The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1862-03-20
Dcs Moincs, March 10.
Mr.. Wietlnr.

would 10 something for their special
benefit. TO prove the way for the in
PRODUCTION Of the charges, they so much
coyet in the ohibitory law on our
statute book, they caused petitions to
be circulated and numerous signatures
to he obtained in many Of the popnlous
sections and the Mississippi River
Cities, most significantly praying for
license act, authorizing the sale of in
toxicating drinks in those localities in
which public sentiment is averse to the
enforcement Of the existing laws. Con
scious that their entreaties would re-
ceiyc no attention, if based on the old
arguments, which in former years con
stitutcd the offensive armor of the
champions Of whiskey, they hypocri,i
cally pretended that love of temper
ancc and good order impcls them to
seek relief from All evil, which they
solemnly aver is spreading ruin and
havoc in society. drunkenness and its
attendant vices, they insist, are rapidly
OH the increase IN those sections, where
the moral sentiment Of the people will
not tolerate the execution Of the pro
visions Of the liquor law. They in
siduously demand, as protcctionagainsl
the alleged progress of dissipation,
4 revival Of the long exploded theory,
which sanctioned the vending Of those
poisonous beverages, that in past ages
melted hroiis, ,io,s and produced mur-
dcrs ana hcinous crimes, which darkcn
their ANNALS, on the ground that there
by the welfare Of the community MAS
promoted. Like wolves in sleeps
clothing, they thought TO enter the tenn
perance fold and accomplish what, they
know impossible, without disguise
Their sycophantic pretenccs were too
patent 10 deceive the friends Of the
prohibitory law, under the latter pro-
pose to pass All act, which has already
gone through the Senate, directing the
issuance Of search warrant to examine
the premises OF any one suspected Of
concealins or clandestinely selling ar
dent spirits, OH the affidavit of one per
son. Tic statute now requires three
citizens 10 make oath that they suspect
an individual ct violating the law in this
way. II this act becomes the law one
brave man may thus arraign and ex-
pose score Of villains, when he could
not by the most earnest solicitations
elicit two others to aid him in the efforts
to crush the minions Of alcohol. To
facilitate prosecutions of this character,
jurisdiction will be given by the Llll TO
County Courts to try parties in any par:
Of tic County, accused Of iniractions
upon this law and the statutes to which
it is amendatory. 1t will also arrest all
vendors Of liquor. as for medicines and
mechanical purposes, who all over Iowa
in direct violation Of their permit have
secretly sold to ineb:iatcs and tipplers
The House will, with great unaninity,
endorse this measure. Another bill
passed the Senate on Tuesday Of last
week, Which enables tho wife, or any
member Of the family Of drunkard TO
sue and receive heavy damages against
the liquor sellers 1t takes away many
of the exemptions from execution, al
lowed defendants in their actions. Elk.
cept the homestead and provisions for
his family, as punishment for this in
ext disable crime against humanity and
enduring wrongs to innocent women
and children, this law will strip the
offender Of all his goods and chattlcs
when enforced. Thus the license law
men instead Of acquiring the privileges
desired are likely to fall under much
more severe penalties than II they had
kept sealed lips and rcfrained from
agitating the question.
The rumsellers are not alone in their
trials and tribulations. Another species
Of beings far more respectable and Of
much greater value and service to the
human race, will be most unkindly used
BY this Legislature. The dogs have
had their day in the Hawkeye State,
and it would seem that the whole family
CANNES are about to be exterminated.
More petitions than six-mule team
could haul were presented and read
in the first month Of the session, all
beseeching protection for sheep against
the ravages Of dogs. Several were
directed to your correspondent, and to
crafty his constituents who signed the
same, he drew and introduced a bill in
the Senate providing moderate tax on
all dogs. It was referred to the Com.