The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-05-04
M Gentru's AnStDer.

HILLSIDE, April 3, 1855.
To Messrs w. B. Ewing, Hugh Carroll D. D
Hall ]. B. McFerrin, and J. IL. Curry.
Gentlemen Yours Of the 29th OF March
came to hand yesterday. You inform me that
YOU were appointed by the state temperance
Convention Committee to PROFOUND the
following interrogatories to the candidates
for Governor of the State Of Tennessee IN the
a. Are YOU in favor of law prohibiting
the sale of Intoxicating liquors as beveragei'
40 Will YOU, If elected, recommend, in
vour message to the Legislature, the passage
of such law at an early period in the SEES
sionf" And you request me ito answer the
above questions at an early day." proceed
promptly to comply with your request, by
stating 1nequivocally what will be my reeom-
mendation to the Legislature, on the subject
of your letter, in the event OF my election TO
the office of Governor of Tennessee.
[ will recommend the enactment of law
prohibiting the sale of Intoxicating liquors,
in small quantities, except license shall have
been obtained for that privilege-whch Ii
cense shall be issued by the Clerk Of the
County Court, emily in cases where aPplica'
ton shall be made for the same in writing,
signed by the person applying and by ma
iority of the qualified voters of the civil dis
trict within which he proposes to retail spirit
uous liquors. A law founded upon this gen.
eral principle, embracing in its details pro-
visions for it's efficient execution, would, IN my
opinion, speedily put an end to tipping IN
most of the civil districts of the State-and,
at no distant day. in all of them; and would
be more effective in REFRESHING the evils re-
sulting from the immoderate use of intoxica
ting liquors, than any other that has been
suggested theoretically or expermentally
tested in this State. Moral REFORM by this
process being accomplished by the people
acting for themselves in every civil district
would be in harmony with the spirit of our
free institutions. and a beautiful illustration
of the republican doctrine that man is eapa-
BILE of selfgovernment; and would, therefore,
be durable.
II all those who are aiming at a common
object with respect to remedy for the evils
resulting from the immoderate use of intoxi-
eating liquors, would concentrate their exer-
tions during the approaching canvass in ia
yor of this policy. | believe their efforts
would be crowned with success, by the enact
ment. at the next session of the Legislature,
of such law as have indicated; and great
good would be accomplished. BY aiming at
more, it is highly probable that nothing will
be achieved But, gentlemen, you know full
we'll that the Constitution of Tennessee does
not confer upon the Governor of the State
the mower to veto acts of the Legislature; nor
invest him with patronage to influence the
deliberations of that body l think, there
fore, that the interrogatories propounded to
me, by you, would be more appropriately ad;
dressed to candidates for the Legislature. |
have responded only to exhibit my respect
for YOU, and that numerous and highly re-
spectacle body of citizens whom you repre-
sent.
Respectfully your obedient servant
Nj. Z. GENTRY.