Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-02-05
Vol. XIX. Whole No. 993. No. 6.
Temperance.
"viie Proclamation Of oaths''

laws of the United States were null
and void in that State, and not bind
ing on the citizens of the State or its
officers. Andrew Jackson, then presi-
dent, in his proclamation to the peo-
pie called attention to the solemn OBJ
legation of officers to execute the laws
of the country, and styled the action
OF the officers a ''vile proclamation of
their oaths." The world has never
criticised the expression as too severe.
Nullification, though inaugurated
and supported by some Of the ablest
men OF South Carolina, received, as it
merited, the condemnation of the
country, which rejoiced in president
who avowed his determination to en-
force the laws at all hazards, and sue
ceeded in doing as he determined.
1t was hardly to be wondered at
that the seeds of rebellion, temporari-
ly and partially crushed by Jackson
in 1882. should have taken root and
brought forth fruit in 1861; but it is
a matter of astonishment, that with
the history OF 1851-65 as proof of the
hatred the people of this country bear
to notification, We should be obliged
to chronicle an attempt on the part Of
the officials Of Boston which, except
in magnitude, is the exact counterpart
of that of South Carolina in 1882.
Massachusetts has made law in re.
lation to the sale of intoxicating liq-
uors, and imposes upon the mayor and
aldermen Of Boston the duty of en-
forcing it. They have for twenty
year. refused to do this duty. 1t re-
NAMED for the mayor of Boston for lS-
"A to formul& tie the principle upon
which he, at least, proposed to con-
tinue this rebellion, this "vile profana-
ton Of his OATH" as Gen. Jackson
termed similar action in South Caro-.
lima officials. Mayor Cobb, in his in
augural, says
IL may say for myself that | would,
in the interest of order and morality,
use all legal means, and lend my best
exertlons to carry into effect 4 law
which should have for its object the
regulation and restraint of the LIQUOR
traffic"
The only thing which will occasion
surprise i'll the statement is, that it
ends as it does He tells the people
of the State what kind of n law he
would enforce, but leaves them to infer
the balance of his determination. which
Is, that he ,ctU not enforce the present
IDENTIFY CONE, bap RhNhhi liz hG hlackssa t84t
age To announce.
\ 1t was u singular spectacle man
elected 10y the almost unanimous voice
of the people of Boston as the chief
executive OF the city, standing with
uplitted hand, and calling upon God
to witness his solemn promise to per
/ form all the duties of his office, and To
bear true faith and allegiance to the
! Commonwealth, and almost before the
echo Of words had died away cooIly
telling the people and the State that
when they pass law which suits him
he will execute it, and by implication.
that as the present law does not please
him he will not enforce it. ''Nlle
PROCLAMATION Of an oath" say thous-
ands to-day.
And pray tell us what Mr.. Samuel
! &. Cobb's private opinion of the law
has to do with the dtuy of Mayor Cobb
to enforce it: The State isn't accus-
| toned to ask the consent and APPROX
al of the mayor of Boston to the laws
it enacts. Upon what principle, ex~
cept that acted upon in South Carolina
in 1882, does ne assume to say whethes
a law shall be enforced or not: He
does not charge that the law is uncon
stitutional-that the courts have set
tlei hut only that in his judgment it
is unwise therefore he will not Ell
force it. There is some consolation
in the thought that he has told the
people of the State what kind of 4 law
he will enforce. The Legislature has
due notice, and if they desire the law
to be enforced in Boston, must pass
such as suit his honor, the mayor.
One may be pardoned for limiting
that the man who has no regard for
his oath can hardly be relied upon to
: keep mere promise, especially IN
view of the fact that no Boston mayor
, ever vet enforced a license law any
, better than the prohibltory law is now
; enforced. 1t must be confessed, how
ever that the offer is a tempting one
Put in shape, it would read somewhat
like this: sGentlemen of the Massa
; chusetts Legislature, the present llq-
, uor law doesn't suit me, and l shall
not enforce it if yoa want to witness
the rare spectacle ofa liquor law en-
forced by Boston mayor, pass one
which commends itself to my judg
t ment Until then, you may as we'll
e make up your minds that your laws
e will be nullifed in Boston, under the
: direction of the mayor"
: Is it not possible that when law is
0 passed which suits Mayor Cobb, it may
p be found not to suit some other officer !!
: The next law may not please the chief
1 ofpolice, or the captains Of police, or
e the patrolmen, or, possibly, the judge,
!, or some alderman, All these things
n must be looked after for If mayor
4 may nullify law, of course police
u man may and even if there Is doubt
y in relation to patrolman, there can
: be none that an alderman has right
y to trample under foot law which dis
I" pleases him. But what if, in their
e notification, they should hear the peo-
l. pie cry out, ''vile proclamation of your
s. oaths!
'e A paper in Ohio was sent for nine
- years to subscriber who never paid Il
cent for it. The other day the paper
was returned to the patient and long
:. suffering publisher with the affecting
\. pencil note on it's margin, ''Gone to
:, the better world" The editor is d
:. y very pious man, but it is reported thai
- his faith is terribly shaken in regard tt
the accuracy of the Information.
An ol,i bachelor said ssIhere's