New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-20


an act regulating and restricting the Sale Of Into1
eating Drinks. As Judge Birdseye has well said,
there is nothing in this act on which the question OF
constitutionalty can be raised, except by contro-
verting the legal force Of all acts ever passed to
regulate the sale of Liquors. This act embodies no
new principle, but Onlynew modes, and guards,
and limitations. 1t is simply a more efficient and
stringent License Law than we have hitherto had;
and if any License act was ever constitutional this
is And we have been gratifed by observing that,
though the Liquor dealers combined 10 defy it are
q large aud influential band, with very heavy sum
in their treasury and abundant ability and inclna'
ton 10 raise more if required, and though they
have in effect advertised that they will pay literally
for legal opinions adverse to the validity of this
law, they have not, down to this hour, been able to
procure such an opinion from any quarter that even
they deem respectable and influential. Practically,
therefore, the validity of this act is conceded with
the consequent obligation resting on every citizen
of our State to obey and uphold it.
Yet there are at this hour at least Ten
Thousand tipping houses Of various grades in
operation throughout our State, a majority Of them
in and about this city. The law says that no one
shall sell Alcoholic Beverages in our State without
license; yet these men persist in selling, most of
them without even asking for license and
considerable number in full view of the fact that
they may have one for the asking The law
says that no such liquors shall be sold on the
Sabbath; yet most of these aw.defers persist in
selling on that day the same as on others.
Broadway is half lighted every Sabbath evening by
these tipping shops; while Cherry street, the
Five Points, the Hook, &C., fairly blaze with
them We respectfully suggesttoth the cergymen OF
the Roman Catholic Church especially, that the
multiplicity of tipping houses which are kept open
on the Sabbath by members of their communion,
some of them in the immediate vicinity of their
principal churches, is calculated to deepen
current prejudice against their faith and worship
which does not seem TO stand in need of aggraya-
ton.
Several of our principal hotels and liquor stores
we are informed have made no application for
license. Very good: if they are satisfied with this,
we are. They do not Of course grudge the thirty
dollars: they would cheerfully pay it, rather than
stand in the position of violators Of the law;
but the great mass Of mere grog sellers say them
ave cannot obtain license, so you must not apply
"for it; you must stand or fall with u.s." And
this they consent to do, reluctant to defy they law
but fearing still more the hostility and vengeance
Of their grogshOp allies.
1t needed but this to convince the observing that
rumselng is rumselling whether in palaces or how
els-whether at shilling drink or by the beggarly
tbreepence worth. The genteel grog-selers are
making their own bed, and must not complain if
others insist on their lying in it, They may wish to
shake off the association with the dens of Orange
street or the dance-cellars of the Hook; but they
cannot be permitted to do this at pleasure. The
law It qures all licenses for the year to be granted
within the first fifty days; and those who allow that
time to pass without applying cannot justly com
plain that no further opportunity is allowed them.
If they choose to defy the law rather than pay
thirty dollars the law must settle the account with
them in its own way.