The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1879-01-29

to be taxed equally according to It's
value.
THE LOCAL OPTION LAW, so en-.
Enthusiastically advocated by cores
pendent of the GAZETTE, is a very
nice thing on paper. The trouble
, is, the scheme, as proposed is uncon-
stitutional and could not be enforced
by the events if the Legislature
should in its blind zeal pass such an
Act. The Constitution makes the
General Assembly the sole law-ma-
king power Of the State. That in.
strument sets out how laws shall be
passed. A Bill may be introduced in
either House, it must pass that body
three times, and then be transmitted
to the other House, when it under.
goes the same process. 1t is then
turned over TO the Governor. If he
approve the measure he SO writes on
the Bill, signs bis name as Governor,
and the act becomes statute, The
Constitution does not any where
give the General Assembly authori.
ty to empower the people Of a coun-
ty by vote and y popular election,
to pass law. 1t cannot confer such
authority on the counties, therefore
we contend that the temperance PEG.
pie arg seeking a remedy in the
wrong direction, and that the Local
Option" act would be of no value to
them if they shoult secure it's pass.
age.
For some years there has been a
Local Option law on the Statute
Book of Tennessee, authorizing the
people of civil district, by a vote,
to levy an additional school tax, so
as to keep the public schools open
five months each year. The ether
day the Supreme Court at Nashville
declared this act to be unGonstitu-
tional, because the Constitution does
not authorize the Legislature to del
egate its law-making powers to the
people of civil district. The laws
Of this State must be general, and
must bear with equal force, on the t
people of each and every county.
This decision Of the Supreme Court a
settles the Local Option question. q
Dur unknown, but eloquent and en-. t
husiastic friend and correspondent e
must change his base, and come at
he Monster, Intemperance, from
ONE other direction. We are fully
g anxious as he is-or as anybody :,
lse can be-to eradicate the great is
vii from our land. but we intend to o
eep our head cool, and be sure we ii
re right before we make a general a.
barge on the fortified position of D,
lie enemy. b'
The drinking of Intoxicating liq- Fl
ors is the great overshadowing evil W
f our time and race. 1t is doing ia
ore harm in the world than war, ha
astiIence and famine. 1t is an evil SO
, deeply rooted in the human appe- ia
te that no halfway measures will sa
'adicate it. Public opinion must
st be educated to believe that dram
rinking is q sin before any law can
2 enforced prohibiting the sale or I
Sc Of liquor. n
In conclusion, upon this matter, IL
n we do not propose to follow it !
rther, we are very sorry that our % 15
lend and correspondent is so very Gu Gu
,rry for us. We are not half so mo no
UGH opposed to temperance re DiI
rm as he seems to think. We re- ant
ize the strength and power and -. a.:
liyersal influence of the Giant In ter
pee
importance, and we don't want to L /
rike him until we get good Diq
ady," until we get the enlightened 9
'nscience of the great mass of the yea
8.
eople on our side, and then we will fou
for
t him blow that will tell. If the der
importance people of Tennessee Of {
q
OOG at the OlanG Win JllS Local MES
otion gun they will miss their aim, ma
ID at the same time the gun will as i
ok back and may hurt them worse D
an they will hurt the Giant. sen
~$----- gall