New-York tribune., 1867-05-03
BOSTON.
THE PRoHIBToEY LIQUOR IAw-THE ATTORNEY
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. COURT REPoRTEB-THE
LATE GEORGE L. STEARNS.
From Our Special Correspondent

yentcn of the two branches of State Legislature
last Friday was the most significant and interesting
nolical event we have had in this State since 1862
If Gov Bullock desired to keep politics quiet
they have been for six years past, he
ought not 10 have created vacancy
in the Office l have named by ap-
pointing the Hon. Chester ]. Reed to the bench of
the Superior Court. The pros and cons on the new
temperance issue Immediately marshaled their
clans The friends of the Prohibitory law with con-
sstency and pluck quite unexpected, by me at least
mt forward their best lawyer and most faithful
man. Robert c. Pitman Of NewBedford. The other
side did NOT. of course meet the issue squarey; to
do that would have been to invite defeat The
great body of them, however, rallied in favor
of Charles Allen ESQ., Reporter of Decisions for the
Supreme Court who had these points in his favor to
Wit he was reckoned good lawyer and faithful
and conscientious upholdcr OF the laws; he had
local and personal following such os no other
man named could present; and he had never held
Office or taken any public position on political CT
temperance questions and so could DO pledged
by bis friends Un both sides OF the
temperance issue without risk OF de-
lection. do not by this mean to imply that MI
Allen himself stood in any doubtful position. He is
well known to be anopponent OF tho Prohlbitory mw
as much SO as Gov Andrew. Like the lawyers gener-
NJ,
Court and Superior Court, with whom he associates
much. Lo believes the whole thing humbug ana
failure On the first ballot the vote was nearly equa
for Mr. Allen Mr.. Pitman, and bir Mason OF
Newton a member of the Legislature, whose vote
was made up, not very unequaily, OF friehdS ana
enemies of tho Liquor law On the second ana third
ballot, M Mason's supporters stampeded to tho
right and lcftthc Prohibitory men going for Pitman
TO defeat Allen and the License men for Allen to de-
feat Piman; and the last ballot Allen was chosen
receiving 137 TO Mr.. Pimans H. OF the III, nearly
all arc men who believe in the temperance law, and
mean TO stand by H. OF the 37 about l0Oare friends Of
license system and the rest are timid Prohibloniss
and personal and local friends of tho successful can
didate On the whole the issue was pretty square
one The DaiIy TareIlcr tries to salvo over the de
feat of the Prohibitiye party but the earnest and
| knowing men understand that they have been out
! cenerpled il not outnumbeTed. They have also
! been defeated in the Senate on the jury bill,
| that measure having been desDOilcd of
ia most important feature tho first section
| Gen. Wilson's presence here, tho Othcr day, IS
| said to hayo had something tn DO win thls
| result The General made q temperance speech at
the fremont Temple, and brought down the housc IN
| tremendous cheers over the defiance which ne
hurled at the friends OF license law, but ms private
oornsels were understood 10 have been AZ least on
collateral OueStOns,qultc conservative. lrGlnli'
! Mr. Miner, and other leaders OF the temperance
Marty believe IN making ilOllDltlOnh pOillitai lSSuc
| but very large number OF their trends whi not
| allow n direct issue 10 bo made. The Committee ON
/ the License law will report IN lew days or weeks
it would not he safe 10 predict any particular day
| Their project win be snmmary voted out Of the
House. aud then these Conservative lrohDltionlsts
will go homo and tell their friends that they won
ooIan!ctc victory; that the State IS sale the law
uuharined. and all that sort OF thing. fancy
Mr. lftInan's partyto the name Of their leader
and be, nan-will not be satisfied with this result,
but will insist trying conclusions at the State
| Convention in September. They Will however, DO
likely 10 bc beaten agan. The people OF MasSaehli-
sets are, first. Republicans, and second, FRONT
! bitionists. Events may occur before the close
| OF the legislative session 10 change the as
! pect Of things. but 1t looks now as II onf
IN the Fall, in spite of probable contest from both
| sides OF the temperance question 10 ouit some oi
them, and that The excltenpnt WhGh wii be very very
considerable Will los confined TO the Legislative TICK
cts On these thore will be all sorts OF combinations,
bolts, slides and smash.. aud, jndgng nom the re-
! tbe nDxt Legislature VIII be no more
sound tho liquor question Than this one
This ate of things must also inevitably have its ef
feet upon the general enforcement of the Liquor law
! by the State constable and before the courts. The
judges prosecuting officers are now, win but lew
exceptions hostile to il iurcs viii grow more ana
more independent or 0Dsulale' aid ~ eo Si's LII ;
! himself, very excellent and faithful 9nieef, wiz
feel by-audby. the pressure OF new public senti-
There are aany candidate for tho Office Of Reporter
OF Decisions Of the Supreme Cont, made vacant by
Mr.. Aliens promotion. Among them are MI A. IT,
Browne, JT., formerly Gov. Andrews private sCcre-
fary; Hr. James Il. Thayor. brother Of tho late
Mn s Thay,rOf The Ncf' York EtCniRg IOst: judge
Rcn.ett ~ Of |famton and Mr. 1aft of Lcnox The
Governor has the appointing power, but has
generally exercised it with Difference To the wishes of
the Court. Now, hear the Court is divided with
majority for no one Ny impression is that
judge Bennett or MIR Tlaycr will be the successful
candidate. The Office is OF no pnbhc consequence:
Tic reporter produces couple Of volumes year Of
most amusing miscellany. The late Mr.. Griffin of
Ncdtord. one OF our brightest men, whose death was
great loss e. politics, law; and liberal legislation
lle4I
hisdeath and was told TO home, 10 stop working, 10
read nothing but newspapers, magazines, aud fiction
-IhackcTay, scott and so on. pye got just the
thing lsaid he) the last volume OF Aliens Reportsn
Tho profession generally; believe, do not lind 1T
funny TO pay four i've dollars n volume for the
Old World learning which gels reproduced IN these
volumes but any one who has n Keen sense OF tho
ridiculous finds his steps charmed and lIghtened
he steps over the burning mari OF tins weary world
by the unconscious hum0r embodied in them.
The mention OF Mr. Griffin brings to my mind the
death Of another citizen Of Mcdford George l..
Stcarns Rarely does town have two such men
% lose. Mr. SteaTns had wonderful faculty Tor or
PaIlizatiOn, and was Che readiest and wlingest man
to undertake ant-sayery work, that have ever met
with Nothing of this sort was drudgcry
10 him. Iie went TO all mon, without any
sTuplcs Or apology and with bis most per
glasgo manner got money and work ont OF them
which no other man c0nld get lie never seemed TO
appreciate any difficulty, or 10 be daunted by any
lions in the path. lie removed them If he could
and if he could not he made sort OF fuss over hls
failure, but stTaightway went on some other erTand
One Of his most cuIions enterprises was the
establishment of The kdo- York Nation, which
wholly disappointed and betrayed him.
His other newspaper enterprises were not much
more fortunate The papers he has established
have been useful, but not at all in proportion 10
the amount of money bestowed upon them. But it
IL almost impossible to oyeT-Tate Major StcaTnss
services in other fields Of action. As friend of
Kansas freedom and Of John Brown, and as an or
gaizer of tho coored troops, his services be
yond price, and his death is great public loss and
great source Of grief to large circle of friends and
acquaintance. WARRINGTON.