Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1857-07-03
PICKER FOR PROHIBITION.
HIS FRIENDS GETTING OUT OF
THE PAN INTO THE FIRE.

THE Pan INTO THE FIRE.
FOR the last two weeks we have boen ex-
posing TO our readers the true position OF
GENERAL PACKER on the question of Pro-
bibiton. We have shown by the Journals
Of the Senate that in 1851 he voted against
l'rohibitory liquor law for Washington
County, not because he was opposed to the
principle of prohibition, but bfcaase the ta'c
was not general IN its application ousr the
.rhele State. We have also proved by the
same authority that in 1852 he advocated
and voted for most stringent prohlhitory
law for the whole State. We expected
these deyeopements to produce some Hut
rering and alarm in the camp Of the oppo-
si,iop: and have been waiting with some
curiosity to see what effort would be made,
IT any, to explain away the records We pro-
dueed. or to extricate the Democratic can
sidnte for Governor from the dilemma III
which he is placed by publication OF the
truth. Finding it rather an uphill busi-
ness to lie any longer. right in the face OF
the Journals Of the Senate, anetEGr false
hood is started, which it is vainly hoped
may answer the purpose in this desperate
emergency The Gazette, and other papers
now assert, that sren if Packe' dad rOte for
prohibition as alleged, he at The sane time
pofed for submitting the question to vote
offhe people Whether or moi ii should become
a Iau. If this were the true state of the
ease. it might be worth something; but we
nositively affirm that this excuse is not only
untrue, but directly contrary 10 the truth
We ufirm, aud will prove BY the record,
that Genl. Packer moved aud voted to
strike cut that section of the bill which sub
auitted the question of the adoption of the
law to popular vote; and had it stricken
out, and another section inserted of very
different character. We appeal again to
the Journal of the Senate.
The 10Th and last section of the bill was
us follows:
"Section l5. That the qualified voters OF
the city Of Philadelphia and the several coun-
ties of this commonwealth, shall, on the Sec
ond Tuesday of October next, at the place now
authorized by law for holding the several cleo
tions, roie upon the acceptance rejection oJ
this act, by written printed tickets cont Eing
on the outside the words s'liquor law,'' and on
the inside tine words sfor .he law or the words
against the law and the returns of the vot c,
shall be made in the manner provided by law
tor the election of Governor and the Seer ets
N Of the Commonwealth shall transmit III,
said returns to the Speaker of the Senate on
the second Thursday of January, and on said
day the two Houses shall meet in Cow vention
when said votes shall be counted, and tru,
record thereof entered on the journal of eacl
Heuse; and if a majority Of said votes shall b,
iu favor Of the law tken shiS set shall go inf
fail force and effect at the time therein inen
toned; but If najority of votes shall b.
against the law then this act shall be null ant
ol no effect whatever. Proridei that the said
election shall be held under existing election
laws, and br election officers authorized Il
hold hi General Election in October next
and that the County Commissioners OF the sew
eral Counties shall furnish ballot boxes. bani
forms, and all things necessary for conductin
said elections.
On the 23a March, and when the bi
was on second reading, this Is section cau
M, and on call OF the Yeas and Nays
was passed by vote Of q yeas to 9 nay
PACKER voting yea. See Senate Journl
of 1852. vol. l. page 534. Here GENEr
AL Packers friends stop, and boldly pr,
claim that be voted for submitting the que
ton of the acceptance of the law 10 70
of the people. They no doubt desire US
stop here also; but We prefer 10 60 a lit
further and show up ''the scIole truth, al
nothing but the truth"
On the 30;h of March the Bill came
on its final passage, aud on the ques,io,
I've here quote literally from the Journal
"Shall the Bill pass 4"
A motion was made by Mr. PACKE
and Mr.. Carothers. that the Senate aga
resolve itself into Conmit,ee of the who
for the purpose Of amending the fifteen
section, SO as 10 read as follows, viz:
''Section Is. That in order TO ascertain t
opinion of the pe9yle ef this Commsuweali
relative 10 Tie Yeae6i Of tbs act, the qnagifi
Oters OF the Guy ofPhilaielFhia, and the sc
eral coGhties Of ,his Comm nwealtt, shall.
the second fuesday Of October usxt, at I