The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-02-21
He speaks gentler than he did"

Gov. BULLocK's VETo.-The jubilation OF
the Massachusetts iquor-dealers over the re-
| peal of the act establishing State police was
| premature. 1t is said by Massachusetts, pa
pers to be altogether probable that Governor
Bullock's veto will not be overruled by a two
thirds vote of the Legislature. The veto is JUS
titled by the Governor upon grounds altogeth-
er outsid, of the usefulness of the constabu-
larry act in enforcing the prohibition law. In
deed, he acknowledges that the popular vote
last fall was an emphatic reputation of the
principle ofprohi6ition, though he is convinced
that the moral sentiment of the State will not
admit ofthe sale of liquors without any res
| traint. Tue message is written with much
| ability and the following extract will repay
| perusal: I
A prosperous commerce, progress in the arts
| and the increase of manufactures, have con-
| densed our population in large towns and cit
| les intensified vicious inclinations and multi
Piled the actual number OF crimes. This is
apparently the price of public prosperity and
wealth. Official records display to the public
gaZ an alarming increase of offences against
person and property; of RIGHTEOUSNESS and
gambling; as well as of insanity and pauper-
ism,-that are directly traceable to lives of
vice. Private reports made to the executive
by his subordinate officers reveal condition
OF affairs yet more deplorable. Temptations
are increased manifold. Restraints are re.
moved or disregarded. 1t is immaterial
whether his comes from q vicious practice of
| passing laws with kind of expectation that
| they are not to be enforced, or from both
| causes combined. The evil exists, and the
remedy is apparent. Punishment should be
| speedy. and sure,--as speedy and sure as
| possible, consistent by with proper regard of
| personal rights and personal liberty
10 deal with this advancing decentralization
| the municipal police, however honest or we'll
| disposed, seem to a great extent inadequate
| They are engrossed in the execution of local
| ordinances, or perhaps in some instances are
withheld from efficient action by the under
stood or expressed desire of those in authori-
| ty. Else why do these haunts of vice exist
| with their fun and admitted knowledge, earn
| ing the wages of iniquity in their very pres
| ence? Till this question is satisfactorily an
| swered, we have right to conclude either
| that public sentiment has become demoraliz-
ed or that the local force is insufficient for the
| execution of the laws And in either case it
| Is apparent that public decency and order
and public justice, require the maintenance of
an executive body which shall not be controll-
ed by the peculiar sentiments of any locality;
which shall be competent in its spirit, its dis
| epline and its numbers to a reasonable and
ludicious, but just and impartial enforcement
of the statutes Of the Commonwealth
| The experience of the past two years has
| convinced me of the superior efficiency of the
present system in the administration of our
| criminal laws. liz the detection of crime a
| conspicuous degree of skill and perseverance
has been witnessed, and the record of that de.
1 partment of the constabulary has been marred
| by no mschieyous and disreputable com
| pounding OF felony; while in the arrest of des-
| perate offenders resolute courage has been
| displayed, which has more than once evoked
| the respect and admiration of the public. And
| when we consider the facility of escape afford
| ed to the wrong-doer by our varied means OF
communication, it is reasonable to suppose
| that his opportunities for evading Justice
| would be greatly diminished under central
bureau of police whose arm of power would
| reach at once to every section of the Common.
| wealth. In view of these facts feel that the
chief magistrate, in his efforts to maintain the
supremacy Of law, and to abate those pests OF
society, heretofore comparatively unmolested
| which are q snare to the young and nexperi.
enced of our own people and to the stranger
sojourning among US, has a right to expect the
| cooperation of every conscientious legislator
and every honorable and law-abiding citizen