The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1856-01-31
The Prohibitory Liquor Law.

Our neighbor Of the Jeff. thinks we are
inclined TO give the Prohibitory Liquor Law
the go-by." because we copied an article
from the Journal in regard to the ''OId Line"
platform. in which that paper says. speaking
Of the Liquor resolution passed by the Old
Liners, that 1T, (the resolution. opposes the
arbitrary and oppressive features Of the late
law, tut 50 do IRE. and SO did the Convention
of July -" Our neighbor then goes of
into supposition that the Law twas dsr
ling measure with the Palladium and that it
would stand by and defend it to the last ex
tremity--that i. considered that law a model
in its way, and that it approved all It's Provi
sions." DC. True. a Prohibitory Law was
and is favorite measure with US, and, not
wi.hstanding the ruthless hands Of party serv
ing Judges have stricken the late law down
and trodden it under their servile feet, yet we
still advocate Prohibitory Law. with search
seizure, ,confiscaton and destruction" to all
intoxicating liquors, the only safeguard
against the spread Of untold evils, which they
have always produced when used bevera-
ges. We still stand by and will defend
Prchibltory Law, to the utmost of our feeble
abilities. against the open or covert attacks of
its enemies. but we never considered the late
law "a model and approved all its provis-
ions. The cider clause was one of its features
we would have gladly seen stricken out, and
that would have been done had it not been for
the casting vote of your candidate for Cover
A I IL
"odious feature in the law. no alteration
was made to that Bill in the Senate, with the
expressed hope Of Senators who voted for it
that the House would amend and send il back,
in order that they might have the satistact on
Of killing it, and. If their constituents grumbled
at their course, to throw the responsibility cf
It's failure tie House, b. telling them that
they voted for the most stringent measures in
that law, but the House refused to concur
This was the plan of operation, but it failed
the House through the well devised
scheme of tie Senate. Twas thought best to
bear with the mperfections of the bill rather
than 10 trust it again to the tender mercies of
the Senate-tha the principal features of the
law Were right, and would work well; and
that, when its salutary effects made man
ifest to the people, its imperfections could be
remeded by future legislation. The House
were willing TO let the chaf remain with the
wheat, as the grist came from the Senate.
trusting TO the people to sift it for themselves.
discriminate and amend in future. The re,
sui. shows their good sense; for wherever the
Prohibitory Law has been fully tested, it has
made friends and confirmed the faith of those
who advocated it. From the 1lth of June,
up to the advent Of the Judge made Law
overriding the Legislative Department" sobri-
ETY. and good order resulted from the ben6cient
operations OF Prohibition, wherever it was
enforced. If our neghbor is not pur blind
he can certainly see quite difference between
the periods above alluded 10 and no,r. in this
city; and he canno: help admitting that where
there one case Of drunkenness then there
are at least forty to fifty now. daily. To show
to our neighbor more clearly the good effects
resulting from the late Prohibi1ory Law, we
refer him to the following facts from the coun-
ty Poor House. Mr.. Stevens. the very eff
cient superintendent of the Asylum. informs
us that up 10 the 18th inst, there were only
"a paupers under his charge. Last year up
To the same time there were 63, showing q
decrease of 90 for the last l2 months. From
jan II up TO June lsth four 10 FIVE persons
per month were received in the Poor House,
who were under the influence of liquor, or
who owed their poverty stricken circumst stan
ces to the damning and bhghting influence of
the liquor traffic. From the 18th of June.
up to the preaching of "free agency" by
Judge Perkins. only one or two cases OF the
kind had been received The devil having
been since let loose for season. the Superin-
teudeEt anticipates from the number coming
in. and the increased activity of the liquor
sellers in manufacturing paupers, that the sup
ply will be considerably increased.
If our neighbor Of the JEFF. considers the
search, seize, coniscate and destroy" fea-
lures Of the late law .<arbitrary and oppres
sive,' he is RICH, in sstribuling TO us liking
for it on that score. for we do regard the ''vi
tally and efficiency Of the law as being en-
bodied in Gsss features. and mistake. He
need not '.lay the ,iattering JUNCTION TO his
SOUL" that he viii find US in-the same catego-
~ with himself, wiring in and wiring our
on this question. or the slavery-extension
question either. LII tee should ever unfortu-
nately break into the Legislature ike be did,
and vote to place a liquor seller in the peni-
Tertiary for exercising the free agency" prin-
ciple. We promise the people in advance. that
Ire will never be found battling agains. any