Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-04-24
WEDNESDAY, APRIL Is, 1855.


PROilIBITORY LIQUOR LAW IN NEW YORK.
1t was little thought, five years ago, that Pro-
hibitory Liquor Law would ever pass the Legis-
laturc Of New York. 1t was little thought that
the custom of drinking at funerals and marriages
five years later, which was so popular at that Pc
riod, would sink into disrcputc, and that those
persons then who INDUCED in the social glass,
would discard it, and become strong and earnest
advocates of Temperance LOW. But such is the
case. Pnblic opinion has changed. \ few per-
sercring reformers have leavcncd the loaf, AMI
to-day the Empire State has declared herself on
the side Of virtue and sobrictv. The in.tuence
this action of the Legislature of New York will
have on other States, is incalculablc, and should
the law work well there, may safely say that
the LIQUOR business in this country is doomed,
Tor New York city is the great rem !ezvous of the
Rum selling aEd drinking interest. Suplosc
ly half Of the evil is removed, is no. that worth
striving for: Suppose 10000 out Of $4,000 men
saved from drunkards' graye3-snppoSe 20,-
o0o children and wives made happier, is OF
that worth striving for? Tha: tn. laws can be
enforced, has been fully demonstrated by Mayor
Wood, who, with s.rong will, and an unatera-
ile determination, has caused crime 10 shrink
Dashed mto its lar, where hitherto it has baskc
In sunlight. If Other laws in New York city can
be enforced, the Liquor Law cin ANA viii be, aad
when il is, what IL change viii be wrought in that
city. Grog shops closed on the Sabbath :
drunkards ree!ing in the streots little
children clothed in clean gar.ncnt>, anl wives
happy in the restoration of peace and comfort to
their households. The picture IS sufficiently plain
for any one to see it, and tho sc who gaze u~on ii
cannot help bat admire it i'll preference to the
dark, dingy canvass Of the past. But we arc
travelling out Of our llt;tud,. We only sired
to call attention to synopsis of the law, which
will cnabie ouf readers to fix upon something de-
fnit, when the time comes for MINNESOTA TO take
her rank among the Maine Law States Of the
Un;On
The law provides that rum, brandy, gin,
whisky, wine, beer, or other intOI icitng liquors
can legally be sold nor given away in this State
after the 18th div of July next, except by persons
specially appointed, and lcens to sell tie above
articles for mechanical, III ,dicinnl or sucramental
purposes. And no License to sell beverage
shall be granted from and after the date of the
passage of this act. Neither shall it be lawful to
keep the liquors aforesaid in any store, tavern,
grocery, shop, boarding Or yictua.in5 ho2sc,
room usct for dancing gambling, or other
amusement.
Bu: any citizen of good moral character be-
ing an elcctor of the town or city in which he
proposes to sell, and not being a reddlcr, nor in
terested in any tavern grocery, fruit store, c0nfCc
tionery. or other place of entertainment, nor en-
,oved therein, nor captain, agent, clerk or other
person employed on Il vessel or stcambo 1t, may,
from and after the lst of May next. keep and sell
the liquors aforesaid, for mechanical, chemical,
medicinal purposes, or pure wine for sacramcn
i'll
ding have fled in the Office of the Clerk Of the
County in which such liquor is to be sod an I'M
dertakng executed by himself, approved by the
County Judge of said county. or in the city by
of the Judges of Common Pleas, that he will not
violate any provision of this act. and that he will
pay all fines, damages and costs which may be rem
dercd against him in any action commenced
under the provision of this act, and shall also
have taken and filed an oath that he does not
intoxicating liquor as beverage, and Will no.
sell it contrary to the intent of this act.
Sales ~ persons unauthorized as afo esaid to
be punished by fine of $50 for the first olfcnse,
800 and thirty days Imprisonment for the second,
and for every subsequent offense by fine 500 to
$500 and Imprisonment for not less than three
nor more than six months. Any person licensed
to sell as aforesaid who shall sell in violation of
his license is to be fined 500 and imprisoned thir-
ty days for the first oncnsc, made to pay all the
costs, and prohibited from ever selling again in
this State. lie who gets liquor of licensed sell
Ter by lying to the use to be made of it, is to
paw a fine Of $l0 and costs, and if unable un-
willing to pay it, he is to be imprisoned until he
works it out ut the rate of $ per day.
The premises of suspected persons may be
searched for contraband liquor. bat no dwelling
house can be searched unless the occupant shall
have previously been convicted Of selling liquor
unlawfuly within the year preceding. Proof Of
sale of liquor under this act shall be prima tacia
evidence of unlawful sale, and proof of delivery
shall be proof of sale.
Cider may be sold in quantities of not less than
ten gallons, but not to be drunk on the sellers
premises. Alcohol may be manufactured, kept.
or sold: may pure wine from home grown
grapes and importers of foreign liquors may
keep and sell the same in original packages to
persons authorized to sell under this act. Burn
Ing fluids perfumery. essences, drugs and varnish-
es, composed in part of alcohol spirituous Ii
quOr, may also be kept and sold, if not intended
for use as beverage or in evasion Of this act.
Costs are allowed to magistrates and officers for
each service in enforcement of this act.