The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-17

az SCHOOL, moneys for secaran purpose, referred
select comittee consisting of Messrs Whitney, spencer
and Putnam. subsequently Mr. Putnam was excused and
z. Clark substituted.
THE srocKBRIDGE INDIANS.
Mr. Books introduced bill for the relief of the Stock
bridge Indiana This the claim Of the Indians to
manor lands in Albany Columbia and Duchess counties
Mr. SPENCER gave notice of bill for e-saving gates at
Mr. WALKER introduced bill authorizing town sub
scriptons to the Erie and New York Railroad
The bill to expedite the at the Ontario special
election was passed unanimously.
Mr.. ROBERTSON laid the table resolution TO elect
United States Senator on February 9th.
Assembly.
ALBANY, Jan. 16, 1855.
Mr.. E. L. Smith. of New York. appeared, and
qualified.
Bills were reported to incorporate Newtown and Bush
wick Bridge Company.
THE pRoHIBrToRY LIQUOR LAW.
Mr. SrEBBNs, from the majority The select commit
tee excise laws reported bill to prohibit liquor
traffc-as already reported.
The Canajohare claim bills were ordered to third
reading
The bill to increase the capital of the Panama Rail
way Company was under debate n Committee of the
House.
Mr. ArKKS, from the minority of the select committee
on the subject of the Liquor law, reported adversely
He moved to lay both reports on the table until he
could frame bill Refused.
reading.
which prevailed
Pending the reading, Mr. LEIGH moved to suspend the
further reading, which prevailed.
Mr. LEIGH then moved that the bill be referred to
Committee of the Whole.
Mr. ArIKKs objected to such reference until the bill
Mr. LnGH then moved that the Temperance bill be
made the special order of the day for Tuesday next
medately after the reading of the journal. Carried
AFTERNOON SESSION.
EXCLUSION OF FOREIGNERS FROM DIPLOMATIC OFFICES
The House took up the resolution offered by Mr.. j. r.
Headley in favor of the exclusion of foreigners from
Mr. HEADLKY spoke support Of the resolution urging
that foreigners must either retain preference their
native land or have renowned 1t. In either they
unfit to represent their adopted country abroad
in the one they would favor the land of their BIRTH in
the other they have feelings Of hatred against their
tive country for wrongs fanced real previously
icted and to those wrongs would gladly plunge
our country and their own in war.
Mr.. WATERBURY of New York, spoke in favor Of the
resolution; and Mr.. srEBnNs of Monroe, made good
argument to show that by the constitution a distinc-
ton always intended to be made between native
adopted citizens and he said in that dstinc
ton more necessary than in that contemplated by the
Mr. O'KEHFE, of New York, made a most effective and
spirited speech against the resolution.
Messrs. Aitken and Mundy, of New York, also spoke
aganstn
without taking any action on the resolution, the
House adjourned
Report OF the Select Committee on the Sale OF
Intoxicating Liquors.
MAJORITY REPORT.
to whom referred much of the Governors Mes
iage relates to the subject of ntemperance and
sale OF intoxicating liquors, submits the following
REPORT:
That they entirely with the Governor in his
Views expressed that portion of his message
ferred to tnen They also satisfied that the time
has aHsived when sound and wholesome legislation,
which shall sectualy put stop to the sale and public
alike by the voice Of the people and the highest interests
They are aware that since the public atte ntion has
been turned towards prohibition, many objections
have been grave urged against any law " upon the sub
annals Of the past abundanty prove that intoxicating
liquors have been regarded dangerous to society and
their proper subject OF legislative restraint and
prohibition. For than three thousand years in
different countries, under different governments, they
Gent Egyptians Greeks and Romans, and other eastern
nations through most periods Of their existence, main
tanned and enforced rigid and restrictions upon
the use of wine and excessive indulgence was at all
times deemed criminal In China, and some Of the bor
dering nations abstinence from intoxicating drinks
for some time been enforced a religious duty.
Most Of the western nations Of Europe have from tmo
TO time passed laws condemnatory of intemperance,
and laying restraints upon the traffic in intoxicating
liquors. and they continued to the present time The
common law frowns upon inemperance 1t holds 1t to
be without apology, and condemns as guilty him com
hitting crime while in the widest insanity caused by
the use Of intoxicating liquors.
When Oregon years since, was new. and made up Of
people congregated from different parts OF the
world, the sale and manufacture Of spirits
and that Of most of ststes sale been
laid under restraints Indeed, but opinion
has to any large extent prevailed throughout all ages,
in regard to the evil consequences OF this traffic.
II barbarous and semi barbarous, half civilized and
civilized nations have in all ages regarded evil and
pernicous, and requiring restraints even In the mider
forms in which alcohol Is combined by fermentation,
certainly we, highly civilized and Christian people,
ought not to suffer II to 60 at large in its suber forms
OF distlation. Your committee would not, however,
urge these records OF the past establishing the sound
Of legislative restraint prohibition The
world may all this time have been wrong and these
cent scintiations of genius struck from the anvil Of
self interest may be revealing TO the real and true
channel of legislative action.
One OF the gravest of the objections urged against e-
gsation is that linen cannot be made moral charitable
temperate honest by law" Your committee had always
supposed that, nasmuch government established
to protect its citizens the primary object OF law was to
restrain and prevent crime not much TO punish and
reform the crminslsthat these latter rather the
Incidents not the end II this be So the objection
poweriess, since though true, argues nothing against
any law. Because men cannot be legislated moral'
or in the language OF another because Temperance,
IKE other virtues Is not produced by law makers
does follow that the weak the helpless the dependent
the strong the immoral the vicious by laws that shall
restrain themS Ia II argument TO be urged against
laws Furnishing theft burglary and MURDER that such
laws viii not make immoral crime inclined men moral
and virtuousf Yet such the character Of the obec
tons urged and grayey too, by those high in official
position which objections form the key that unlocks
that Pandoras box Of executive charms which the peo
pie have been scrutinzing the past year.
But not content to res their defence upon this issue
the opponents OF prohibition object again. that present
laws sufficient IL they be but executed.
Our first TO this position Is, they are, why
have not opponents demonstrated their sufciency
BY executing themY For years past prohibition
has been urged throughout the State the only su.
cent remedy. The friends OF the measure have tried
the present laws thoroughly, but without any consdera
BILE success. Their efforts have become part OF the ju-
dcia records Of the State Public opinion has during
this period been rising higher and approaching
the stand point Of prohibition For time II been
apparent the most casual observer that unless
thing done, such law would be inevitable. Why