable TO the excessive penalty of tie law