Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1856-05-07
FAIL U B u 8

| ~ '"""J seueF"1pns' the governments OF
most civilized countries have tried, with more
or less energy aud fidelity, to limit the evil eff.
iects OF intoxicating Liquors by licensing and
regulating the sale Of supll liquors. The New
York Tribune believes all will admit that that
experiment has been crowned with very linn.
ited and dubious success--and, doubtless. they
WILL Men have drank and quit drinking com,
munIties have become dissipated and reformed
put no one will seriously contend that the Ex-
c'Se L Laws from time to time existing in this
country orr IN that haYe mainly capsea ,ei,her
the dissipation o+the reform tAV@tN}N
curing the last four or five years, different
course has IN some localities been tried-tbot NJ
entire and consistent Prohibition. Instead ot
. certain Cor uncertainty number of persons Of
good moral character" to sell Intoxicating
Liquors at certain hours, in certain places, nm.
uer certain regulations, these new laws forbid
sailing at all except for other uses than that o.
beverage instead of requiring good mora
character as qualification for dealing OH
intoxicating Liquors, these laws presume tina,
common sellers are of an opposite Character
and zeal with them accordingly. We leave
others to Judge which of these conflicting "a.
sumption coheres oftener with the fact.
Inc License laws had one serious defect
they were never enforced. Unless the State
licensed about every one who applied, and thus
transformed the excise into mere revanua NOT
those to whom licenses were refused, or who did
not choose to pay the fee demanded sold with.
out license, evadng or defying the law. Ir
practce, therefore, the Excise amounted tn but
very little more than tax on gropshops and ,
shadow OF restraint on the riot and excess to
which their votares are addicted.
we regret to say that Prohibitory Laws an.
pear in a majority of cases to have proved
scarcely more successful. Through the Iaxity
OF executive officers and the extraordinary conn.,
pllcIty OF Judges, the Rum Power has in ma
Jorlty OF instances been enabled to trample on
and defy the laws enacted for its subyersion.-
In some places, through indispositon to arouse
mo Ire or brave the vengeance Of the yoiaries
OF liquor; IN others, through inattenton: in
others' through secresy and stealth, Liquor has
defeated Law. II we may believe the reports
which reach us from every side, the legal es.
adjustment of Prohibition affords but n tr,ps;-
ent check to liquor-seling and drinking. Al
hrst' IN localities where Public Opinion is deci
usoly opposed to tiPPling, or not thoroughly de.
oauched by 1t, bars are closed and selling almos,
entirely suspended. The vigilance of probibi.
t'onlsts being thus relaxed, the grocer. the inn.
Keeper perhaps the country merchant, brings
Ia demyon at first, for the delectation of +,
choice circle of his customers; and this orove.
so POPULAR and is dealt out so quietly, without,
objection or scandal. that he is tenpted IN ,rv
agaIn. But each day the circle of customers
eniarges, as the glad tidings of the good crea.
lure accessibility is whispered from the devo.
tee who has tasted to another who wonld Ik,.
TO- UNTIL emboldened by IMMUNITY, the dealer
orders by barrels and puncheons. and all bnt tho
"''"S'eS' prei@xt OF conceament is gradually
worn away.
ouch' we are told, is the usual course. even
IN States whose higher Judiciary has not len,
itseif 10 the uses of the rumsellers. We no.
iieVe 1t IS to be taken with very considerable
ueuuctlohs' The districts in which the law j..
ooeyed and the Liquor Traffic extrpated attrac,
no observation; while those wherein law-hre,k
ing is the rule are very naturally objects of
earnest regard. Yet it is undoubtedly ,rus ,h,,
violations of Laws of Prohibition ere o,;,a
general in all the States which have such laws
"hat then! Prohbtory Laws still in their
INFANCY have not suppressed incorporate drink.
ing. We admit it. No more have Exc;so
Laws, now centuries old, suppressed that v;co
Neither has gambling, nor lewdness, nor vice Of
any kind, been suppressed by the laws leveled
against 1t. Shall we, then abolish tbose I,,vs
and give full impunity to vice, We do no,
here indicate course, we simply inquire. Ie,
u.s. at all events, base our action ON a firm
ground of principle. 1t it is right to license
grogshops, why not gaming houses And !,
these, why not still more questionable resorts
The principle once established of LETTING mo,
do for money, acts that would be culpabe with
out such payment, let US see whittier it will
carry u.s. Ii it is a sound one, we should no,
fear to follow wherever it may lead. But let
US pause and consider well before we return IN
tnat path' AT present. we have rumsellinp
enough IN our State, but it il sold upon the
rummIes' 0Dn o authority. The People have
not licensed it. They are not responsible for
1t. Shall they hasten to assume such responsi.
blity!
- ----s~e~-S-
DELEGArEs.-TheD Democracy of this county
nave selected DIR. Henry Ridgely and DR.. Cove
salisbury as delegates to represent them in
The National Convention which meets in Gin.
c'nnatl 10 June next, TO nominate candidates for
president aud Vice President of the United
States. .. ....
AGRICULTURAL SocIrrv mr. KeS,, Co,,,,...