Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-01-12

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changes, have stood among our Statu-
ties since the foundation Of the State
Government.
The law OF 1853, on shc subject Of
the traffic in intoxicating liquors. has
been rendered imperative by decision
Of the Supreme Courtof this State; and
an unusual degree OF excitement has
prevailed among the people, in re-
lation to the laws that should be passed
by the General Assembly for the
purpose Of restraining the desolatihg
evils of intemperance. The necessity
of restraining these evils by the force
of law, has been acknowledged by
our Legislation, from the organization
Of the Government tothc present time;
and in the course of the past year,
this subject, involving the happiness
and prosperity Of our race, and rising
far above all party considerations, was
forced, in some measure, to assume
the nature Of q political issue.
Some of the best citizens of the
State entertain serious doubts, not on
ly as to the constitutionality, but as to
the expediency of adopting stringent
legal means for the suppression of in
temperance; and it is neither prudent
nor just 70 assume from this fact, that
such men are among the foes Of tenn
lperance. All experience shows that
very stringent penal laws against priv.
ileges and habits long INDUCED in, are
calculated to produce reaction in
public sentiment.
We have, in our State some coun-
ties in which, even under our defec-
tive laws, not solitary dram.shop is
to be found, and in which no person
could find support, as retailer of
spurious liquors 10 be drank as bev-
age. Here, then, are examples ofthe
prevalence Of q sound public opinion
In communities where agitation, discus.
sion. and moral influences have eifec-
ted reformation, and where the 'peo-
pie now require only sound legislation
to protect them in the enjoyment of
their happy condition.
The legislative department Of the
Government is, un questionably, ves-
ted with the right to prohibit the man.
ufacture and sale Of ardent spirits as a
beverage; but. In framing n law for
this purpose great care should be OBJ
served, in order to protect from yio-
lation and from annoyance, the consti-
tutional rights'of every law abiding
citizen, in the security Of his own
home.
The evils of intemperance are so
numerous, so great, and 80 destruc.
tive, that all good men will rejoice TO
see them abated. No estimate Of the
loss Of business, the loss Of dollars and
cents 10 the manufacturer or retailer,
or the loss Of trade and commerce TO
the State, should for a moment rise
into importance, in contrast with those
terrible realities Of poverty, sorrow,
Indebtedness, moral degradation, and
crime which darken our land, and fill
our aim houses, hospitals and peniten-
tiaries. Benevolence and public poll
cy alike require q Suppression of the
evils Of intemperance; and IL the walls
of the widow and the fatherless fail to
reach our hearts, and urge US 10 up.
ply a remedy, considerations of econ
omy in the administration Of the law
should not be disregarded.
II has always seemed to me, that
the individual who sells intoxicating
hqnors in violation Of the law. and The
person who becomes drunkard Dy
the habitual use Of such liquors, are
both guilty. A drunkard should by
law, be disqualified for the making Of
contracts, or The management Of prop
erty, thereby protecting his family
from the designs Of the GINNING and
cruel, in the waste and destruction Of
his estate. We shall fail in our duty
unless we can get the strong arm Of
the law around tie wife and children Of
the inebriate.
No one can doubt that there is q
strong public sentiment in Indiana in
favor Of change in our laws upon
this subject; and it is the duty Of the
peoples servants to carry out that SEN
timent. 1t will give me pleasure to
cooperate with the Representatives Of
the people, in the adoption of any
constitutional measure, that may be
calculated to remove this acknowl.
edged evil from the State.
The report Of the Trustees Of the
Benevolent Institutions exhibit the
condition and management Of these
monuments of the benevolence Of In
diana. The people willingly pay their
taxes to sustain these Institutions. IL
is, however essentially necessary to
provide additional checks in the ex-
penditure Of the public money raised
fro their support, Their cost per
year, amounts to more than the sum
paid annually on account of the ordi.
nary expenses of the State government.
AS they are now placed upon the Trea-
sury proper, tobe sustained by direct
apprepriations.it is hoped that the ne
cessity ofbogrowing money to support
them, will not again arise,
/ recommend that the management
Of the affairs of the Three Benevolent
Institutions. be placed under the con-
troll Of one set OF Trustees, not exceed
ing five in number; and that the law
which governs the expenditures of the
Deaf aad Dumb Asylum, be extended
over tho other Institutions.
At this time, while financial en-
barrasments are affecting some of the
commercial and manufacturing inter.
ests Of the country. il is gratifying to
observe that there are evidences Of
;nd,etrv nrosnerity and Improvement