The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-03-13

alcoholic liquors to be used as a beverage,
from what source do governments derive
their power to say how many aud what
kind OF men shall engage in the business
We admit the authority of government 70
tax the trafhcer in such liquors, oD the
same principle that it taxes the agrieul1
turlst, the merchant and the manufacturer.
But has 1t the power to compel the farmer
to 60 annually to some public fuuctionarT
and take out license for his occupation
before be is privileged to pillow his ground,
SOW his seed and harvest his crop? Has
IL the right to say that none but 'fmed
of good repute for honesty and temper1
ance' shall follow the business of tillina
the earth Has it the right to prevent
the merchant from trading in usefnl com:
lnodties unless he shall first obtain legal
permit to do so 4? Has it the right to say
who shall be merchant, and that no mors
than a specified number of stores shall be-
allowed to a given amount of population I
We are aware that our storekeepers are
made to pay what il called ''HceHse" for
vending foreign and domestic merchands
lse, but they are not forced to obtain such
license before they can commence business
nor are they liable to fine or Imprisonment
for going on in their business without it.
1t amounts to nothing more than tax,
which is levied and collected like other
taxes on professions and trades. Has the
Legislature the power to prohibit the
manufacture of shoes by all except such
as have a statute license to follow the
business ? And has it the right TO pre-
scribe the character and number of shoos
makers in a town, borough, or city II
1t has not the right to interfere with, and
arrest human industry III every case where
it is not presented under special govern
mental permission, on what authority or
pri0e ple does it limlt the number of re-
tailers of intoxicating drinks, and force
each one to procure license for his busi-
ness before be engages in it9 Are not
these legal distinctions between the call.
ing Of the spirit-vender aud that Of other
people, made on the ground that his spermit
to traffic in liquors rests on no natural;
moral or political right; but exclusively
on special legislative fav0r-a faVof
which we think has been wrongfully and
unconstitutionally granted, and winch
ought TO be Immediately withdrawn aud
forever prohibited to all, as it is now pro:
hibted to ninety-uine out of hundred
Of our citizens. The right to forbid any
class of our people to pursue the businsSsy
carries with it the right to prohibit it
altogether. The danger of opening the
traffic to all, show the danger and absurds
ity Of intrusting it to any.
What We complain of is that the retailer
Of intoxicating drinks enjoys special priv
ilege5, under cover of which he seeks his
own private emolument, to the manifest
injury ofthe public welfare. Unlike other
citizens, he can iuhlotincaleulable damage
upon society, without beirg held respou-
sible. He makes mcuey by dealing dess
.ructiou around him, aud the statute gives
him az exclusive right to the work of ruin
in his neighborhoQd This we regard as
4 sad perversion Of the powers of gQVeFa.
ment BY his law authorized occupation,
be can instigate men to the com missioH
Of the most horrid outrages aRd the mort
enormites. Fl can make wid-
ows, aud orphans, and paupers, and feioDs,
With impunity. He can make rich med
destitute, wise men fools, respectable ner
.oafers, good men bad, aud bad men
worse, without check or biDdrance. he
can levy rum. .pauper tax, aud compel
people who never drink run to pay ii. He
can levy q rum criminal tax and force
sober men and women to bear this unnats
1ral aud cruel burden. He Is permitted
oy law to take moGey for poisonous and
article, while for much less
)ffence, the provision dealer is indicted
.nd punished. For sordid gain he may
nfuriate his customers with drink, until
hey commit itassault and batteries .lareenies
aud murders but unlike other criminaIs
be escapes, while the law inflcts its ven-
zeanoe on the poor dupe Of his guilty
traffic. This we regard az a fagrAns
wrong and a clariug absurdity it is over
ooking a cause. and striking u cogardly
and useless blow at an effect ii is letting
the principal 90, and punishes the agent.
1t not unfrequently happens that tho
hlmselfis called TO sit upon tho
yery jury which is empanneled TO try ono
Of his own victims for a crime committed
under the maddaDing inference of hIs
liquor What . scene to be enacted ID
the sacred name of justice In our
opinion there would be little violation of
righteous principle in compelling such .
Juror to caange places With the crimiu'l
At the bar. But what renders such tria .
a still greare er farce. is the re7oltine fa {
that the same court who sits in judgm &C
DO the wretchel rum-made culprit, gra1ts
a license to the rum-seIler to pursue big
ieworalizjug vocation. Can such tli"gs
De aud not excite our special Wvudrf
L