The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1859-08-17

The Liquor Law.


1850, was evidently much aroused ss to
The emergency for legislating sound and
con stitutional liquor law for the people OF
Indisns. We had been fettered with the
laws Of 1859 and So and heit in suspense
as regarded the conslitotionsiity Of the lat
ter, until by . decision from The fountain
head Of jurisprudence OF this State, ls', in
case Of Beebe vs. The State, when The Court
vas divided upon the portion OF the law in
hibiting The retail Of liquors. and I'd. in case
Of Howe vs. State, 10Th Of June, 1855. when
the law wss finally annuIlcd. and unani-
Imously pronounced void. wish here, "par
psrenthesis,' to remark that am neither
the champion Of those who sell ardent spir-
its, nor Of those opposed to the traffic. On
that point hold precisely The views, which.
as democrat, do on the negro question,
viz /: TO let il alone" We are free agents.
God has given Us the goods Of the earth. as
The noblest being, 10 partake thereof; and il
appears 10 me 10 be simply foolish and un-
wise. TO attempt by legislation 10 restrain
the tastes OF our citizens. and by statute en-
acted burl forth the cdict, "Tnis much you
stall drink or eat-no more" / ask the
simple question, Would il not be far more
diplomatic TO allow each individual compos-
ing the State TO use his free will concerning
wha; liquor he shall drink. and just how
mrch Of il! The people, en- masse, is tho
best judge at least on ,iis point.
To restrain the liquor drinker. BY wha,ev-
er law you msy-it may be written in blood
yet the craving for s:in.ulsnt will and
must be satisfied, a. ell hazards, aye, even
at the cost Of life itself. He will have it
and no law, however stern and harsh, and
how extensive may De i,s penalty, can ef-
fectuaIy curb him-uniess, indeed, there be
. lsw nt 70 allow liquor 10 come 10 or be
made 10 he State. which would be truly an
ssensly 10 ~ehisxy IeeisIs,Ion." !" go would
suspaes 81 that OR ''wise soions" hsve pro-
dured from lteir fertile brains heretofose.-
Everything. save life aud death, in this
world Fests wah the nan. He can make or
mar himself. tn --fre. lri the man O.,
what he VII crlns. aud how, and when, anc
where be 81 a dnnk ii--uct the Legislature.
II We are q free country. why. then allow
% 70 art freely in This. snd not BY unwisc
legis istion actusis force men TO tricks and
msnr 10 o6'rir ;h,I which. possibly
but :.r i-w. scp'd have Obtained at
my time. and, IN. seiore, would not have
cared 50 mach about.
i say.sI that our present law on this mat
Ter of liquor il bid and rotten. Hurried
through ;hs y -. al rs close, IL has
been given +, M. -a,i ss the law OF The
lind. with az 4. in.i ris lions. /, cones TO
vs. with no protection. Lo sure gusrd for
either the seller or the consumer. Il allows
every man or woman 10 sell over Z quart
without license, but directs that the retail
q shall pay $50 for the privilege Of selling
under that denomination. II tells Us that
malt beverage is intoxicating quor-snd
places the fluid produced from harley upon
The same footing with that distilled from corn
rye, &c. The retailer must either ask here
alter every youthful man bis age, or must
keep sufiicient poll book on bis counter,
properly indexed, with references. &c, to-
know 10 whom he sells, 10 avoid the legisla-
live trap set for him. You shall not retail
on Sunday, and yet there il no penalty at
lached for 50 doing. In hard terms, you are
incd for selling sduIterated liquor; to avoid
ioing 50 every retailer must keep in bis en-
ploy an anaIyzer, 10 prove every barrel in
bic possession before he opens il for thu use
of his business, Or suffer the consequences.
In one word, does this law protect the re-
taller, when any one can sell provided he
ioes not do 50 in less quantities than quart
VIII il not drive men 10 purchase BY the bar
rel, when heretofore they only bought il a.
vas actually required for moderate consump-
oni Does il not in the abstract give every
man % disposed the power 70 carry grocery
light into The bosom Of bic immediate family.
,rd possibly cause men who were before
moderate 10 their desires to become immod-
,ratel The law. except in three cases, does
y, deprive any one Of the right 10 give away
ls much liquor ssh he may feel disposed 10 do.