Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1871-02-23

IL is fact, which / presume wi
not be denied, that the effect q
liquor on the system, is to destro
the reasoning faculties as well a
the moral attributes. The rumscl
Ter may make his neighbor drunk
by reason of which he engages il
an affray, receives a mortal wounC
and dies, or, becoming, in saloor
language, "a little befuddled ant
minus the puterinctum," his pres
ence is no longer desirable, is kick
ed out into the cold, wintry blast
becomes benumbed and freezes tC
death, or wanders upon the railroad
track and is run over by the train.
After the funeral obsequies have
taken place the minister pronounces
that "the Lord givelb and the Lord
taketh away" &c. The grave is
closed, the body is consigned "to
earth from whence it was taken
and the spirit to God who gave it. 4"
A physician, one of the most use
ful men in the community, disin-
tiers the body for the purpose of be-
coming more thoroughly versed in
the science of anatomy and phys.
iology, so as to be better able to al
leyiate the suffering and ills that
flesh is heir to. Now what are the
legal consequences imposed by the
statute? Why the rumseller, who
was the cause of the death of his
neighbor, is arrested for selling liq-
uor to a person in the habit of get
ting intoxicated, is fined for not
less than ten nor more than one
hundred dollars, or may be impris-
oned in Jail not more than thirty
days, but the physician may be
fined one thousand dollars and i'm
prisoned six months in the bargain,
Therefore it is obvious that the
laws of the State, in this instance,
esteem mans dead body of more
consequence than his life, which
proves that the legislation of Ohio
has been partial to the liquor traffic
in comparison with other crimes
ana misdemeanors. Why should
this be so? Can there be any ra-
tional reason interposed? 1t is es.
tablished, beyond dispute, that in
temperance is a greater evil than
any calamity that can possibly
befal a nation, and yet the laws Of
Ohio, the third State in the Union,
with her thousands of spires poipt
ing to Heaven, and her citizens
claiming to be a law-abiding, God
fearing people, protect by its stat
utes the very means which produces
all this evil; for, as before stated,
the law only provides against sell
ing to be drank where sold, or to
minors, or to persons intoxicated,
or in the habit of getting intoXica-
ted. 1t is no offense against the
laws of this State to sell liquor to
moderate drinkers, or persons who
are not in the habit of getting in
toxicated, hence the rumseller may
continue with impunity his unright
eous occupation Of destroying his
health, wealth, reputa-
ton aud happiness, until he has
formed perverse appetite and pro
cecded to so great an extent, that
he is really in the habit Of getting
intoxicated, and when the ungov-
ernable appetite is formed, and the
fully prepared for misery,
crime and certain ruin, then, and
not till then, the law interposes
and says it is violation to sell to
such.
The supreme object of all criminal
law, is to prevent crime. But it is
evident the liquor law encourages
crime in its incipient state, and un-
til it has reached full vigor, and
then endeavors to annihilate it. The
same power that prohibits the sale
Of liquors, as a beverage, to per
in the habit of getting intox
icated, can be extt nded to every
class Of persons. More repressive
legislation is essential on this sub
ject. For seventeen years the pres
ent liquor law has been in force,
and has been of invaluable benefit,
but shall the people he content
with that which is manifestily infe-
riur to what it ought to be? A pro-
law would be perfectly
constitutional, for section eighteen
of the schedule of the Constitution
provides; "That no license to traf-
lic in Intoxicating liquors, shall
hereafter be granted in this State,
but the General Assembly may, by
law, provide against evils resulting
therefrom," thus clearly delegating
to the Legislature a power which
has never been exercised TO the eX
.ent the Constitution authorities.
Political economy demands the
of the liquor traffic.
Shall the people remain satisfied
while the Statesman and legislator
'old their arms in peace and sit un-
when such a traffic is
consuming the poor mans food,
oaralyzing the industry, engender'
ng crime and corrupting the NOR
Ills Of the people? But it is con
ended that we have too much law,
md further, that the liquor traffic
,onnot be suppressed by statutory
,rovieione As to the first. il is