The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-04-29
THE sUnprUAnY LEGISLATION or THE STATES.

different sections Of the Union the concurrent action OF
Of the northern States upon the temperance question
and the Developments which this action has given rise
10 political circles may justify reflections that have
occurred Adam Smith, in bis wealth OF Nations
lays down broad and distinctive proposition which may
well applied 10 OF those so-cnlled reforms occa
sonally resored excite and divide mankind. 1T Is
be says a,he highest imperinenee and presumption IN
kings and ministers pretend TO watch over the economy
OF private people and restrain their expenses either BY
samptuary laws BY prohibiting the importation OF for
egn Injuries"
The legislation which refer is in the shape of
temey enactmens prohibiting the sale of ntoxea-
ting liquors. under heavy pains and penalties except in
stipulated large quantities Nest Of the New England
States have passed these laws but the two that to
the attention those recently passed by the
New York and Pennsy lyania legislatures Both pro-
nonnced by high legal authorities to be unconstitutional
and impossible to enforce. Both very severe The
New York Journal Of Commerce paper of high standing
takes the ground that the New York law is clearly at
Rance with the constitution Of the United States The
View is held in other parts of the Union in regard to
other laws 1t will be remembered that several Of the State
courts have decided similar enactments to be at war
with the constitution Added to the legal view of the case
the number Of interests that win be jeoparded by
the enforcement Of these laws the amount Of capital in
vested the number Of leases made contingent upon the old
license system and the classes engaged in the manuac
of various spirituous liquors. On the other hand
united in favor Of this legislation, find large and infu
entail combinations who insist with great yehemence that
the laws in question be- and shall be- enforced, and
who bring TO their aid preponderating moral and re-
gious organization extending into almost every Of
the Union 1t will be seen therefore that the question is
that fail excite high feeling wherever it is
discussed
1t is curious observe how the spirit of reform begins
and its At the present day the assault upon
temperance is but Of series of reforms Legislation
is not only invoked gauge and limit the amount Of liquor
that shall be sold and consumed but also the church
citizen must attend and the party he must belong to- The
nnovatng propensity seeks Also to invade and to de-
roy the rights of the States Thus have anacism and
bigotry fused into cause and up to this pc
od of time have been successful But all history shows
that temporary sure at every interval Of years.
to attend upon every such movement this and also
that this temporary ends in failure and in
contempt
1t would be instructive and useful chapter if we
could recapulae all the sumpuary laws which have been
enacted by anatical majortes absolute monarchies
and the results Of these experiments For the present
content oursef with giving the following remarkable
facts from valuable English work called the progress of
the BRITISH Nation by G. r. Porter, esq, compiled from
parliamentary reports and other official documents, and
generally recognised standard book the sub
ect of which it treats The passages have quoted pre-
startling data to the temperance reformer and
to all those who aspire to purge the evils of society by
means of legislative enactments:
We and those who preceded u.s. have formerly been
make the mistake of attacking symptoms
instead Of seeking and combating the disease its
The degree ignorance upon this subject which has pre-
vailed will hardly be credited years hence whcn
be reasonably expected the desired result shall be
accomplished DIR. Coquhoun, most active and intelligent
police magistrate whom society much Indebted for the
fearless disclosures made by him which awakened attention
the growing evil had the most imperfect conception
the be used for arresng it, In the evidence given
before the select committee of the House Of Commons
the police of the metropolis in 1916 find this
On or the years l744 l745 when mutudes Of
and rolling about the streets drunk in
sequence Of the number Of gin shops the were
should be entitled spirit license that could not previously
produce ale license.
suppose from his approval of this expedient,
that Dr. Coquhoun attributed to the existence of gin shops
the disposition to drunkenness then prevalent instead Of
looking them the consequence of the prevailing low
condition Of morals How this evil to be remedied
by oblging the publican to pay few pounds additional
for license, and to keen few gallons OF ale upon
appear shown why physicians consulted
since could be doubt of the injury the bodily
frame habtua drunkenness and there thought
of curing propensity by administering physc The state
Of hings described by Dr. Coquhoun to exist in 1745
had not newly appeared Ample time had then been
afforded for contemplating the evil, and for attempting its
cure The addiction OF the people to intoxicating drinks had
reached such point continual debates
in Parliament and to call for remedies of very stringent
character then the practice of pubicans
their with notice painted board outside
the house this effect You may here get drunk for
penny dead drunk for two and have clean straw
nothing The legislators Of that day. thinking that the
cheapnsss the liquor caused the abuse proposed duty
2O per gallon and prohibit the sale of spiruous liquors
by reaa far likely to attain the end pro-
posed that Of obgng the publican to provide himself
with supplemental license; and yet it sgnally failed in its
purpose Coxe his Life of WalpoIe speaking it, says
proceedings Of riot and violence
the candosne sale OF continued in defiance Of
restriction the demand for penalties the offenders
able to filed the prisons, and by removing
strain plunged them into audacousy crm
nal
In March, 1873, proclamation issued to enforce
the gin act protect the officers Of Justice in their efforts
to that end, and threatening offenders with punishment
Within less than years from its passing $4,000 people
had been convicted under the within the bills Of
ity had been sentenced pay each penalty
of f00 and 5000 people had paid f0 each their
being Bridewell house Of correction.
These harsh proceedings failed entirely II given in
evidence before committee Of the House of Commons in
l743 the quantity of spirituou liquors made for
sumption in England and Wales