The true Democrat., 1855-05-08
The New York Liouor Law.


 The New York Liquor Law.
 The following abstract copied from the Pub lie Ledger will show what this law is:
 The New York Legislature has adopted the liquor law, the leading features of which are as follows:
 Intoxicating liquor, in any shape, must not be sold, or kept for sale, except by regularly authorized persons, for manufacturing, medi- clnal, chemical, and sacramental purposes.
 It must not be given away, nor kept at all, except in dwelling houses not connected with any shop or place vf amusement in church. es Tn manufactures and in actual transporta- tion
 Any person may be authorized to sell for the above purposes, provided he does not use liquor as beverage, Is an elector, is not interested in any shop, boat, or place of entertainment, can prove good moral character, and give $1OOO se- curlty not to sell for any other purpose. He must sell only to persons over 21 years old, whom he has reason to believe will use 1t for one of the above purposes. He must keep a list of his sales which he must file and swear to-, Tn the county clerks office, every month. This list is to be open for public examination. If he violates any of these regulations he fOrfeits all his stock of liquor, is fined from $50 to S25O, and may be imprisoned thirty days
 On complaint and on warrant, suspected places may be searched but no private dwelling house can be, unless the owner has been con- victed of selling liquor in 1t, within the previ- ous year.
 When liquor is seized, notice must be given the owner. If not adjudged forfeited it will be restored to him. If adjudged forfeited it will be destroyed and the vessels containing 1t sold.
 Persons summoned as witnesses, who refuse to testify, will be sent to iai Persons becom- ing intoxicated in taverns, groceries, or in the street. will be fined SlO besides being made to testify where they got their liquor. All fines go to the support of the poor.
 Upon the trial, proofof any sale will be deem ed proof of unlawful sales unless the seller can prove the contrary.
 Persons suspected of having violated the act are disqualified from acting as jurors in cases un- der it.
 Liquor transported anywhere in the State, in quantities over five gallons, must be marked intoxicating liquor" and with the name of the person to whom it is going.
 Cider may be sold in quantities over ten gal Ions, but none must be drank on the premises Manufactures of alcohol and of wine from grapes grown by themselves, may keep and sell them. Burning fluids. varnishes, perfu- mery, essences and drugs may likewise be freely made and sold. Imported liquors may be sold iE the original packages by the importer but only to persons authorized as above to sell at retail.
 All liquor kept in violation of the act will be deemed nuisance. No more licenses shall be l,1l T, mediately.
 The section in respect to authorizing agents to sell for manufacturing and medicinal, chemical and sacramental purposes, takes effect on the 1st of May. All the other provisions of the act take effect on the 4th of July.
 This leader from the Albany Argus will K plain how 1t came to be passed.
 We lay before ourreaders the new law prohi- biting the sale of intoxicating liquors, satisfied that we could not occupy our columns with matter which more deeply affects the interests ofall classes of people in the State. The project of absolute suppression and destruction ofinebri- ating drinks, has at length taken definite form and is to be subjected to the test of practical experiment in the most populous and commer- cial State in the Union. The subject has been long agitated among us, and it is perhaps not to be regretted that it is now to be put into cru clble which will prove final determination of its qualities. While we are of course prepar- ed to concede that large portion of the peo- pie have demanded such a law, we think that its passage at this time cannot be fairly said to be the act of the public sentiment of the State Political influences have given the movements a strength beyond its legitimate merits. The tenn perance feeling has been made the football of politicians. The wings, as a measure of self preservation, but sorely against the inclinations of great numbers of them, were compelled last fall to form coalition with the Maine Lawites By that association they were able to retain nominal ascendency in the State, and to consum- mate the great end of their etorts-the re-elec. tion of MT. Seward to the Senate. They placed themselves in such position for the sake o securing the temperance votes, that they fell constrained, against the real opinions of many of them in both Houses, and of vast multitudes of them outside the Legislature, to yield to tht passage of this law. After Mir. Stewards cleo tion had been secured, it is true that the idea was indulged and movement made to amend the then pending bill into more sensible law But this exposed them to the charge of cheat ing thr temperance allies, and 1t had to be aban doned.
 As matters stood, the whigs have been com pelled to take the responsibility of passing thi law Those among them who have been sin cere believers in prohibition, will enjoy the sa tisfaction which accompanies acts prompted b. honest motives, while those who have bee1 playing game, are yet to learn whether it vii ultimately win.
 We have not from the outset been able to se that legislation of this description would pro mote the cause of temperance and good orde and advance the general welfare of society, ant therefore we have opposed it. If practica trial shall prove we have been mistaken, W shall most cheerfully acknowledge our erro Conceding the propriety of some legislation O this vastly important subject, we have been un able to see the justice or expedlency of meas ure so severe in its characteristics as the preser law. Itis unnecessarily oppressive upon exist ing pccuniary and business arrangements, an