Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-03-25

Mr.. Glrard have dlcd III ms college. ana
been buried by his orphans, his life would
have come to 4 we'll rounded period
The National Liquor Commission.
EErOFT on TIE HOUSE JUDICIARY COH-
NuTTEE.
Mr. Poland from the committee on the
judiciary. submitted the following report
The judiciary committee. to whom was
referred Il large number of petitions from
churches and religious bodies, as well a@
from individuals from different States,
praying for the appointment of 4 com
mission to inquire and report rs to the re-
suits of the traffic in alcoholic liquors in
connection with crime, pauperism, the
public health, the moral, social, and intel
lectual well-bcing of the people; secondly,
concerning prohibtury legislation in Maine
Massachusett. and other States of the
| Union; and, thirdly, to recommend what
additional legislation, if any, would be
beneficial on the part of Congress to sup
press in the sphere of national authority
the traffic i'll alcoholic liquors, have giver
such consideration to the subject rs seemed
proper. not only by its intrinsic gravity
and importance, but also from the higl
character and great number of the petition
ers Upon and us the result of this con
Isideration. the committee herewith report
/ Il bill in substantial conformity to the pray
crs of the petitioners, and re, ommend it
/ passage.
The committee also beg leave to submit
/ in the form of report, short statement
of the reasons which have induced THEN
/ recommendation.
And, first, it is proper to inquire whether
/ Congress has any proper jurisdiction to au
thoriZe such Investigation. Investigations
under the authority OF Congress whether by
a committee consisting of it, own members
OF Il commission imposed Of other persons
are usually made into the con.uct of som,
officer OF department of the government
or are Of a general nature. with 4 view tC
furnish proper Information to ajt and guid,
future legislation.
The jurisdiction here must be supported
if at ALL upon the latter of these grounds
1t wa, not claimed before the committe,
hv the gentlemen who appeared on bchal
Of these petitions that Congress pOsscs>c
the power to orc%Uate OF prohibit the traffic
in intoxicating liquors within the States
We understand them to concede that sucl
power and jurisdiction rest solely in tn
State legislatures.
But they do claim that within the Dis
trict of Columbia ana within all the terri
tories under the jurisdiction of the nationa
government outside. the limits of organ
ized States Congress does possess full an
ample power to regulate and restrain 0
prohibit the traffic. As Il question {
Jurisdiction. the committee do not see hoy
this claim can be denied or doubted
Whether it will ever be thought advis
able or eXpedient for Congress to eXerc's
such power. it i, not necessary now to de
termine The fact that the District o
Columbia ana each OF the organized Terri
tories have a local legislation of their own
who also have power to create such lcgi>
lation. if a sufficiently strong local senti
ment can be created in its favor, will o
course, be consideration of weight whe
the question arises. The results Of thi
inquiry may largely affect the iudgmen
of Congress a~ to whether they ought t
exercise their legislative jurisdiction owe
this subject within the limits where the
, confcsscdly have the power. But, if til
facts aScertaincd and reported by this CON
mission shall not induce Congress to legi>
late. they NAV have such an important an
controlling influence upon the public sent
mCnt and judgment within the nation:
domain outside the States n to Undue
restraining and preventive lc@islatio
against intemporance hy the local legiSla
lures These quni governments N
), legally considered rs but agencies and il
, strumentalities of the General Government
and if improved legislation by them shal
result from the information thus gained
it NAV be properly regarded rs of nation;
benefit.
The nation now derives 4 very large re'
cnue by the taxation of the manufacture
the importer. and the seller of intoXicatin
LIQUORS Can it be said that our nation;
l laws on this subject may net properly an
: constitutionally be affected by the consio
Grafton whether the subiect-matter of :;
those laws he Il benefit and blessing to til
nation and all the people thereof, so tn;
: its manufacture, sale. and use ought to
- encouraged in all lawful WAYS, or whetht
! on the other hand, it is an evil demo
every wav hurtful to the nation and peop
and which should be restrained and ci
+ cumscribed in every constitutional mode
, The committee believe that the resul
of this commission may Justly and const
tutionally affect national legislation upC
this subject, and that jncide11tat protectit
. pe1ance and sobriety-
| So. too, if the information thus obtained
covering a broader field. clothed with
robe of more official authority, comman'
!, dino more respect, and less liable to cha
e lenoe or contradiction than the ndividu
+ efforts and statements Of private philal
:. thropists have hitherto attained, shall h;t7
- the effect to produce better State laws.
D the better enforcement of State laws f
: the restraint of the sale and use of intox
:. ealing LIQUORS, it is a consideration not
be lost sight Of Though this is not. pc
baps, a sufficient ground to uphold Il
l. jurisdiction, Yet if the jurisdiction is Gle;
7 on other grounds, it furnishes addition
/ reasons for its exercise.
:, With this short statement of the viev
of the committee as. to the jurisdiction
l. Congress, is it eXpedient to order til
# commission and inquiry?
Il That the evils of intemperance are emo
& nous, and that the increasing use of into
icating drinks is one of the dangers Whit
Il seriously threaten our national prosperr
as well us nation i reputation, are fac
# which are very generally conceded. Evel
: good citizen will give his countenance al
aid to any measure which will limit al
restrain these evils.
: For number of years the general OPT
:, ion of those most interested to break
!. and suppress the use of Intoxicating drink
;, has been that the only sure and effectu
= mode Shy prohibiting their manufactu
: and sale, and thus cut off the means
supply of those disposed to drink.