The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-08-30
JUDGE PETIT SUSTAINS THE PRO-
HIBITORY LAW.

From the following paragraph. clipped from
the LAFAYETTE Journal of Yesterday, i, will be
seen that Judge Petit has expressed his opin-
ion of the constitutionality of the liquor law,
authoritatively. in case before him on W ed
nesday. on a habeas corpus. This is the first
decision by Circuit Judge upon this ques-
ton, and appears to have been made after full
argument, which, no doubt, drew largely
from the arguments used to the Supreme Court.
and it is therefore entitled to weight. Judge
Pettit's legal attainments are undisputed, and
his unbiased opinion of such question is
we'll worth attention, even if his political lean
ing were as decidedly in favor OF the law as
it is against it. But his former position in
his party his thorough Identification with all
its views and his Jealous advocacy Of them.
give his Judicial opinions adverse to those
views the certain impress of Observation-Disclosures.
and add to their Importance We. therefore,
record his decision in favor Of the law with
degree of pleasure hardly less than that with
which we heralded its approval by Governor
Wright
We do not suppose the case decided by
Judge Petit. received the thorough discussion
which opened up all the assaable points to
the Supreme Court but the points involved
have been so long matter, not merely of
newspaper discussion, but Of party division.
and legal investigation, that he could not have
failed 10 be fully acquainted with every de-
feet vet discovered We no not suppose,
either, that he went TO the trouble of prepar-
ing an elaborate opinion detailing his reasons
for his decision. but we may presume that he
did not decide without knowing well what he
was doing. But hastv not. sound I'M
sound, his decision has furnished a weighty
counterpoise to the clamors of the Brightltes,
whose views of the constitutionality of the
law are directed by It's political effect, exclu-
sively. Possibly that resolution with which
Jesse means to cut the Governors throat in
the Convention, will lose some of the impetus
which was going to drive it so triumphantly
through in the failure Of the majority of the
Supreme Court 10 meet his wishes, and in this
decision of Pettit's The Temperance Dem
ocrats will now have just ground TO meet their
whisky brethren upon; and in the face of such
evidence of tie constitutionality Of the law,
as Pettit's opinion, and of its benefcent oper-
alton, as the admissions of the Sentinel de-
mandatory resolution, such as Brigh. and
Robinson and Willard will advocate, will lose
some support.
Here is the Lafayette Journals article
The Courier huzzas right out for Petsis-Ln-
dianopolis Journal
JUDGE PETIT srsrArss THE PRoHIBrToRY
LAWNS. Ellen Hogan was arraigned be-
fore Justice Graham on Monday two diff
ferent charges of selling liquor contrary to the
10th section of the prohib.ory law; found
guilty and fined twenty dollars on the first and
fifty dollars on the second, in default of pay
ment of which, together with the costs, she
was committed to Jail. Yesterday she was
brought before Judge Petit on a writ of hateds
corpus. Her counseIinsisted LIST. that woman
could not be committed 10 Jail, under the laws
of Indiana, in default of paymen: Of fine and
costs and lastly. that the prohibitory law was
unconstitutional. Both points were decided
against them and the writ dismissed.
FARMrSe Is JEFFERSON CouSTY John Con-
way. a farmer residing in SMYRNA township,
in this county, raised this season on fifteen
acres of ground Jsoe hundred bushels of good
merchantable wheat. which has already been
harvested. thrashed and measured, and which
Il - 4