Smyrna times., 1856-04-30
The License Question in Pennsylva- >
aga nia---Speech of MIR. Piatt
HARRIspuRe, April 20

o.. HARRISBURG, April ~.
| AT a late hour on Saturday evening. Mr.
Price, in the Senate, reported from the Com
mlttee on Vice and immortality, with a mega
tive recommendation the House bill relating
TO the licensing OF beer houses in the city Of
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the counties
of Allegheny, Berks, Lancaster, Northumber-
land, Pike, Montgomery, Carbon and Monroe.
Mr. Browne said it had been. reported that a
desire was manifested in a certain quarter. to
smother this bill-not to let it see the light
Now, so far as he was concerned, he had en-
tertained no such inclination. On the CONTRA
ry, he desired to have vote upon it. .
The Senate then, on motion, took up the
bill, and resolved itself into Committee of the
Whole, (Mr. Lewis in the chair,) upon the
same.
Mr.. Piatt (Speaker) said--T supposed, Mr.
Chairman, that when we passed the bill, to
which this is supplement, and that, too, by
an almost unanimous vote, there would be an
end of the irritating and exciting subject of il.
at least for the present session.. But it seems
not. For the last three years, the question of
the sale of intoxicating Liquors has been agi-
tated all over the State-from one end of this
Commonwealth to the other and now, at this
late period of the session--when we are on
the eve OF final ad journment-this bill has been
pressed upon our attention, on the plea that it
is absolutely necessary these counties should
be relieved from the operation of the bill pass
ed by us few days since. Sir, it is argued
outside that it is imperiously necessary that
some relief should be afforded to some sections
of this Commonwealth. And--for what Ii
has been asserted that unless this measure shall
be carried, certain Senators who voted for the
bill, shall be read out of the Democratic party
that it becomes necessary TO sustain the
Democratic party. Sir, it has been asserted
| repeat-that certain Senators are TO be pro-
scrlbed that, upon this issue, they are to be
read out of the Democratic party, because they
have thought proper to exercise their judgment
and act in conformity TO their conscientious
conviction of right!
| TIE Senators may have been deaf to what
has been said outside, to control the action of
certain Democratic Senators upon this floor
| Why have | not right to record my vote in
favor of this measure, or, rather, the bill npon
which we all recorded our votes few DAYS since
when the people of my part of the State gave
a ma ority of 5000 in favor of it! Sir, will
not back down one foot, aye, nor even one inch
on this question. And if the Democratic party
is TO be trampled under foot, il il has no basis but
that of rum and lager beer, why, then let it go
down. But, sir, rise above this miserable
rum question, the advocates of which are en-.
deaVOring to control the people of this Com
monwealth; and ifyou, sir, or any other Sena-
tor choses TO record his vote against this abomi-
nable evil, he has right to do it. And if il
should be necessary, will go outside of the
Democratic party TO lift my voice against the
traffic in rum. Sir, Irepeat it is a SANDER upon
the Democratic party to intimate, or to say il
does not inculcate doctrines of morality, decen.
cy and responsibility. -.
| If the Democratic party cannot be sustained
outside of these rum shops or filthy holes,
will for one, stand outside Of it. But, sir,
again asseverate that the Democratic party il
not to be sustained in that way. 1t is Islander
upon i'll care not whether it comes from
York or Philadelphia, or any other part of the
Commonwealth; and the party had better,
thousand times, go down than the glorou,
cause of Temperance should be defeated.
On motion of Dir. Buckalew, the further con
sideratlon of the bill was then ostponed fol
the preSent-yeas Ia, nays II.