Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-02-11

If maiority of the people were in favor of the law
it would be sustained and enforced By the courts
as well as public sentiment; -if against it, the mi
norty would as good citizens, acquiesee in the de-
cision. more democratic mode of settling this
question could not be devised. He hoped no mem
Der of this House would refuse to giant the friends
OF the temperance reform the privilege of testing
the popular will in regard to such law as il was
desired should be enacted. This, be believed
would satisfy them, and he hoped the Legislature
was prepared grant this privilege to a large aud
intelligent portion of the citizens OF the State.
| Mr. Thomas desired to state to the House whv
he should vote against the second sect on Of the
bill. He contended that the Legislature had the
right to prohibit the sale Of article dee med per
nicious lie also contended that the principle Of
/ prohibition had already been recognized by the
/ legislation of this State. Every law which had
been enacted by the Legislature prescribing the
quantity in which liquor should be Sold established
that principle He not in favor Of the quart
law but had votei'or a repeal OF the tipping law,
J because he regarded the quart law preferable
but the second section of the bill under cOasidera
/ ton repealed the quart law and established tip.
! plug law infinitely worse than that which he had
voted to repeal He expressed preference for the
/ district system, and thought that by thus placing
the regulation of the traffic in the hands of the pee
pie, it would be properly guarded and restrained
Mr.. Algce offered amendment to be inserted
after the words in any quantity" as follows:
Provided a WejoGity of the legal voters in the
civil district corporation where the person per-
reside wishing to sell the same, vote in favor
OF such sale"
Mr. Hstt0u said he had not deemed it necessary
during this discussion to define his position upon
the lqlOr question, but he wished now to say that
the amendment offered by Mr. Algee expressed his
views exactly-it was the sy stem TO which h. had
! pledged himself in his canvass. He believed that
/ the enactment of district law would settle the
liquor question forever. he in favor OF invest
/ i the people with the power of controlling the
traffic in spirtUous liquors, aud if they desire to
/ have the article sold in their neighbOrhOOi let
them decree. If the people of any civil district
in any county of the State wished to have a grOce-
| ~ in their midst, instead of school house, let
them have the power OF nhicting upon tn mselves
the internal traffic He lived in a town where a
large number of students cOngregated from
other portions of the State and from other States
and he wished the power conferred upon the eiti-
zeus Of that rid themselves of the blightng
evils growing out of the traffic in ardent spirits,
aud they would do 1t if the district system we're to
become a law.
Mr Brazelton hoped the amendment would be
Z adopted He willing that the people of the va
rious civil districts should determine the matter tor
/ themselves He had an abiding cor 6deuce in the
ability and disposition of the people to do what is
right and as III " looking to this Legislature to
DO something relieve them of the evils resulting
from the traffic in ardent spirits he hoped the dis
trct law or the principle of that system, would be
adopted, and thus place il within the power Of the
people settle the question to the sale of spirit
| uOus liquors.
Mr. Loonev said he had not intended TO partic~
pate in this discussion. He had come here with he
conviction that If this Legislature could pass the
district system, the members would accomplish
more to relieve the people of the evils growing out
OF the traffic in spirtuous liquors, than all their
predecessors had done He had been earnest
advocate Of the district systCm-a system by which
this troublesome, exciting and expensive question
would be taken from the halls Of legislation, aud
referred TO the people in their primary capacity, to
be regulated by them according their sense Of
right But since he convinced that a majority
of the mbers OF this House were opposed to this
system he had to look for the best bill before
the House. which he conceived to be that of Mr..
tIrieu. He satisfied that the people demanded
some legislation upon this subject and he desired TO
return to his constituents with a consciousness OF
having discharged this duty to them to the best OF
his ability
He expressed himself gratifcd that. so far as the
action Of this House concerned, the State had
severed her Partr ershp in the tipping business.
H was in favor Of the amendment proposed by
Mr. Huntington, and if that gentleman would come
up to the supper; Of the bill with his amendment
attached to it, he would cheeriuIly vote amend
the bill He was in fOvor of the amendment any
how and would vote for it distinct proposition.
II was also in favor of the amendment proposed
by Mr. Brown, of Madison for it was in our towns
that the worst evils Of the liquor traffic expe~
1 rienced. He was therefore, in favor Of clothing
the Incorporated towns with the power of regufl-
ting for themselves this difficult and delicate ques-
ton.
IL hoped the bill under consideration would not
be hastily acted upon. 1t was a good bill aud its
friends should perfect it in every manner that may
be suggested. It's enactment into a law would ex-
ert happy Influence in relieving the people Of the
State Of the evils growing out OF the traffic in spir
Ituous liquors
Mr. Hatton hoped that both amendments would
be adopted 1t matter of great importance
that the slaves of our people should be protected
against the traffic, and il still more important
that our children should be saved from being
tangled in the meshes Of those sinks of iuiquty
known as ''doggeries" He hoped the amendment
of Mr. Brown, Of Madison, proposing to confer up
on Incorporated towns the power to regulate the
sale OF liquor within their own limits would be
adopted. The towns suffered most from the traffic.
and they should have authority to protect them
selves.
Mr. Brown, of Davidson, (Mr. Travis in the
Char,) regarded it very important that both
amendments should be adopted. He would vote
for the bill with without the amendments He
stated this to show to the friends OF the bill that his
object in advocating she amendments WAS not to
embaTrass, but perfect the bill In regard to
the amendment comforting certain powers upon in
corporated towns, he said 1t was absolutely uecessa
ry that the towns should be clothed with discretion-
ary powers for the protection OF their morals as
well for their owu safety. This principle bad
be en- recognised by the legislative power Of every
civilized country upon the globe The power pro
posed to be conferred upon incorporated towns by
the amendment, had been objected TO because such
towns might, in the exercise Of this power, inst.
+ tute regulations which would be Inconsistent with
the constitution. No fear need be entertained on
this score, he said, because we're met with the
provision in that amendment, which stood up a
wall of fire. that no restrictions Inconsistent with
the constitution should be imposed He regarded
this amendment as a very sdIutary one and also
lutely necessary to enable the towns TO protect
I themselves