The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-12-20
evening State aulsraal.
LOCAL MATTERS.
TEMPERANCE FANATrcIsM-Leo


| lion to Inlprison Men 4Sked F0r--.A Mosi-
sttous Pappositioa--Mordl ,Su0sion before
Fo,ce.-A number of gentlemen of this
city, in conjunction with a few from other
sections of the State, are asking the Gene
raj Assembly, through Mr.. j. Thompson
Brown, one of the Richmond delegation, to
give them the authrity to arrest and impri-
son men for drunkenness. They ask for
the incorporation ofan "lnebriates' House,"
whose object is declared to be the founda-
ton "of an institution for the love, care
and reclamation Of inebriates." The word
fffloye," seems TO us to be entirely out of
place but of course no unjust Legislation
can be had, without dealing in deception of
some kind. 'l1- re-
The 9th section of the bill contains this
language: "The mayor Of any city or
town, or the judge of any court, either
town or county, or any three magistrates
thereof, in which any inebriatc or habitual
drunkard may reside, shall have the pow
er to commit such inebriate or habitual
drunkard to the Virginia Inebriate Home,
upon the production and filing of an affida-
Wit OF two respectable citizens of such city
or county to the effect that such inehlate
or habitual drunkard is lost to self-control,
and unable to attend to any business of
his own or any ones else. and hinders
rather than promotes the welfare of his or
her family, or is considered too dangerous
to remain at large; but such commitment
shall In no case be fora longer period than
one year."
On yesterday, when this section was be-
ing read to the House, Mr.. Booker, of
Henry, who saw the monstrous proposition
ofthese gentleman; feared il. might be made
means of persecution, and become an in-
strpment to deprive men of their liberties
and rights as citizens, he was met by Mr..
Brown with statement that the writ Of
hdbeas corpus could be demanded in all
such eases. This reply of the shrcwd tenn
perance gentleman satisfied Mr.. Booker
and quoted his fears at once. But for the
proposition to pass this bill by, we believe
it would have passed the House without
the members seeing the hdeousness of its
provisions.
What arc The objections to the bill in its
present shape ? 44
First. Its friends propose the passage of
law authorizing the arrest and iinprison-
ment for twelve months of a man who is
sworn to be an habitual dlunkard upon the
atlidasitt Of ''two respectable citizens."--
We guarantee we can find in every commu-
nifty two or more respectable citizens"
ready to swear that a man is. incapable of
taking care of himself, who drinks moder-
ately. ltgives the fanatics of the temper
ance cause the power of imprisoning who
ever they please, and compels the victim to
employ counsel, sue out a writ of habeds
corpeas, and fight his cause in court Of |
justice. or else remain at the mercy Of his
Jailors. r.
: Second. If the intention of these gentle
men be reformation, they prove themselves
ignorant Of the acknowledged fact that
reformation is seldom brought about ex-
cept by the voluntary action of the party
needing it. -, :
Third. They propose depriying indivi-
duals of the control of their property, and |
thus open the way for bad men to swear |
away mans liberties in order to obtain |
possession and control Of his means.
Not satisfied with this, they are unwill- |
ing to wait until they can complete |
their own prison house, but ask the Legis-
lature to pass the bill, authorizing the ar
rest and imprisonment of parties, who may
be sent to any other asylum in the United |
States. ~. .5is
9r We cannot III too strong language con-
denim the monstrous propositions Of these |
men, who seem to be, going deranged in |
their zeal to reclaim men. Confne an
habitual drunkard in your jail, If you can
secure the power keep him ironed, If you
please, for twelve months, and then set
him at liberty, and he would not walk
square from his '.home of love.' before he
would be drunk. "a -asw
1t is, however, useless to argue what
would or would not result by such legisla-
tion--we merely wish to call the attention
Of members of the Legislature to the mon
strous propositions Of these gentlemen, and
to ask that they given that careful con-
sideTation which such a subject demands.
These gentlemen need no longer prate about
the puritanical ideas of ofAiassachusetts, since
they have elected to walk in her footsteps
by asking the Virginia Legislature to make
them the custodians ofteyery mans liber-
ties who drinks liquor. a
We wish to be understood as the friend
of temperance organizations, and of all eff
forts to reform poor, fallen man; but we
are.frendly only so long as they confine
themselves to the principles which guide our
moral teachers, who prefer to teach relig-
ion rather than burn men because they are
sinners. g Thus far do we clasp hands with
them, but no further can we go. -a