The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-08-25

| by the present law for the "regulation"
of the same in our State, are found to be
entirely inadequate to the protection of
the people against the abuse of the traffic,
and instead OF being regulated it has
SO regulated" our judges, that they have
10 nearly every instance, by some tech
hical quibble, entirely defeated any good
effects from the present law, except in our
inferior aad local courts occasionally.
In fact, il has so far proved to be a
very bad subject to "regulate," and re-
seiyes itself into this ecnefusion If the
sale is rorong, and an evil, then prohibit
it. IF it is right, and blessing, then re-
move all restrictions and let all have the
full benefit of such blessing.
Your committee are of tire opinion that
Rhi,e our statutes Aith severe penalties
protect the Indian in our forests from the
evil effects of the rum traffic, the white
citizen, our wives, mothers, sons and
daughters are also entitled to Che protec-
tion of the government (of which they are
part) from the ruthless hand of the
! destroyer.
Your committee arc tfot aware that any
of our judges in the former case, ever de-
cided the laws unconstitutional. but in
the latter case, nearly always. But, per-
haGS if we had an Indian upon the bench,
;t9e@he should have an appetite for the
prohibited article, or was particularly am
bilious he might find some constitutional
objections to its PROVISIONS, as we are of
the opinion that the constitution of the
person is more often fnconrenisnced or
violated, than that of the State.
1t seems as though the law making
power wes continually trying to destroy
the effect of the cotuse and fetttEg the
cause remain, and not only remain, But to
legalize it,
Your committee are of The opinion that
the traffic in Intoxicating liquors should
be liable to be treated as Nuisance,
when, in the opinion of the board of
health of any Gown or city, it was Ga
cause of sickness, OF a source of filth, the
same as any other nuisance, and removed
In like manner.
The Hon. Cfsntor Valworth, Police
Justice of the city of Milwaukee, IN writ
ing to friend, says: "Thst at least four
ffths of all the crime committed III that
city, is direetly attributable to the sale Of
Intoxicating litfuors as beverage" or
language to that effect. And as in Mil
waukeej SO in all parts of The State.
And the same ratio will hdld coed, or
be increased, when you look into the
causes which have filled your poor houses
and other charitable institutions.
And we are further of the decided opin-
ion, that the great cause of high and bur-
densome taxation is, directly traceahe to
the rum traft, and Is one Of the effeots
of the CIRCULATED" catse.
And further your committee are of the
opinion that if the subject was properly
understood by the masses of the people in
this State as it really exists, they Hottld
almost UNANIMOUSLY demand that the great
cause of all those evils should be prohib-
tied and those 1ho are nov in the habit
of indulging in paratively harmless
beverages would willingly sacrifice the lit
tie they would be called on to sacrifice,
to accomplish The great good they would
accomplish by this small concession on
their part and thus relieve themselves and
their fellow men from so many curses and
Unnecessary burdens under which they
are now laboring-and we believe that the
rum traffic Is the great mill stone hanging
Upon the necks of the people.
and were your committee to recon-
mend the passage Of law to prohibit the
sale or traffic in Intoxicating liquors as a
beverage at this time they would recon-
mend the following as the title of such
act, to wit: "An act to put stop to
the commission of crime, the manufacture
of paupers, the whipping of wives, the
starving of children, and for the lessening
of taxation"
All of which is respectfully submitted.
GEO. G. SMITH, Gin Conn.,
MADISON, March l4th, 1859.