Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1855-03-22
Mr.. EpIrcR


A few weeks since an
extract from the Hartford Times appeared
The columns of the News, stating that since
the passage of the Liquor law in Connect.
cut, the jail in Hartford had been constant
ly crowded, overrun and that drunkenness
had evidently increased. Isend with this a
letter from the Hon. T. s. Williams, which
touches on those points, and respectfully
ask place for il in your columns. TO
those who are unacquainted with Judge w.
| will say that he was for many years Chief
Justice Of the Supreme Court Of Conn,
and is now one Of the most highly esteem
ed citizens of that State.
Letter from the Hon. II. s. Williams, of
Hartford.
HARTFORD, Conn. Feb. 2s, 1855.
Z. Z. DELEvAN, Esq.-Dear Sir: lam
asked my opinion as to the effect of the
Prohibitory Law upon intemperance in this
State and whether drunkenness has d.
mnished in consequence, and requested to
direct my answer to you. ...
Had not seen some statements in cer'
tain papers, showing an apparent increase
Of drunkenness by returns rom our prison,
should hardly have supposed the question
needed an answer. ! should sooner have
expected il would have been said the sup.
preston by Mayor WooD, of the sale of
liquor on the Sabbath, was the cause of in.
creased ntemperance in New-York.
The only argument have known in sup
port Of the position, is that our jail records
show more commitments for drunkenness
than in an equal period before the law
This is not improbable. While the drunk
ard was alured by every arlifice into the
dram-sh"p, he was rather an object of pity
than of censure and the public eye was
directed to the seller rather than to his VIC
tim. A common drunkard was sent to the
workhouse, not to Jail and very few pros
ecutions were made for single acts of in
tOxication and when convictions were
procured the fine OF o. was so small that it
was settled with ease by such persons as
cannot pay the increased fine of $40. Now,
in most of our towns every known offender
is brought to trial, and if convicted must 60
,oprison II he cannot pay the fine; and
notwithstanding this, we are informed tiiat
in sonlo of our counties the jals are almost
empty. How this may be Iknow not ;
do not profess to give the statistics bu. so
far as my own observation extends, | think
have not, since the lst Of August, seen
one intoxicated man, where saw ten be-
fore I; and there has been marked differ
ence in the state of our street during the
nil ght, so far as have been able to observe.
The universal testimony Of all the friends
of the law that have met with, is, that the
effect OF Prohibition ha, been great, and
equal to every reasonable expectation; and
it is known, that some OF The strong oppo-
nents of the law now acknowledge their
mistake and testify to its bcneficient et-
feet. .-..,-
In this town, where there were at least
one hundred and forty places where liquor
was openly sold, only one is licensed, and
he an agent Of the town very much restrict
ed. Ifit is to be had in other places it is
in darkness and secrecy, as other crimes
are committed; and in most of our towns a
similar state of things exists, and the law is
generally enforced. Under such circum-
stances it would seem as il no rational man
could doubt that the use Of liquor must be
greatly diminished, and intoxication there.
fore much less frequent.
I will only add, that with the aid we
hope for from New.York, on the one side,
and Massachusetts on the other, our hearts
will be cheered, and our work will be light.
am, very respectfully yours,
TIL. 8. WILLIAMS.