Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1881-06-30
Senator Bayard on Local Option.

the secret of the Lovers Cave.
Senator Bayard on Local Option.
The attention of the steady-go-
ing people of North Carolina is re-
spectfully directed to the letter of
Senator Bayard, of Delaware, Civ
en- below. 1t was written in re-
sponse to one from gentleman of
the Senator's State, and has refer
ence to merely "local option"
The view Of a statesman are re-
freshing, in these Gays of claptrap
ard demogogry. We would like
to see the views of Senator Bayard
on the Yankee Liqnor Law sought
to be fastened upon our people.
The following is the letter:
WASHINGTON, D. c.
March s, 1881.
My DEAR SIR IL do not like to
intrud. my opinions nnasked for
upon members of the Legislature.
] agree with you in thinking local
option laws Of very donbtfnl consti-
tutioHalfty and positive inexpedi-
ency. AS 1 understand them they
submit law to popular vote in 10
cal districts, and this defeats the
principle of our government, which
is representative in it's character,
and places the whole law-naking 9
power and discretion N the Legis-
laturc and not in the people in
their mere numerical force and pri>
mary capacity IF punishment OF
criminals was to be adjndged and
inflicted by local option" instead
of through acts of Legislature exc
cuted by judges and juries, it would
be held wholly at variance with
our theory of Government, and
yet to apply such rule to SO wide
spread and daily habit as the use
of alcoholic or fermented beverages
is in my judgement quite as unsafe
So far as my experience goes, a
we'll regulated system of licenses,
whereby revenue is largely brought
into the public treasury, coupled
with severe penalties for illicit sale,
has proved the most efficient check
upon the abuse of the liquor traffic
In many respects the question is a
sumptuary one, and laws attempt
ing to establish sumptuary regula-
tions become inquisltorial and i'm
possible of execution, so that il
those communities in this country
where they have been enacted, they
have either aggravated the evils
they were intended to prevent, o.
have fallen into contempt and use
lessness and been repealed. Th'
statement / have seen of the rea
condition OF those communities il
which total prohibition has beer, at
tempted, have impressed me yer.
> strongly in confirmation of thes
views. Personal influence and ex
ample and precept and the recogni
, ton of the great truth that intem
I perance in the use of stimulants c
! all kinds is morbid physical fact
q both in cause and effect, as in M
Judgment, the proper view to com
}, mence with. Statistics abundant
r prove that the attempted supppres
IS sion by statutes Of the use of alco
o holic stimulants is accompanied b
s an increase III the use of opiates
e and that open drinking being stop
ped. secret drinking ensnes. l {
: not believe any man has great
horror of intemperance than ar
:. my appreciation of its dangers ar
al evil effect grows with my exper
ence OF human affairs but Il
er graver the evil the more csscnti
re to apply the right principle to j
o, cure, and for the reasons l ha
: stated and many others, I hope t
IN experiment of s'local option" W
ID not be tried by our Legislature, b
es increased checks under the licen
ne system be continued. $50 agi@.
at ~ Yours sincerely, 1e.'l
P. ~ .a7N.-s s.47siE T. F. BAYARD.
he .:-GI "a elaE: -, seiTzzg9 ieE a.