Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-11-23

four members OF the Supreme Court.
Of this State. has recently delivered
an opinion in haJeas eorpas case. de-
Gliding the liquor law unconstitutional.
We do not propose TO review the opin-
ion, as the full Court will soon meet.
and we shall then learn how far they
are disposed 10 sustain the argument
and conclusion of one of their col
leagues. Whether Judge Perkins is
set forward to vindicate the views of
his bretheren, and thus 10 prepare the
public mind for an unrestrsined tor
rent OF "free whisky" or, whether he
Is fighting on his own hook, and con.
ciliating the old liners by this judicial
endorsement Of their stump oratory,
is all unknown to us.
But some observations on this judy
ment viii not DO out Of place. 1t as
sumes that the use Of spirituous and
femented liquors is good thing. No
one who reads the whole opinion.
carefully, can deny that such is its
spirit. When the whole current fhu-
man experience has shown that the
immoderate use Of into xicating liquors
Is the greatest Of all social evils. and
that the moderate use leads inscnsibly
and almost uniformly to the intemper.
ate use, It really would seem to be too
late to preach up doctrine that only
appealsto the sensual appetises. and so
favor an indulgence at which every en-
lightened conscience must invariably
revolt. -
But the Judge, possibly, under The
influence Of superficial paper lately
printed in the Westminster Review.
can find both statistics and gospel for
his position. We really did not know
that it was essential to resort to the
Bible for light In deciding whether an
act Of the Legislature was in acc ord
ance with the Constitution or not; but
the Judge parades his theological read
ing. and quotes the prophets and apos-
ties with all the JUNCTION Of the man
who "played on the harp Of a thousand
strings"
What does Judge Perkins do with
the declaration "Woe to him that
put,eth the bottle to his neighbor's
lipsg" What with the announcement;
swine is mocker. and strong drink
is raging, and whose Is deceived
thereby is not wiseg" Or with the
caution +; "Look not upon wine when
IL Is red. for In the end 1t biteth like a
serpent and stingcth like an sdderg'
Yet all these are scripture. 81. Paul
declared that IL his eating made his
brother to offend. then would he eat
no meat while the world stood But
this real. practical conclusion. as the
sense Of gospel teaching on this and
every oecnsion. whore tho conduct Of
one man affects the destiny Of others,
is entirely out of tho range Of Judge
Perkias's vision.
We arc favored with taste Of the
wit which is to BIO expected from the
Supreme Court Hear - -
Counsel say the maxim that you
shall so use your own rs not to injure
another. justilics such law by the
Legislature. but the maxim Is misap-
piled: for il contemplales the free use.
by the owner, Of his property. but with
such care as not to trespass upon his
neighbor; while this fcrbids the owner
to use his own. in any manner. as a
beverage. II Is based on the princi-
pal that u man shall not use at all for
pleasure. what his nsighbor may abuse.
a doctrine that would. II enforced by
law, in general practice. annihilate So
ciety. make eunochs Of all men, OF
drive them into the cells Of the monks,
and bring the human race to an end,
or continue II under the direction oil
licensed county agents,
We ought to be thankful for any
scintillations that shallonliyen the dull
ness Of legal argument; especial,
II so high a dignitary asa Suprem,
Judge condescends to be mirthful.--
To be sure, this Is the play Of lcvia
than among the minnows-the ele,
plants dauce-5the face Of the tragic
muse. distorted into a CHASTITY grim
but it is what Sidney Smith calls wut
and as the article IL rather scarce. W,
must try and put up with IL. 1t wo't
have been better. had II been original
but il is well known here to be favor
ito illustration Of ex-senator Gauls
from whom. no doubt. Judge Perkins
derivcdit. SIN better, had il been de-
cent. but. alas. dcceney has little to d,
with an old line stump speech in fayol
Of free whisky. ls.assss sues 81
Minutes Of tho South Eastern Indians
ahap Conference.
We are under obligations to Rev. II
Gilmore. for copy Of this interest
ing Annual. We cannot sec how All,
Methodist can do without II. Its sta
tistical Information is both intcrcsiin.
and valuable. They can be ob,aine'
Of Mr.. Gilmore. aud those who wan
q copy should call soon. ~.
Er The american Freemason, i
just entering on its fourth volume, an'
il Is worthy the patronage Of the Graft
| II il nuhIiahed simultaneously nj On