The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1858-11-20
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Obtaining Idoanse 70 Petal


Mr.. EDITOR The immense damage
done to society by the traffic in, and use
Of, ardent spirits, is felt and admitted by
all, and ought TO interest every well-wish-
er of his species. The thousands of dis
tressed families, the broken-hearted wives,
the children raised up in poverty, igno-
rance and vice-the murders, fghtings.
thetts, blasphemy and wickedness Of every
kind traceable directly to its influence.
and within the knowledge of every one.
presents gloomy catalogue of evil, and
evil only, sufficient to appal the heart of
the patriot and philanthropist, and rouse
them to action in the use of all lawful
and proper means to stay its desolating
| march
The purpose of this brief communica-
ton is to call attention to an imperfection
IN our present law, prescribing the mode
OF obtaining license for doggeries. 1t was
maniiestly the intention of the law to
submit the question, "doggery or no dog
gerry, III good faith, to the qualified voters
OF each incorporated town, beat, &c. but
lis provisions are not such as to insure a
ialr expression Of opinion; and under
their operation, the applicant for license
can frequently 'steal march," as the
saying goes, and obtain his license by
'snapjudgment." The statute. CRevised
Code, p. l97-l9S,) prescribe-, in substance,
that the applicant shall file his petition.
signed by a majority of the legal voters
within the town or Police District where
such liquors are intended to be sold; and
all such petitions shall lie over for consid-
Grafton, and the presentation of counter
petitions before acted on, dc.
Now, the omission in the terms and
provisions Of this statute in order to Sc
cure fair expression of opinion on the
part Of the qualified voters, consists in the
fact that, no sufficient notice is required
to be given to the opponents of doggerie-,
that such an application has been fled
| The application Of the aspirant for dog
gerry honors, may be on file in the Clerk
office, and nobody especially if the Clerk
Is in favor Of doggeries,) may know it,
until the month which it is required to lay
over, is nearly or quite expired. 1t is
then too late, or nobody feels sufficient in.
teIest in the matter to take his horse and
canvass the district to procure signers tc
a contemplation. The consequence IS
that the intended doggery-man, who j,
always on the alert, and can afford to pay
a man to ride for him, may procure hi.
license by a minority vote of those who
have the privilege Of granting or with
holding it.
This thing ought to be remedied, ane
the law ought to be 50 worded as to in
sure the carrying-out Of its obvious pur
pose--a fair expression of the will Of tn,
qualified voters on the question of "dog
gerry or no doggery' | would, therefore
beg leave to suggest through your col
/, nmns, that the Legislature now in session
50 amend the statute a. that the Clerk
, on the reception Of petition for grant
! | ing license be required to give public nc
g tice of the same, either through a new,
: | paper, or 10y posting the application con
; | spicuously in his office, with the names q
c the signers annexed in order that thos
7 | opposed. 10 the granting Of license ma
have fair opportunity of opposing it
Q This being done, nobody will have III
i | right to complain when license is obtair
IA ed, for the thing will have been done fan
ly, and where doggery il found, tn
presumption will be legitimate that m;
iority Of the soyereigns are in favor {
"Sperits," and opposed to
TEMPERANCE.