Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-11-03
Original 4ager,
For the Yorkville Enquirer.

THE RETAIL LICENSE LIQUOR
LAW OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
To the Senator and Representatives of the
people Of York District, in the Lcgislo-
ture Of South Carolina, to sit an Cozum.
bia IN 1850:
GENTLEMEN Il find in the newspapers,
that the Grand Jury of Richland district,
in their Presentment made to the Court Of
Sessions at this fall term, recommend othe
repeal of the law authorizing distillers to
vend spurious liquors, in quantities of 8
quart and upwards, without license" And
they "recommend the entire abolition of the
liquor traffic with slaves" in every sense Of
the thing.
Upon these matters, gentlemen, you doubt,
less will be called on in the ensuing Legis-
lature to cast your votes; and whether you
will then and there proceed as Statesmen,
or as Politicians, I connot tell; but upon
these questions to be propouuded then and
there for your decision, 81 also will give my
opinion"
I. Shall distiliers of spirituos liquors,
have power under the civil law to sell ct re-
tail their spirituous Liquors, sin quantities
of quart and upwards without license ?"
To this I answer, No. l. Because the
present law bears unequally on citizens of
our Commonwealth, having equal claims on
the protection of the law in this matter
Under the present law, distilers may sell at
retail, spurious liquors of their own distil-
ling "one quart aud upwards" without
their paying one cent of tax into the treasu-
ry of the State for the support of Govern
meut; whilst licensed houses of retail do
pay tax for their liberty to sell the same
of purchased liquors. Again. Distillers
may, and doubtless many do evade this law,
in their selling purchased liquors under
pretence of domestic mandatory, without
tax to the detriment of the taxed or liucen-
sed houses, without the chances of detection
of their fraud. Besides, distilers may sell
their liquors under the present law, Gin
quantities of quart and upwards" in de-
fance of the will of the majority of the peo-
pie of district whilst other citizens are by
law denied this privilege without the peo-
ple's leave, and this expressed by will of
Commissioners in district, and at the bal
lot box in corporate towns
2. Because the reason for the present law
has no existence now. When this law was
passed, it was intended for the benefit of
agriculturists who are exclusively grain pro-
ducers and fruit growers; and at time
when the marketing of these to great dis
tance consumed the value of large part of
the product, in an expensive mode of trans
portation by road-waggous, and by horse
power. To compensate producers of this
class, they were allowed by law without ex-
pense, to sell at retail in home market,
the product of their farms, transmitted into
spirituous liquors. Now our State is pene-
trated in every part by Rail roads, having
depots within the reach of every farmer in
the State, and to transport every kind of
produce at prices which all producers can
afford to pay, to foreign markets. Or, if
such producers choose to sell at home, there
are market towns on every line of roads,
where market value can be had for every
kind of produce. Therefore, this protection
of the law, for the benefit of distillers ought
to be removed.
8. Because abuses constantly have been
made of this protection of the law. Men
who are not agriculturists, do purchase grain
and fruits at home, and manufacture these
into spirituous liquors, and under the pro-
lection of the present law do sell their IL
quors at retail without license, contrary to
the true land meaning of this law, with
out the chances of rebuke.
4. Because distillers who are retailers of
their spirituous liquors do demand and take
large prices for their labors, and contribute
nothing to the stock of public wealth. One
bushel of corn by distillation can be made
to yield two gallons and half or more of
spirits; and when somewhat diluted with
simple water, yields three gallons or more Of
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