The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-05-01
The Texas LIauor Law.

DEAR SRs-ln your issue OF to-day APP
pears the following brief article, which, in
my humble opinion, does both yourself
and the Democratic party in Texas, of
which your valuable paper is the recog-
nized organ, great injustice. 1t reads as
follows:
ION the twenty-frst instant the Senate
refused to take up the bill providing for an
Ohio liquor law, which is very well. We
have always held that the evil practice of
drinking cannot be defea' ed by any legis-
lation, and when resorted to it has only re-
suited in multiplying offenses against the
law without remedying the evil. Ohio
passes a liquor law, but manufactures
enough poisoned whisky to break, under a
general adoption of its law, every saloon-
keeper in the United States Ohio manu-
features more liquor than any State in the
Union. What consistency
It is generally known that / am the au-
thor of the bill referred to, and am earn
estly advocating its passage. And while l
am probably as good a friend as the States
man has in the State, / wish it distinctly
understood that I take no exceptions to any
views that may be expressed in your col
umns, in conflict with cherished opinions of
my own. l recognize fully the right of
public journalist to express his views upon
all matters of principle, regardless of what
may be the opinions of any Of the party with
which he is acting. And it is to this right
of an Independent press to express itself
freely upon all questions affecting the pub
lie interest, that we are to look principally
for the correction of existing evils. and
abuses.
But what l wish particularly to say, is
that you do not seem to be fully advised
either as to the character and object of the
| bill now pending in the Senate, or as to the
practical effects of similar laws now in eff
fectiye and satisfactory operation in other
! States.
The pending bill is not prohibitory law,
nor are the similar laws now in force in the
! States Gf Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa,
kentucky and other States prohibitory
! laws. These laws are, it is true, more or
! less stringent, and throw many restrictions
around the liquor vender, requiring him to
keep an orderly house, or have it abated as
nuisance, and prohibiting him from sell
! ing to minors, intoxicated persons, ETC., un-
der certain penalties, But the distinguish
ing feature of all these laws, and Of the
pending BILL is to hold the liquor seller re-
/ sponsible in damages, for whatever evils
may result from the use OF Intoxicating
| liquors sold by linn, In other words, it
simply proposes to apply to the liquor traf-
| &c a principle of law as old rs the Common
Law itself; a principle of simple justice,
which Is the yofy gist Of civil libertyi and
that is, that while every citizen shall be al
owed to exercise his legal and his natural
rights, he will not be allowed to interfere
with the rights OF hig fellow citizens aud
when he doeSencroach on the rights of the
person or property of his neighbor, the law
holds ~hims responsible in damages to the
extent of the injury done. The only OBJ
ject of the pending bill is to put the liquor
dealer on legal level with the balance of
society; and if he will persist in vocation
which, although tolerated by law, is ap-
knowledged by all intelligent aud gnpreju-
diced minds to be running society, he ought
at least to be considered no better than
other men, but held responsible for the evil
consequences Fesglting fran his VICIOUS
action:
We do not disguise the fact Mr.. Editor,
that leading object of the bill is, that if
liquor dealers, regardless OF the interests of
humanity, will persist in this FuinOus traffic,
that the hroken-hearted widows, and
helpless orphans of the drunken husbands
who have been ruined by the use of the vile
poisons sold to them by these liquor deal
ers, shall have some compensation in dam
ages, for the ruin entailed on them by this
infamous traffic. And this we respectfully
submit, is simple matter of justice to the
weak and the innocent, whose rights
have been so long trampled upon. And
it is likewise q necessary protection to
society itself, against the flood of crime
and misdemeanor, which continually flows
from the use of intoxicating drinks.
beverages, and which bids fair to DESTROY
the very vitals of the social Fabric of the |
American people Similar laws to the one |
now pending in the Texas Senate, have i
been in operation in Ohio, Illinois, Iowa |
and other States for several years past, and !
we have official information that they are |
effective, beneficial and satisfactory in their /
operation. And the State Of Indiana, Ken |
lucky and probably other States, have /
lately enacted similar laws on the same sub /
ject. Public opinion everywhere is rapidly /
endorsing this Just and necessary measure
And we are proud to know that the great
State Of Texas is not behind all her sister
States, upon this necessary and humane re-
form. Memorials signed By not less than
ten thousand citizens Of tho State. have
been presented to the present Legislature
praying the enactment of this law, and
members are receiving letters by every mail
urging favorable action on this measure
Satisfied Mr.. Editor that your accustomed
fairness will guaranty aplacein the columns
Of your valuable paper for this imperfect
communication, / subscribe myself
Your Obedient servant.
+. J.. DOHoNEY.
Senator Eleventh District.
Austin, April p, 1873.
IcoNnrrSIcATED
Taxes and E.ands--Hovv best % CoIlocs
theni,
Eiiiors Democratic Statesman.
Under Section 20, article xii, Of the Con-
stitution, a lien upoa landed property for
its tax. attaches only on its assessment.
Hence the necessity for an annual asses
ment Of unrcndsrI as we'll as rendered
lands. But lands can be sold for its taxes
only under derce Of cont, 1section q
article xii Constitution proceedings
for which can be instituted only II the end
q every i've years, lsection % article Ali,
THE PROPOSED sfSFEN.
J. Rcquife every assessor annually 10 as
sess separately every tract OF land in his
precinct thar Is taxable whether rendered
0r unrcnderei. and to place the improved
md unimproved lands on separate rolls 50
3 to show sep1rlleIy the vasre 81 the two
,lasscs az lands keqsirc the sheiifs 10 {
'oIiect u their respective counties all such
assessments as fheg can collect AMI then Is
END 40 t1f fai roll q the Conn
rtIIlr s00UIn1 er'aI'r tle ioI.nartr| :