New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-24
Nerp9lprk daily Gribnne
AR. GEO. WooD AND THE liquor LAW


IT, Ne Editor Of The " Y Tribune
SIR; 1t a little curious to witness the wonderful
nssiduy of the quor-deae rs ia coec ing and spread
inc before the public the suffrages OF the members of
the legal Profession touching the validity of the Act
for 1.-THE Prevention of lutemperance, Pauoerism
and Crime" The Press has absolutely groaned for
weeks with the vast learning and profound lucubra-
tion-of sundry and divers lawyers, great and small,
who seem unanimous in casting the sovereignty
Of the State in matters Of law-making, into absolute
contempt. The idea entertained by the groggedes
seems To be that this saIutay and necessary law
can be put down by general show OF legal hands,
prompted of courfe by good and sufficient consd-
ernton But the procedure is little too costly. It's
true The crogrcr,s have vast interests at stake, and
thew can afford bleed pretty extensively; but never
theess we feel for them tender solicude. IL would
seem {, Us that y cheaper and more comDendous
scheme is demanded by the exgencles of the case.
Would il not be better TO have mass meeting OF all
the lasy CTS which this hopeful can buy, beg
or borrow, and vote down the law at oncel This
business Of dying by pece-meal il not comfortable
Down with the law Let the Ak fall
Among the many curious performances we have
had on this subject, the most curious bears the sign
manual of Mr. George Wood, the bead aud front OF
the New-Yolk Bar. Az a speech addressed 10 the
Legislature he'd Mr. Wood been a member Of it, this
document would not have been inappropriste but as
the opiuon of grave lawyer it is truly singular aud
calls for few notes and comments. Mr.. Wood
op. Us bis discourse by telling that this il highly
penal law" but what of that May not the SOW
treignty Of this State make penal law, and one
highly penal too, if tt ey peGse7 He next says 1t
creates offences which did not before exist in the
CLAW Well wha if it does Does Mr. Wood
meaa TO intimate that the Legis allure cannot recog-
nze the existence Of new growing and agitious evils
in So ciety and declare them ofenses when thereafter
repeated Does be iosis. that our Criminal Code is
iumutable Ike the " laws of the Modes and Per-
81 SLAMS which altereth not p He then proceeds with
the allegation tina, the law Is lavish in ufictIng
" fines Imprisonment and forfeitures Of property"
Now We will not iosist upon Mr. Woods being lavish
in ANYTHING but ne should ike 20 have him ass %
single reason Why the kind and degree Of reore.sion
required to prevent drunkenness, paupersn aud
"cnme is not purely a matter of legislative dscre-
tiop Bat il seems the more lavish the lquor-fealers
are with the element OF mischief and tho more compi-
Gated and extensive the evils with which they cause
society to be infested the less are they amenable to
the lsw-making power.
So mach for the first count Of the indictment. We
row come 10 the second, which is as follows;
tbint Thu If carried out viii sa1rn IN effect snd
subtsuy 10 the general destruction " tbs And of pr2P1ry
II pr hitbs lie u liquor, al purpo'e sEeep' 81 me
cenal aauutetnnDE Ano saera0ena as hes sAeep
ere comparatively frIg Ia amount They mrn mere NAL
num- ms knd Il property manuf4cursd AMI imported,
ought II 20 BE- used beysEsg aud when a. l'ng-r
sVed 70 Be- used il way S rendered 10
werafs Al article OF nefnsHce sni tsifne OHass
tese crcurnsuces questionable whether dealer In the
sriel. could saoTd psy for keeping IT, The pos'
cfGp "a Is e-snial eaent the i'd u property.
Pro- y inpo.ts ou 4troi Ia cElls e1un-
fryn6eed In am cousry advanced beyond ths kuu.r
the po.er of disposal al important No would se4ars
TIL property the % busilss e. en ac- OF eKc nge
r ~, 6rSu.ry u.es % WI Oh IL app-d he could sell
h. uanaa.tuer or importer dolt expect 70 him
s,if il Lis family, BIZ merchandise EEry one Hlst
see then that the great object Of II by destroying
troy ihe pr p@ry itself and must be 90 heid ia
H. rercrs rule sra object which deuc ION The question
then the Less destroy tEis property this
&C uleer tn ciTcunl tslces u the case "
We obiec, il toto TO this statement Of the question
there more Of the asate lawyer 10 il than Of gcner0us
or even Just appreciation. The language implies e
charge thattle legislature have abruptly passed
law for the instant seizure aud destruction Of all IN
.toxicsting liquors, without giving the owners the
slgLes notice or aifording them any opportunity 70
dispose u them to preserve their property No'h-
ing could be more unfyuuded, and it i mA'tef o.
surprise that gentleman 50 distinguished Tor caluo'
and moderation should be betrayed into sueh ground
ess inputatons He will doubtless pardon us Tor put
ting him riebt--theTefore note;
Tts, The act WAS passed on the 9th Of April and
did M, on into effect until the 18th OF Jrly 80 that the
owners Of this property, about which MI "o'd so
much concerned had ample pp1rtunitg to arrange
their affairs and prepare for meeting the acquisitions Of
the law.
> The law does not and in fact could not, irterdct
the Importation Ofinozicatng liquors. aud the keepng