The New York herald., 1878-12-16

THE cAvrIIEB-ENFoRcRMTNr or THE sun
ADHERENTs AGHAsT-''sIc sEMpER TYRANNus''
IN THE DUST.
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
RICHMOND. Va, Dec Is. 1878.
The puritans have scored victory in the head
quarters Of the cavaliers and IL the long buried
bcrs of virginias first families do now turn in
their graves then that operation may be regarded
impracticable. matter how strong the incentive.
To-day. for the first time in the memory of the old
est nhabitan all saloons and other places OF public
resort except the churches absolutely closed and
Colonel Bungstarter and his numerous Sdherens,
customed to visit such places, indignantly
bewailing the loss Of their personal privilege
fresh themselves on the Lords Day. Every saloon is
Theoretically scaled the side door arrangement not
yet having been made. and the imbibers Of bourbon
beer and other nngodly beverages are loud and not
the least choice in their expressions while denounc-
ting ti,e Sunday law. One individual more eloquent
than the rest declared that virginias proud motto,
".Sic sen,per tnannis, sounded in ears now like
echo from the past floating in mockery through the
corridors OF time.
DETAILS OF THE cAMPMGS.
The present campaign began last June, when the
city wrought into a fever Of excitement by the
extraordinary proceedings in the Hastings Court
against saloon keepers, instigated alleged by
pcrance advocates and religious bigots. Scores Of cit
Zens were summoned before the Grand Jury and upon
their testimony, unwillingy given. thirty odd bar
keepers indicted for selling intoxicating drinks
Sunday. The first case tried ended in q convic-
ton and iine OF $40. proviso of the law, il was
held exempted cities having police regulations on
the subject but the distinguished Judge OF the Hust
ings Court decided that Richmond was not included
in the exemption, because its police regulations re-
lated only to the closing OF barrooms Sunday
while the State statute prohibited the sale OF intox
eating drinks between twelve O'Clock each Saturday
night and sunrise Monday morning. These were two
distinct offences and periods OF time.
THE SECOND BATTLR.
The matter then went, under writ of error, to the
Court of Appeals, and the against publicans and
drinkers suspended by sort OF truce until this
week. when the decision of the Supreme Court was
Hastings Court No notice taken by that
tribunal of the petitioners plea that the act
constitutional because the title did not correspond
with the body of the statute The title is IAN act to
prevent the sale of intoxicating drinks the Sab
BATH" while the law, inserted by both courts
designated longer period Of time than the Sabbath
GENERAL Rour.
The dormant indictments were brought forth this
week and the trials took place, resulting in the
yiction of most of the indicted saloon keepers and
fine of $50 each and costs For q second offence u
heavier fine will be imposed besides the forfeiture OF
the saloon keepers license.
There s deep feeling among large portion Of the
middle classes OF the community which has not yet
found expression and who consider them
selves specially aggrieved by the enforce
mcnt OF the Sunday laws. Tho clubs
which have their private bars aud saloons
exempt from the operation OF these laws and this
furnishes an additional cause of complaint among
the Germans and others, who have resort 10 the
regular saloons II Is reported that an rganzaon,
of barkecpers will he formed secure rigid en-
forccmcnt OF all obnoxious Sunday laws in order
that the 'unco quid may suffer well as other
people in the abridgmcnt Of their personal rights