The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-03-26
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ADDRESS. g'Cooa -ya.
State Central Temperance Committee.
no THE PEOPLE OF INDIANA s
TcoNcLUDED.1 I


q That is The entire prohibition of the sal
Z of intoxicating drinks as a beverage. An
: this plan We prefer for many reasons. First
because it is right in principle, making no com
promise with an acknowledged evil but seek
ing to exterminate it entirely. Secondly, lie
: cause it is the most efficient means that can b.
employed by the State. for the suppression o
Iintemperance, and its train of evils, possessing
Iall the advantages Of the most judicious license
law, without any ofits imperfections. Thirdly
because it is consistent with all right principles
lof legislation, being based on the general vel
fare; and in harmony with the fundamental
law, as is evident from the fact that it has Of
ten, nay, alt0ays existed in some degree, as in
the case of minors, Indians and inebriates, and
IN many townships of this State altogether, un-
der the old Constitution. And finally, because il
has received the seal of popular appreciation.
1t was a prominent issue in the canvass oi
1854, was extensively discussed throughout
the State, and was demanded by the people by
"a majority of more than 10000 ve eS. And
this last reason renders any formal exposition
ofits principles, or labored defense Of its pro-
lpriety unnecessary in this place. --..
In accordance with the clearly, expressed
will of the people, the legislature Of the State,
tits last session, passed such law as in their
wisdom was deemed judicous, constitutional
and efficient, and the law so passed received
the sanction of the Governor, and was hailed
with shouts of Joy all over the State you well
Ir,memberi Bonfires, illuminations, congratu-
Iatory speeches and every proper expression
of gladness testified to the deep, earnest and
general satisfaction with which it was received
On the 18th day ofJune, the time fixed for the
act to take effect, large and enthusiastic meet
lngs were held in nearly every county. Per-
haps it is not extravagent to say, that larger
number Of the people of the State never gather
ed together in one day. to celebrate any civil
event, than met to inaugerate the best prohibit
tory law ever enacted. And, indeed, it was
an event worthy of this interest, for on that
day was consummated the legal deliverance of
Indiana from the bondage of Rum-a tyrant
more exacting, more oppressive, more cruel
than George of England, against whom our
fathers rose in arms. And well did the records
ofthe next three months justify the confident
hopes INDUCED of the mighty benefits which
would mark the operations of the law. The
Rum shops were closed. and the prisons were
opened; drunkenness fed from the crowded
streets and the light of day, and was TO be seen
only when skulking in secret places, and under
cover of the night; the Prince of Darkness was
affrighted for his throne, while good men look
ed on with smiles of joy. l * tco s7sF3
But in the midst ofall this JOY, there came
an ominous whisper of woe. The ever busy
tongue of rnmor said the law would not be |
permitted to finish the work it had so well
begun; that the mandate ofthe Supreme ju- |
dietary would arrest itin its course. But this
was deemed an idle tale, unworthy ofcredt |
" hat! would men with heads to think and
hearts to feel, interpose to stay this cleansing
tide, to roll it back, and open again the food
gates of drunkenness, and bid its polluted, |
damning waves again sweep over the land!-l
What would men honOred with the most res |
ponsible station in the State, soil the purity |
of the ermine ofjustice, purchase to themselves
the curses of heart-broken wives, and worse
than orphaned children, sacrifice the success
of partyfthrough the votes of the rumseller !
and his sateltes- So rumor said, but she was
not believed. But still the report gathered
strength and consistency, 1T assumed an airo
authority, it even presumed to indicate the
position of each of the judges. And then good
men began to fear, as the evil disposed, gath
cred confidence, that it might not be wellin
the issue. And at last that issue came, first
the premontoryr voice of single judge and
then the decision of the bench, and our worst |
fears were realized! Again were therum shops !
opened, again die drunkenness and crime
stalk forth in the land, and again did tears
and blood go up to heaven as testimony
against the selfshness and depra7ity of man.
We will not affect to conceal our mortifca-
tior at the decision of our Supreme Court, and
especially of that part of the Court which pro-
nounced against the whole law. But we will
not use inyectiye against, nor setin. judgment
on the motives of those who made the decis-
ion. 1t may be sense Of duty inpeIled them
to an act fraught with so much evil to the
State. The reasons assigned for their course
may be satisfactory to themselves, but they
are far from being so to the body of the peo-
pie. They appear to have been sought afterl
with great industry, as means OF Justfylng
a course which was predetermined. We can
not read the mastery defence of prohibition
by one of the Judges, fortified as it is by the
history of the State and Nation, as well as by
the heretofore uninterrupted course Of decis-
ions of our own Supreme bench. without feel
ing that precedent and principle have both
been disregarded. We cannot consider the
Icogent reasoning in favor Of the law in all its
parts produced by another, of these Judges,
without believing that it would have been
fully sustained, if all had been as anxious to
do so, as to find matter of fault therein. arcs
But they have made their decision, and our
only appeal from them is to the people, the ul-
innate tribunal in a republican government,
and from whose judgement we have nothing
to fear. AS the friends oftemperance we have
met in Convention, and resolved that we are
lin favor of the principles of the late law, the
principles which you soemphatically so endorse q
at the last election of Legislature. We are
not blindly attached to the form Of words in
which that statute is fromed, but are ready to
consent to any modification which experience
lshall suggest as advisable; but we will consent
to no alteration which willimpair its essential
principles. We are not anxious for the sue