The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-11-24
The Maine LIQUOR Law.

In revising our Statutes, will not the Legs
lature attempt to repeal or amend tho present
law regulating or restricting the sale Of ardent
spirits, commonly called the Maine Liquor
Law.
1t would seem. that for many and good
reasons, q change In this law is needed, and the
real friends of temperance should come forward
and demand an alteration of the law. A very
Slight observation will convince us that this law,
IN great part of the State, has but little effect
for good, and is productive of much evil. The
law is not enforced, it does but little 10 dimln-
ISL the sale of ardent spirits, it entails heavy
expense upon the community, which in these
times of war and heavy taxes, we can hardly at
E, ford to bear, and mos. pernlcious lesson is
taught the community, that laws may be en-
acted and violated with impunity, and perver-
ted to purposes of speculation and public gain
This law provides that commissioner is to be
chosen by the people for each County in the
State, and he, of course, is to be paid for h's
services. The extravaganza Of some of these
officers in tn cir charges, rendered it necessary
for the Legislature to pass an act limiting the
charges OF each one TO sum not exceeding
thirty dollars for each year. Sappoging these
gentlemen charge up to this limit, We pay them
annually, $3.50 for their services By co!us.
sion with liquor dealers, and sales OF licences for
the different t0whs, we have good reason to ap-
| Il, & . E
and guardian OF the public morals, really re-
ceive double or treble the amCont OF their le-
climate salaries The State is alec subjected
to heavy expenses by prosecutions (moSt Of
which fail 0! securing conylcslon,) for viola,
tons OF this law. These losses and expenses
should be cteerluly borne if HE law was pro-
pendllurts arc certainly worth saving in the pres
ent state of the public ami private finances.
For some years past in many. il not all the
COUNTIES in the State, commissioners are chosen
who are opposed to the law or al least indiGer-
ent TO its strict execution. The clicc of town
agent o' selllng spirits is found to be bnrthcn-
0~N~ @AN RPiS onlFo W tiNhc WHO WOulI HUHt5t-
y and firmly execute tho law, and sell in those
cases only which the law intended Such men
now generally decline accepting the appoint
ment. In the lneantine the Office is eagerly
sought for by men who are jealous for the
'' strongest sympathy" Of allowing men to
regulate their own appstItcs and indugencies
as they please ; or men Of auch easy virtue as
to think it their duty to sell to all who call for
liquor, and have the means to pay for it.
The law from these abuses, ceases to COM
mand the respect OF the people, and 10 regarded
only as making an odious onoYoy of profit
able traffic. Unlicensed men sell i'm almost every
village, and the public sentiment tolera,es it.
If fragrant instance of drunkenness occurs,
and an inquiry is attempted, no enc can tell
where the besotted wretch got his liquor
whether from the licensed agent, or from other
sources In most cases the victim wiki affirm
that he got it of the town agent, and the town
agent will excuse himself by saying he was de-
ceived hence prosecutions commonly fail, and
heavy bills of cost are brought upon the pros
ecu,ing authorities.
But it may be asked, Do you propose to leave
the traffic open and uni estrlcted to all who may
choose to engage in it? By no means. Let a
law be passed allowing the towns, or the county
courts to license one individual in town. or
a certain number 10 each county, to sell ardent
spirits, requiring each person who obtains sneh
a license to pay a large sum for his license, and
regulating the times and manner of such sales,
and inacting heavy penalties on all who sell
without a license, OK contrary to the provisions
of the law The person who obtains such a
license will have an interest in driving out all
unlicensed competitors, and public sentiment.
will sustain him in 80 doing for every one would
say that the individual who had furnished and
paid Tor this privilege, should be protected in bis
right. This will at once reduce the number Of
grog- shops and we shall have but one where
We now have half a dozen. The price of liquor
will be enhanced by the license, and the con.
sumption of it of course reduced. IT the slave
OF this disgusting appetite wants his dram let
him have it, but let him pay for it and cay to
him,
Drink and be mad then -
" The esicse is fatten.d by the rich result,
"Ol all this riot."----
If by such mobilization of the law, exchang-
ing an attempted prohibition for licensing, we