Union and American. [volume] (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1875-1877, 1876-02-03
CokASSIoN OF LyQURK.

III -hoOulhS ~ euc 'yi
which upholds them and yindl-
Gates them, so fairly expository OF
their benefits as 10 the Senate of the
UnitedStates. In that branch of the
government the litle state OF Del
aware shhs as much poweras the
great state of Ohio, and happily
for the people she is as ably repre-
sented there. Since Congress con-
vened there have been presented
hundreds of petitions praying for
a commission 70 inquire into the
alcoholic LIQUOR traffic.s These pc
titions have resulted in a bill, which
has passed the Senate by a purely
partisan vote, to create a commits;
sion of five, with an appropriations
of $4,000 to aid them, forthe pur-
pose desired. Many people sign
ed these petitions unthoughtedi.y,
little thinking that they would be
turned to partisan uses. But so it is,
and SO it will always be where these
questions of morals and personal
habits are dragged into politics
and publicity. Senator SHERMAN,
of Ohio, managed the bill and was
ably met by Senator BAYARD, OF
Delaware, In opposition. SHERMAN
dealt with the bill like a true poll
tician, and it was early developed
that it would lie turned to such
partisan advantage as it was ca
pable Of eSerting.
In opposition to the bill! Senator
BAYARD stated, at some length, his
position. lie affirmed himself a
States rights man, and, therefore,
opposed the bill because it contem,
pl t d an invasion Of the police
powers of the state, to which the
quest OF, if il were at all in the do
main Of law, belonged. He aIso
pronounced himself a firm friend
of temperance, but did not at al.
agree with that class Of people
| who were bent on brIngingi it under
the domain of law, and by posi-.
lively coerSive legislation to regu-
late the question of mems appe
sites in regard to alcoholic drinks,
and to invade the domain Of morals
| hy a class of laws known as sump.
tuary laws, which have in all the
history of the world proved fail.
nrCs.
There arc few, we think, who
will question the correctness OF
Mr.. BAYARD's views, which are al
ways temperate and sensible. AS
to this alcoholic liquor commission
it is easily TO be seen where it will.
lead. The creation of such 6
commission implies the possible
enactment of a sumptuary law and
a consequent INVASION of the police
powers Of the state by the federal
government. 1t is absurd to sup.
pose that Congress and This pro
posed commission of inquiry vii
waste time simply gathering sta
tistics which can be put to no use.
Doubtless the party of great NOR
al ideas" is bent on adding to It's
b~ewildering record Of innovations
another instance and a triumph,b but
we think the people throughout
the length and breadth of the land
have bad enough evidences, local
and general, of the a%bortiveness OF
all temperance laws and aggita.
ito s, 10 impel them TO relegate the
question to It's proper sphere, the
domain of morals. AS Senator
BAYARD said, and most truly, o, al
legislation Of this nature, alt
has been tried all over the world,
in different ways, and under differ
ent forms Of government, and |
supposed by this time it had been
found out that that which is born.
in human nature my be regulated,
but cannot be suppressed
Is, "
Vt is really affecting to witness
the foye and sollcitude of our dear
republican brother for that much