The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-04-11

The week now closed mas Dccn INC niost
exciting of the session. Most CT the I'M
por.ant measures have been considered, and
some of them settled, during the week.
Yesterday was the day appointed for the
hearing of Judge Davis, but it did not come
of, very much to the disappointment Of a
great number Of persons from every part OF
the State, who had come here expressly to
hear the defence, and witness the proceed
ings. 1t was postponed on account of the
indisposition of Mr.. Choate, counsel for
Judge Davis, who has been 70 i'll rs to re-
ouire medical aid. The hearing commences
to-day. Mr.. Choate will not be able to at
tend, but It is expected he will recover so as
to make his argument on Monday. II. W.
Paine, Esq, formerly of lIallowcll, now re-
siding in Boston, will open the case, present
the evidence for defence, and make an argu-
ment on the legal points, and he will cfol-
lowed by F. o. ]. Smith. of Portland, who
is also engaged in the case. These two gen.
tlcmcn are expected to occupy the time to-
day.
The Liquor Law passed the House to DO
cngrossed, substantially as it passed the Sen
ate ON Thursday, April 3,-ycas IS, nays
GS,-a larger majority than was generally
anticipated. On the question of concurring
with the Senate to strike out the search and
seizure clauses, the vote was at first carried,
GO to 6S against concurring-but, the friends
of free rum, rallied, brought in the wound
ed and missing, and by the aid of Scncato-
rial "whippcrs in" and the Augusta Lii
quor sellers, hotel keepers, the vote was re-
considered, 70 to 70,-and the bill passed,
under the pressure of tho previous question.
The gag was moved by Mr.. Lyman, of Port
land. No better illustration of the charac-
ter of the Bill can be had than the fact that
when it was pcrilcd by the inconvenience
of the House in striking out the search and
seizure clause,-the hotel keepers Of Au-
gusta, rushed to the State House, to work
on the members, and their carriages wero
put in requisition to bring up tho absent
The delegation from York, voted as follows
on the passage to DO cngrosscd.
Yeas--Clark, Came, Goodale, Eanscomb,
Hasty, Titcomb, Mason, Shackley, Sweat.
Ndys-Brown, Neal, Merrill, Scamman,
Wedgewood.
Mr.. bennett, of Kittcry, made a most eI-
cellent speech in favor Of prohibitory law,
and then showed his attachment to practical
works, by getting excused, when the vote
was taken.
Previous to the vote on passing the bill to
to be engrossed was taken, q motion was
made to substitute tho law Of 1883, by Mr..
Morrow, of Scarsmont, and this motion was
voted for by the friends of the Maine Law,
but It was unsuccessful. Hereafter 1t can
not be said that the opposition was to the
Z" intensified law" so much as II was to
any law founded on the prohibitory princi.
plc. was somewhat surprised at the vote
of Mr.. Titcomb, of Kennebunk. Having
heard Il said that he wasa great Temperance
man, good Son Of Temperance, and friend
of the principle of prohibition, though not
in favor of the law Of 1855, I supposed he
would not sustain by his vote Bill based
ON the principle Of permitting free rum,
and only protesting to restrain the abuses Of
drinking. His vote shows where hc is.
Tho Bill will have thorough dissection
during the next six months, and its faults
in principles, and in details be made appa- |
rent to the public gaze. 1t is sufficient to
say now, that 1t suits the drinkers Of rum,
and those who wish to traffic in the mad
denins draught, ut least tho aristocntic
drinkers, and the genteel hotel keepers If II
does not the three cent drinkers, and the
common tapsteS. Class legislation does
not generally endure, and this being SO, a
prediction that It will not cumbcr the on.
ward path Of temperance q great while is
not rash prophecy. The friends Of pro-
hibition could not have asked for better
weapon with which to strike down in the
md, the rum traffic. L. o. G.
AuOusrA, April, Z, 1856.
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