Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-01-15

quent events have developed nothing to
induce me to change the views which were
then expressed
The constitutional right of the Legisla-
ture 10 make laws for regulating the traffic
IN Intoxicating drinks, for resllaing and
Furnishing the vice of drunkenness. has ex.
listed, sanctioned by judicial authority, from
tie organization of the government to the
present time. The making of such laws,
however, requires the exercise of great
degree of prudence. 1.-THE laws he too
weak, they will become worthless and fall
into contempt before the successful resist
ance Of those who may undertake to violate
them with strong arm. On the other
hand, If they are too severe. they cannot
be enforced in communities whore they
may be regarded, by The prevailing popular
sentiment, as oppressive in,erierences with
personal rights and domes ic privileges.
The unwise policy Of making laws which,
! owing 10 the state of public opinion, cannot
be carried into effect. viii always afford
grounds Of JUS iiica,ion, or excuse. for an
inefficient or weak administia ion of The
best laws. There should be no dead letter
laws among our statutes.
A great increase of The number of places
at which intoxicating liluors are sold, and
lamentablc increase OF the evils which
grow out of the vice Of drunkenness. are
matters which you who are charged with
the duty of guarding The interests and pro-
noting the welfare Of the State, cannot
overlook or neglect. Although we may,
in many places. see the evidences of re-
action in public sentiment, apparently un
favorable TO the cause of temperance; vet
we will fall into a most injurious error, with
respect to public opinion in Indiana. if We
conclude. from these evidences. that the
people Of the State do net require some
sound and efectual regulation to check and
restrain the growth of those numerous and
destructive evils, vices, and crimes, which
afflicts every community where the laws
impose neither punishmen,s nor restraints
upon diunkards, nor upon those who con.
stantly hold out inducements, which tempt
agitation and discussion of this subject, BY
the people of the several counties, if neces-
sarily connected with the selection of coun-
ty commissioners clothed with ample DOW
er to restrain and regulate the traflc of in
toxicating liquors, is worthy OF your spec
ial consideration. Whatever differences
of opinion may have been. heretofore, en-
tertained on tbs subject, no man can shut
his eyes to the fact, hat. throughout our
State, numerous places have been opened,
o: established for tie unrestrained sale Of
spirituous liquors, in which the young and
unwary have been decoycd TO contract
tastes and habits which the resolves of a
subsequent. lie cannot control, if they have
not already, entered upon The courses of
dissipation and vices.
1t is, imperatively, TIE duty of the Leg
islature, in the exercise of a wise discretion
70 enact some constitutional law, in accor-
dance with public sentiment, of sufficient
stringency to restrain and suppress this
growing evil; and doubt not This subject
viii receive, ut your hands, such consider
ton as is importance requires.
! On review Of the late elections, it i
apparent to all. that orr laws have failed to
preserve the purity of the ballot box While
there is difference. in regard to the prop
er remedy, an efor! to direct public SEMI
ment in favor Of a registration Of voters
Bat the practical workings Of registry laws
in o:her States, have failed 10 convince NE
of the a.lapiion of such laws TO community.
The officer making the registry is as liable
to be imposed upon as the judges Of our
elections and rs wide field for frrud and
corruption would be opened, as exists under
| the present system.
(Concludea merit ,reek