The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-11-23
The Law and the Logic Of it,

Liquor men, wholesale and retail deal.
ers, maintain that the suppression Of the
traffie by legislative enactment would be
a usurpaton OF authority on the part Of
the government, and an unjust infringe.
ment Of the rights of citizens. But the
license laws, as they now exist, embody,
assume and assist the prohibition priuoi.
pie. To license is to permit by grant of
authority, to remove legal restraint by a
grant Of permission. The power to grant
includes the power to refuse the power
to license includes the power to prohibit
to remove restraint is to admit restraint
before it was removed
Every man who petitions Tor license
admits this by his act every grog.seller
who pays fine admits this by his act
The very word, liceuse, proves the be-
stowment Of a privilege by the legislature
which it might have withheld. Each H.
cense law proclam9 the power Of total
prohibition
No man ever had natural and inalie-
nable right to sell grog to his neigbbors
1t is no where 20 be found in the bill of
-:eL... ..n win admit tnau IL Is py Ieg-
islative permission. and if SO, it can re.
fuse permission. No man will deny the
power ofthe legislature to license. Who
ever admits this, grants its power to pro
hibit. These powers are co.existent it
possesses both, or neither.
Prohibition by law is no new thing
lotteries are not licensed, they are pro.
hibited. Gambling houses are not Ii.
censed, but are prohibited. Unwhole.
some provisions are not licensed, but pro-
hibited Even travel is interdicted,
where public health requires it, by quar-
sntine laws.
The constitution was ordained and es.
tablished to promote the general vel
fare" and states and incorporated bor-
oughs and cities daily exercise and en-
force this wholesome power. Prohibition
is self'defense, and inherent in all gov.
crments. Tae principle Of prohibition is
old as the common law, and its exercise
and application, in hundred forms, co.
eval with our civil institutions.
I. = ~ A. A--G- tL-t - r-ahih;tsJ
there is no interference with individual
rights or personal habits, for with prohib-
tion, it man chooses to keep poison in
his home no human law can prevent him
Each mans house is his castle still.
But the moral restraints of home afa
stronger than law. 1t is not at home
that men ruin themselves by dissipation
for that melancholy purpose they always
90 elsewhere. Where some are licensed all
will SELL Prevention is easier than pun
ishment. The license laws lead men into
temptation, and then punish them 10,
yielding to it, What would you think Of
parent who treated his child, or mas
ter who would treat his servant thus ? In
mercy to the fral, let the temptation be
removed
The legislature might as we'll attempt
to regulate the explosive nature of gun.
powder after the spark has been applied,
% 10 regulate the traffic or the effect il
produces. The license is tn, spark the
traffic may be abolished the habit res
trained but neither can be regulated.
Prohibition makes no distinctions Of
persons, causes no comparisons, kindles
no heart breakings, treats all men alike,
is aimed at the thing, removes tempta.
tion. is impartial, and emanates from the
people.