Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-03-16

ActictIy auufSss W tic cihAehs VI
franklin county. in reference to his
action on the temperance law. Our
readers are already apprised that he
$ opposed to the law at every stage
'f its passage and even afterwards;
put at this, none were disappointed.
None expected him to do otherwise.
This address is precious document.
Its long exordium, isprcfound beyond
containing many ad.
missions that are fatal to his views
and many positions that, to say the
east, are doubtful. His doctrine that
a system of legislation adopted to pre-
vent evils would be the prolific parent
of tyranny is certainly one of the
strangest notions Of this age. The
truth is. that every wise act of legisla-
ton is for this very purpose. An
ounce of preventive being worth a
pound Of cure, Legislators have, from
time out Of mind. directed their legis
sation to prevent the moral and So
cial evils that would follow from un.
restrained evil men. Every punish.
ment inflicted by our criminal law. is
more designed to prevent n recurrence
of the crime, than to merely cause the
offender TO suffer for what he has
done. Even the extreme punishment
Of death, is designed 10 prevent an
other murder by the same hand. and
TO deter others from q similar act
We could instance scores oflaws that
are purely preventive, but it is un-
necessity. Every school boy knows
that it is the perfection of wisdom to
foresee an evil and preventit II posi-.
bic. and the variest tyro in law. knows
that is the perfection Of legislation tc
prevent crime. Indeed Mr.. McCleery
in his groupings in the dark, has stun
bled on this truth. and admitted al
that Is necessary. He says tina. laws
are enacted to put down nuisances-
something NOT a5stractly a crime bu Q,
ten the cause Of crime. He moreoye,
admits that a Legislature should consids,
al is duty 10 prohibit The retail O
spirituous and Intoxicating liquors D,
tie glass. This is just what this Law
does, and, If we understand il. Il doe
no more, except that Il does not con
fine its restriction to the glass. Ant
why should III VIII not aquart or
gallon ofliquor be as mischievous as
glass? And, moreover, all experience
has shown that its retail by the glas
cannot be prevented by any other la,
than this.
AS 10 the law itself, we do nc
deem II necessary now TO defend it,
That We like IL, and cordially approx
It. no reader Of the American nee
be informed. Why not defend
then? Our answer Is. that II need
no defence. II cannot be repealed e
two years, and II will have a chanc
to show practically what IL Is in thu
time. five disliked il, all our railin
against IL would do no good. for
must and Il wia BE- enforced. II o,
views ofits practicability are inco
rect, the 10 months that II will ha,
cooperate before the meeting OF Al
! other legislature, will better demo
} strate It's imperlections than any o
lection that can be urged.
We need not tell our readers thi
: II this law Is defective, we shall fav
: its repeal or amendment. We are n
welded TO any system Of prohibitio
That the evils which result from tho II
uor traffic can be, and must be |.
strained by law. we finally believe.
|. But IL can and must be rest ain
without infringing on the rights
men, further than any wholesome |,
may with proprioty so infringe.
. AS to tho horrible effects of III
law on the interests Of orchards, Win
yards and cornfelds--as TO the I'M
|, eurity Of the domestic circle-the ~
|, ny Of the dying traveller who dies
!. the want OF a dram--lho cost Of In
/. traffic 10 the county aud such dres
: ful things, wa prefer not denying 4
: McCleery's predictions. Time v
: confirm or refute them. IL exporien
shows such dircful results. we sh
be found advocating a repeal Of
law, or such an amendment rs v
prevent them In future. But II {
* law works such dreadful result
.. will be tho frat one that has o.
r done so, and we frankly confess Il
Of we look forward TO the most pleas
10 resultsof this law. and II we may obj
OF his prediction with one Of our o,
he we will predict that taxpayers will
d. vor II because Of lis economy, and
Is cry class Of citizens but the hopel
~ and persistent inebriate will
Sc ly around II as a. blessing dea
d. bought and to be handed down 10
iy children rs tho best boon we can
70 stow.
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