Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-11-10
THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES BILLS.

The statement we made last week
that the Legislature had not passed any
bill of general importance save the re-
peal of law of the previous session IN
reference to the currency, did not do
tull justice to that body of Solons, for
they did pass three very good bills bel
sides the one to which reference was
made, to wit: The bill against gam
bling !; the bill tor the support of the IN
digent families of those in the military
and naval service, and the bill prohib t.
ing the consumption of grain by dlstil-
lers and other manufa cturels OF splrltu-
Gus and malt liquors. The following is
an extract from the last bill mentioned:
sit shall not be lawful for any person hereaf-
til to make, or cause to be made, any Whlskey,
or other Spirltuous or Malt Liquors, out OF any
Corn, Wheat, Rye, or other grain, or out OF drl-
ed Fruit, Potatoes, Sugar, Cane, Molasses Cane,
or Sorghum ;>and any person so offending shaii
be deemed guilty of amisdemeanor, and, upon
conviction thereof, shall be fined for every Oh
fence not less than one hundred dollars, nor
more than five Thousand dollars, and be subject
to imprisonment ut in the county Jail, not exceed
ing twelve months at the discretion OF the court.
No person, firm or company shall execute, IN
whole or in part any contract heretofore or mere
after made with the Confederate Government, or
with any agent of s lid Government, for making,
or causing to be made, any Whiskey or ardent
spirits within this st te and all such contrac-
tors who shall vio.ate this section snail be deem
ed subject to all the penalties imposed by THIS
and other acts against unlawful distilatlon.''
| It will be observed that persons are
not only ,rohibite hereafter to max !,
or cause to be made, any wiiskey, or
other spirituous and n alt liquors, out OF
any corr, wheat, rye or other grain, or
out OF dried fruit, potatoes, su ar, mo-
lasses, sugar cane, molasses cane o. sor-
ghum, but that they are prohibited 10
execute, IN Whole or in part, any contra
h6retofore, or hereafter, made with the
| Confederate Government, or with any
agent of said Government, for making,
or causing to be made, any whlskey or
other ardent spirits within this State !;
and any person so offending shall be
lined, for every offence not less than
500, nor more than $4,000, and be sub
iect to imprisonment in the county Jail,
not exceeding twelve months, at the dis
cretion of the court.
Some persons enormously suppose that
his law violates tEat provision of the
constitution which prohibits the enact
..lent of any law s'impairng the obliga-
ton of contracts" This taw does not
Impair the ''obtigation of contracts" but
merely prohibits the execution Of Ger
tain contracts within this State. The
validity of the contracts is not destroy
ed, but the execution of them, in this
State, is prohibited. The contractors
may execute them in another State
This law does net relieve either of the
contracting parties from any obligations
imposed by their contracts. The Leg
1 islature is competent to pass such a law,
or else this Stale has no power to pro
/ tect itself The Confederate Govern
ment might else have all the grain o.
the State distilled into whiskey. and The
citizens of the State be left to starye.