Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-03-18
Tax Licenses to Sell Liquor.

bhhEhSBUR1S MISS, Jdu ~ 1000.
Hon. GEORGE S. BoUTwELL,-D SIR
Having become of late very much alarmed al
the recent lifting of the food gates of inteni-
perance and rum in our glorious old common
wealth, feel constrained to inquire of you
directly; First. If the new United States ex-
else law is designed to override in its appli-
cation the law of any state which has been
decided by the highest legal authority to be q
constitutional law2 Second If it is not so
designed, why are the district and deputy col
lectors of the excise duties authorized or al.
lowed to issue to any and every applicant
license to vend intoxicating liquors contrary
to and in violation Of our prohibitory state
law, and thus at once to undo the glorious
work which has cost forty years struggle
with the demon OF intemperance? Why, sir,
if the government needs money-beyond its
appropriate means of obtaining-to crush like
a moth this wicked rebellion, and to secure
the blessings of civil and religious liberty as
an nheritance-as a birthright to every man,
of every class, in all our land-then let onr
last cow be sold; take the furniture from our
homes; take the bed from beneath us
but leave to us children uncontaminated
by the terrible poisons aud vices of intemper-
ance. In my own town within a few days,
one or more has been thus licensed. Better
of hydrophobia in our community. deputy
collector i'll adjacent town told me only last
Saturday that he had already delivered the Ii
cense papers to six persons in one small town
in his district to sell Intoxicating liquors. l
had supposed that the law lcaS not intended to
raise a revenue by granting licenses to sell
rum, &C., in those states where such sale is
prohibited by statute law. If my supposition
is correct, then as a parent, as a citizen, and
as a christian minister, most solemnly re-
monstrate; indeed | protest in the name OF
God, in the name of the commonwealth of
Massachusetts, and in the name of the rising
generation, against the granting of these Ii
censes, and the pouring over us this terrible
flood of ruin which must inevitably follow.
hope you will not regard me as imperti-
nent or obtrusive, but that you will find it both
convenient snd agreeable to communicate to
me in some way, an answer to the above in
quiries. Yours very respectfully,
SAMUEL A. CUSHING.
To Hon. GEORGE S. boutwell,, Commission
er of Internal Revenue.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
OFKICE OF INTERNAL REVENUE
Washington, February I'd, 1863.
SIR Your letter of the 9th ult., has been
received. In reply, have to say, that there
is nothing in the excise law which can be con-
strued into legalizing the sale of liquor in
states where such sale is forbidden by law.
Moreover, it contains an express provision to
the contrary. See Section No. CT of the ex-
else law, which reads as follows -
''And be it further enacted, that no license
hereinbefore provided for, if granted, shall be
construed to authorize the commencement or
continuation of any trade, business, occupa-
ton, or employment therein mentioned, with
in any state or territory" &c.
The government has no design to specially
legalize the sale of liquors by issuing licen-
SEES. Dealers in liquor are expected to pay a
heavier tax than dealers in other articles.
The way in which these dealers can be reached
most easily, is by requiring them to take Ii
censes. The license itself, is, in fact, mere
receipt for the money paid into the United
States treasury it does not protect them from
penalties enacted by state law, nor does it.,
especially legalize the traffic; but it exacts
from the dealer In liquor certain amount of
his profits, and, to certain extent, restraints
the sale of liquor by this means.
Very respectfully,
GEO. S. Boutwell,, Commissioner.
To Rev. SAMUEL A. CUSHING, Shrewsbury,
Mass.