Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-05-26

Inc following resolutions We're adopted by the
great meeting of citizens at Faneuil Hall on
Monday evening, May 81, 1855:
Resolved, That the recently enacted so-called
Maine liquor law, is compound Of lanaticism
folly, and political corruption.
Resolved, That said law is palpable and gross
violation of the declaration of rights, which under
lies the Constitution and all the laws Of this State
1t is there said that all men have an inalenable
right "to acquire, possess, and protect property"
This law annihilates several millions of property
by the stroke of pen, in one day.
Resolved, That this statute, framed for the pur-
pose OF DISCRIMINATING all traffic in liquors, can be
defended, even by its friends, only upon the jes
uitical ground that the end ustifies the means.
Resolved, That the spirit and tendency of this
law are In direct opposition TO the true principles
OF republican government, under which all
special legislation and all arbitrary distinctions in
commercial transactions are Justly odious
Resolved, That all attempts to enact and exc
cute summary laws have proved utter failures
and have always ended in an aggravation of the
evils they attempted to cure. The same authority
that attempts to dictate what man shall drink
will soon prescribe what he shall eat and what he
shall wear; it will fix the model of his house and
the style of his hat, the cut Of his coat and the
length Of his shoes.
Resolved, That this law denies the free moral
agency of every citizen Of this commonwealth
procaiming to the world that they are not to be
trusted with the responsibility of their own char
aoters and happiness. II in fact puts them all
under guardianship and pupilage, placing them
all in subsection to an irresponsible committee,
and to weak and fanatical men.
Resolred, That all persons in this community,
who claim the right to use or to abstain from
spirituous liquors according to their own judg-
ment, are called upon as men of honor to assume
a position becoming their character and their
practice, and assist in staying that tide of delu-
sion and prescription which will ut once over
whelm them, if the destruction now proposed
against the objects of its present denuncation and
hatred is accomplished.
Resolved, That an experiment of three years
ought to have satisfied the widest fanaticism and
have put to shame the most brazen hypocrsy--an
experiment which has resulted in nothing but dis
appointment and shame to those who have made
1T, and in vexation to those annoyed by it.
RESOLVED, That we, merchants of Boston,
look with wonder and establishment upon the sig
nature of Governor Gardner to bill which con-
scates the property of whole class Of his fellow
merchants, and fixes the brand Of infamy upon
their good name, and consigns them with felon's
dress to a felon's cell. Governor Gardner knows,
as every merchant knows, that they no more de-
serve this fate than any other class that might
have been selected for sacrifice by the destructives
of the present day.
Resolped, That the legislature that passed this
law, and the governor who approved of it, are
convicted of such glaring inconsistencies that it is
not possible for them to infiict disgrace upon the
class of persons at whom this blow is aimed
Whenever that legislative body appear upon the
canvass with any other group, they certain to
draw to themselves every feeling Of Indignation
and of contempt.
Resolved, That this law is an impeachment of
the practice and character of most of the great
and good men Of the human race, palpable and
infidel impeachment of the wisdom and word of
God, and would, were he on earth, imprison the
author of Christianity; that it stamps with the
name of felon all who have cultivated, or who do
now cultivate, the grape and partakc of its fruits;
that by it one of the ordinances of the Christian
religion is branded with infamy.
RESOLVED, That to attempt to fix upon whole
class of men the infamy Of crime, for no other
reason than they are engaged, in an honorable
manner, in a necessary and useful business, de-
serves our supreme contempt and warmest indig-
nation, and furnishes sure, but by means the
first or only illustration of philanthropy run mad,
and changed to hatred and malignity.
Reeoired, That this law, including railroads,
farmers, expressmen, and apotheca-
ries, in its fines and penalties, shows how far
reaching and destructive this new born policy Of
the State extends, and no class of persons, occu-
pations, or employment, is beyond the danger of
assault and destruction while this policy pre-
walls.
Resolved, That we pledge ourselves to prompt,
unfiinching, and determined action, for the repeal
of this and all othsr laws of the kind upon our
statute books; and that our excrtions shall never
cease, till the spirit of faction and illberal legis
ation is wholly subdued and driven from this
and further, that we solemnly
pledge ourselves to resist this law, by any and
every lawful means in our power.
Resoirsd, That the legislature OF 1855 stands
without parallel in its shame. Its Inconsistencies
IRE garing, its hypocrisy manifest, its immoral
lies gross, while folly and stupidity seemed 10 be
a
so that, while the intention is manifest
there is moral power in their law to injure the
character of those at whom the blow is aimed
Resoired, That law, which strikes from the cir
cles of commerce a capital of at least Ten millions
D dollars in this State, is measure so radical
md demoralizng as Justly to alarm every man
engaged in trade or commerce; for if one branch
IF business may be annhated by hasty and reck-
ess legislation, that no class of merchants are Sc
cure in their persons property.
Resotred, That, notwithstanding the proclama-
ion of the mayor, we have full confidence in the
'ity government, that they will not take hssty or
measures to enforce a law 20 unjust
n tyrannical-the execution of which would in
volve the destruction Of SO much property already
axed for the benefit of the city, and which would
affect all the business interests Of the
ity of Boston.
Rosoiped, That we look with confidence for
eturn to common sense and justice in the legis-
he meantime, while, as good citizens, we will
ubmit to the penalties Of unjust laws, il we must
ncur them, we will our utmost endeavors to
xterminate the whole race of miserablei dema-
ogues, who, under the specious name of temper
nee, have risen to power, by pandering TO the
ASSIGNS of zealots and fanatics. -s...
Resolved, That we are in favor OF such NUM-
ipal regulations Of the liquor trade as will place
nc business only in the hands of honorable, Judi
ious, and responsible men, by whom the wants
the community may be supplied and OF such
as Will diminish, and, IL possible,
holly prevent the evils Of excess, unreasonable
ours, and riotous conduct, that have increased
, greatly since the abolition Of the license sys-
hem. r@ e ia .ta
Resoired, That we will protect the property,
ne reputation and the freedom Of the citizens Of
MS commonwealth, which are guaranteed to
,em by the bill Of rights
@f tFQ0E N-A-
The Wine Disease. HH aotaM
"A letter received nj the Sfafe Dana rt,,o,,. 81.