Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-06-28
Fourth Of July in New York.

The Fourth Of July 1855, Is likely TO become I
memorable day in the history of New York. Or
that day the prohibitory liquor law takes effec,
throughout the State. From that day forward, oil
licenses for the sale Of liquor are prohibited, Al
well as the sale Of 1t in any manner unless in the
original package az imported, or for medicinal OF
mechanical purposes. The city Of New York being
the chief seat of the wholesale and retail liquor
trade in this country, as well as the principal sea,
of the manufacture Of aduterated spirits Of every
description, the new law, II enforced, will affect Its
commercial interests very seriously. Eminent law.
yers, among whom may be mentioned eI-Chief Jus.
tice Bronson, Daniel Lord, Daniel d. Barnard,
and Samuel Beardsley, have given.opinions against
the constitutionality Of the law. ExChief Justice
Savage and others, have given opinions in favor Of
it's consttutionality. Thus tho matter stands al
present on this point.
The liquor merchants, hotel keepers, and restau.
rant proprietors; lager bier and malt liquor manu-.
facturers dealers in hops and barley, coopers and
stave-cutters, are in high state Of excitement,
and are prepared to contest the consttutionality
Of the law before the courts. The Temperance
party is equally excited on the other side, and are
holding meetings in favor Of tbs law throughout
the State.
The politics Of the State viii undoubtedly be af.
fected by this troublesome question for some
months, II not years to come. The American
party in New York, is generally opposed to the
law, and will probably nominate candidates for the
Legislature in November who win vote for its re-
peal, should its consttutionality be previously af
frmed by the courts If the courts should decide
ii TO be unconstitutional, then an effort win be
made by the Temperance party to secure the cleo.
ton of judges at the next judiciary election, who
are ia favor Of prohibitory law. But as no ma
terial change in the complexion Of the judges can
be effected for several years. 10 doubtful whether
this movement win ever be successfsi-
The principal supporters of the prohibitory law
are found in the interior and Western counties,
which we're originally settled BY emigrauts from New
England. In those counties the love Of reform"
is paramount to all other considerations. They
desired many years ago to abolish Free Masonry.
Then they wish to abolish slavery, and now they
are determined to abolish intcmperance. Whether
they will succeed any better in their present cru
SADIE than they did in the other two remains to be
decided.
Our cwn belief Is, that the most stringent pro-
visions of the law viii be declared unconstitutional
by the courts, and that, as natural consequence,
intemperancc win Increase instead Of eliminating,
through the passage Of the law The lovers Of
ardent spirits and malt liquors will, on the promul,
cation Of the decision, hold saturnalia through
out the State; the foodgates Of the liquor mer.
chants and the brewers will be opened, and the
State will b. deluged for year to come with the
most villsncus compounds that we're ever concoct-
ed or conceived this Gde Of the realm Plutonian.
Then, reason viii resume its sway. Fanaticism
and ebriety win both be rebuked; and, We hope,
law viii finally be enacted, prohibiting under tho
severest penalties, the adulterstion Of liquors, or
the importation Of sdulterated liquors. and fixing
the price Of licenses at $500 or 81 900 each This
will secure for those who are able TO pay high
price an unadulterated brsnd--and close the doors
Of the low groggeries which are enriched by the
liie-blood Of their miserable victims