Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-04-05
THE NEW LICENSE LAW.

THE NEW LICENSE LAW
There is an old fable in which the noun
forth. 1t has been reserved for Pennsylva-
MIA Legislature TO reverse the story. That
body. after a labor of many days, has brought
forth mountain Of iniquiiy in the shape o.
an act to regulate the sale of liquors. The
prodigy is published in miniature in another
column, its extensive length having prevented
our artist from taking portrait in life size.
We cannot recommend the subject but can
vouch for the correctness of the likeness.
II seems the object of legislation was to
prevent the Incorporate use Of ardent spirits
BY restraining their sale. If that were the
object, and the wording Of the act would not
leave that impression on any mind. the bull
let has fallen far short of the mark. The way
to diminish the consumption Of liquor is not
by reducing the number Of places at which it
is sold These wise Lawmakers seem to have
forgotten that it is the quantity of liquor
dealt out and consumed, and not the number
of places at which i: can be had, does the
mischief An inch augur hole will empty
hogshead faster than half dozen gimblet
holes. On this principle they have only d.
minished the number Of taverns and increased
the length of bar rooms. They have only re-
verscd the principle Of trading the big dog
for two puppies. We are at a loss to con-
ceive what bereft to individual or common
wealth the thing is going to produce. 1t does
not prevent men from drinking it only de-
prives them Of wide range in the choice of
places At which to imbibe. In this respect it
is an absolute injury, for under our old license
laws man could select place for taking his
drops at which he knew pure article was
kept. Now, if he chances to need or thinks
he needs, a drop. he must go to one of the
few places licensed by law TO deal in slow
poison. He can, under the benefits of this
act. drink less because lie will be compelled
to use stuff that will kill him quicker. 1t will
not avail to reply that there is q law forbid
ding the sale Of drugged liquors, for it has
been in force-we beg somebody's pnrdon-it
has been on the statute book since l105, and
there is no record OF conviction under it, al
though there is not district attorney in the
state who does not know the law is daily vio-
lated 1t does the state no service in the
way Of revenue, for while il increases the price
of licenses it diminishes the number granted.
The worst feature in the whole bill is the
oil rot Of ,t,-
bond to keep the provisions Of the law. This
would not appear so outrageous were 1t not
for the fact that any breach of the law is made
a misdemeanor, and they are subject TO crimi-
nal prosecution. Every citizen is bound to
obey not only this particular, but every other
law. Why then are particular set of men
to be placed under bonds TO do what is requi-
red OF every man in the community Has
the legislatures opinion Of the people fallen
SO low that they think judgment bond is
necessary to keep IA man Of good repuie'
and "a citizen Of the United States" III the
path of obedience to law? When have the
people Of Pennsylvania become so iawiess
that, without any offence charged, they must
be bound over TO observe the law. What a
compliment is thus paid to their constituents.
What a commentary is their action upon the
American people and republican government.
There is not Kingdom in Europe which
places so Tow an estimate ON the moral char
acter Of its people. This provision is re-
6nement Of insult and degradation for which
the autocrscy of Russia furnishes no parallel.
lnnkespers are placed upon level with fel-
ons and peace breakers. After such an effort
OF legislative wisdom and prudence, We would
not be surprised to have them compel all our
citizens to be put under bonds to keep the
peace.
We were led TO hope, from the reputation
Of the gentlemen who compose our legiela-
ture, that some good act should supersede
the jug law. That law was deservedly un.
popular and wns forced on the people in spite
Of their expressed decision at the ballot box.
A legislator has no right to think the people
are wrong or at least to act upon that opn.
ion. Ifit is necessary TO restrain mems sppe-
tites by act Of Assembly, let US have il done
in reasonable manner. We doubt il it can
be done by any such means. but when the
trial is made. let us have our keepers Of pub
Tic houses treated like honest. law abiding
citizens aud not as malefac.ors. We are dis
appointed: in the result Of the Tong delbers-
tions Of our legislators. They hav given us
bill Of unusual length. and without q single
rsdeeming feature. There is nothing in it,
from the enacting clause 10 the end Of the
governors signature worthy of commsnda-
tion. ~,
Mr.. Benton has written his political vale