Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-02-26


liquors in the State: showed how.
under the present law: it operated
both as license and local option law;
that in those counties, when they
did not desire the sale, no license
was granted even to druggists; that
this was the case in some counties:
that the legislature could at any
time pass law prohibiting sale of
single drop in this State for any pur-
pose; that if this proposed amend
ment should be adopted sale for
medicinal, scientific and mechanical
purposes was excepted.
lie discussed the effect and opera
tion of the Constitution and law un-
der it very fully, and intimated to
the friends OF the resolution that
had they asked for an increase of the
penalties of the present law, they
might have made strong case, and
so in Maine, were they as severe as
the Federal law, there probably
would be nothing like so many spe-
cial licenses applied for.
He discussed that provision of the
Constitution which says, ''private
property shall not be taken or dam
aged for public use,' &C.; referred
to decision, as he understood it,
that the Court of Appeals had re-
Gently delivered constituting this Sec
ton, and whilst the State could not
be sued, justice and reason would
demand that compensation should
be made to men who had invested
their capital in this State and by
legislation the value of that invest
ment should be destroyed. There
ought to have been such provision
asked for by the petitioners, or at
least some such as would have per-
mitted parties damaged to have re-
ceived compensation il this could
have been satisfactorily shown.
He also referred to the fact that
acts of incorporation had been grant
ed by the State to some Of the brew
cries, and one or more of the distif-
leries, and commented upon this, &c.
An important point he touched
upon was the annual receipts Of the
State, $685. 75. If this were removed
it would necessitate, to make up the
deficit, an additional tax of 8 cents
on every 800 valuation of property.
Were the people prepared to pay
this !? Do these petitioners under
stand this
He then addressed himself to that
portion of the resolution which pro-
hibits the manufacture of liquor,
and showed our location, surrounded
by Maryland, Kentucky, Ohio, Penn
sylvania and Virginia; the ease with
which it could be obtained, and il
Illustrated it by referring to instances
in this State of counties where sale
was prohibited, yet it could be OBJ
tanned at any and all times; spoke of
amount of whiskey made at the dis
tillery in Martinsburg; tax paid
Federal Government upward Of
So 1000 day; also corporation, coun-
ty and State taxes; that although
manufactured there it was shipped
out of the State; that no doubt the
greater part OF the liquor used in
Wheeling was made thousand
miles from here; that these breweries
and distilleries give employment to
a large number of men, and that
many of these petitioners, when APP.
pealing TO the legislature to submit
such an amendment as they ask, had
probably lost sight Of the fact the
power to prohibit the sale exists and
yet no petitions praying the exercise
OF it have been presented. This
would have required no expense or
delay even. If the legislature had
thought proper to accede to it, with
in a very short time every saloon
and drug store where liquor was
sold, could have been closed, while
it would be nearly two years before
this proposed amendment could be
submitted.
He next referred to West Vir-
ginia's increase in the last ten years;
her prosperity now; the immigration
that has already and is still coming
into the State; the projected rail-
roads; the efforts we have made to
induce the Swiss to come here; the
large number of Germans who have
settled among us, and are among
our best, wealthiest and most PROS
porous citizens. All these things
are in measure attributable to our
liberal legislation. We are prosper
Gus to day; school houses and
churches are going up in every nook
and corner OF our State, and with
the education Of the youth and the
Gospel preached on every hill and in
every valley, we havenothing to fear
in the future.