The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-02-07
REMARKS OF MIR. WRIGHT,
OF LUzERNE COUNTY,
On the Bin TO Repeal the Aet to Restrain The
Sale of Intoxicating Liquors.

On fhe B,H TO Repeal the Aet 10 Resfram The
Sale Of intoxicating Liquors.
Mr.. WRIeHr, of Luzeme said: do not rise
SO much, Mr., Speaker, to discuss the merits
of this measure, as 10 keep The debate 10 the
point really before the House and to reply
TO some Of the remarks that have fallen from
the opposition. The subject itself has been
discussed in al. forms and places. The bill
proposed 10 be repealed is the product OF o
Yankee notion. was early taught healthy
hate of some Yankee notions. The peace.
ful prisoners of our faith, Mr.. Speaker, met
with marlyrdo m 10 the pious and goodly town
Of Boston, for The simple pronulgaion ol
their holy and peaceful faith. The Danish.
neni Of the Bapiists was another Yankee no.
lion. The execution Of witches at Salem was
another. American devotion to the sable
hue, had its origin ihere--saa being . mos,
inventive people, the discovery Of making
men moral by statute, had its origin with
them. The sterling worth Of New England
value as should. Her early and rugged
morality, stained as was with Quaker blood,
The Punishment Of the Bapts,s and execu.
lions for witchcrafi, is yet 10 be commended
Her invention and intelligence have world
wide reputation. ln the dark hours of The
revolution her patriotism was undoubted.-
She Is entitled 10 high praise, though there
be ON her esculcheon the dark spots of blood,
of bigoiry and fanaticism. may be per.
miiied TO speak freely of her faults, since |
am partly of her lineage. The discovery of
regulating palales by statutes, is EN- insn,ly a
Yankee notion. Some other Com monwealths
have felt the contagion. Maine, the first 10
Try tie experiment, is the first TO condemn
ii. Pennsylvania, having repudialed the
principle by her popular vote, had this iIl-fa-
vored imp forced upoe her people by Leg
is!alure that was the unhealthy growth of a
fanalical storm. Her people, whose avowed
wishes were thus disobeyed, have given a
most terrible rebuke 10 her servants. The
gentleman from Lawrence (Mr. M'Comb)
most earnestly warned the Democracy of the
defeat and disaster that would result from the
repeal of this law. He SCENE 4 10 be sincere,
and yet think he expected TO be understood
in Pickwickian sense. Alas for that good
old ship, when that gentleman shall heave
the lead and give her soundings He afraid
our party will be damaged by repeall warn
the friends of repeal against the proposition
of The gentleman from Monlour, (Mr Mont.
gomey,} 10 commit the bill back to the
Committee with INSTRUCTIONS to report strin-
gent license law. No man in this House
esleems the Chairman Of that Committee
(Mr HiIl) more Than TO- He comes 20 this
House with character any man may well
be proud of lha, all of us should initiate
but desire to have his aid and that of the
mover Of this re.commiiment on the naked
question of repeal. Repeal has been most
clearly decided by the popular voice, and is
now demanded by vast body of petitioner
who are daily reproving us for delay. Let
the question be fairly and broadly met A
stringent license law has not yet been defin-
ed here, ii is in every mans mouth; and the
defnilions ] fancy will be as numerous as the
gentlemen who use il.
If a radical change is 10 be made in the IL
cense laws as they will stand on repeal, it
will require time, and members will most
naturally desire 10 consult their constituents
before final action. The months Of January
and February, in which lessons and lessees
make their egotiatiops--tte two first terms
in some of the counties during which appli-
cations must be made for licenses, will be
over before you have perfected this change.
That some change will be made appears 10
be conceded; but let us first do what is our
plain and manifest duty. Let Us abrogate
this law. None Of our opponents have pass.
ed by this law without in some manner con-
demaing il. II has no absolute defender !;
but there is expssssed purpose 10 hold 10 it
until we yield something. Why should we
make their fall less severe? Last winter,
with the gag on our brethren, they adopted
this measure. They were afraigned before
the tribunal Of the people--,beir accusation
and defence heard-they were condemned
-senienced--and for onel am not for delay
iEg execution. fits said that q bill simply
repeating wiIfnot meet The concurrence of
the oe-ordinais branch Of the Legislature, nor
the Executive, sanctions. 2bis, sir, should be
no guide 10 our as,ion., We should be ready
to believe that they will observe as faithfully
as we, The cardinal doctrine OF the govern
ment--that the clearly declared will of the
people is TO be obeyed. Ls.s.
This is wise and unbsn6ing rule let us
conform 10 it, whatever others may do. I,
was a want of confidence ia the popular oa-
psci,y to rule that has ever been the destroy.
Of ct our apprehension do not really know
by what name they are known now--but l
suppose it is that 'ssame old coonn we have
met and conquered so often before. Lei us
tread lightly over the ashes ofthe DEPARTED
our ancient, but noble, foe hath been gather
ed into the great garner. The able gentle.
man from Erie, (Mr. Bsii,) whose large ex-
pefiencs suggested 10 bis allies the mode Of
reaching this. dlscussion, must have stood
sorowful by when the old whig party, in
whose ranks be had fought manfully. was
darkly swallowed up yskis new combiua-
ton. des0 71a sitts grtfj ss1a cs.s
The eloquent representative from, the city,
.Mr. Morris informedthe House ihathe rep
rasaptad q ehv;s,;an loornsnunitv We who