Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1886-03-30
Answer.

Gentlemen Your communication
is published above, emitting sigma.
ture. With respect to the first ques-
tion / have to say, as have always
held in private, that in Republic
the citizen ought to be subject to
serve in such capacity as the people
wish, and no expression is truer than
that given at the ballot box. Notwith-
standing there should be some pre-
liminary expression of the people
designating the person to serve them.
am glad the published articles re-
ferred to meet your approval. They
are only the reflex of inbred Democ-
racy, which is interviewer in my whole
nature. from infancy, and has con-
trolled me through life. The remain.
ing question is difficult one, but 1
will treat it with unwavering candor-
You call it the liquor question, and
it is ripening into form in all the
States, especially of late in the South.
ern States. Some dealing with it in
what is known as prohibition, others
as local option and some again by high
license. In some of the States the
subject is under popular discussion,
and has not taken definite form-per.
haps that may be said of West Vir-
ginia. The citizens of the State have
entreated the legislature again and
again to authorize vote on the sub.
ject of prohibition, and as often have
they been refused.
My views are peculiar on this in
evitable and difficult subject. which
I will present with entire sincerity as
the conclusion of much reflection and
observation in several States. First,
favor an entire divorce between the
State and the liquor traffic, by repeal
ing all license laws, thus freeing the
State from pecuniary obligation in
receiving money for creating what
Bismarck calls spirit monopoly
Secondly, whosoever shall engage in
the liquor traffic should be bonded In
a penalty to the county in which he
conducts his business TO secure the
payment of oil damages resulting to
any person, public or private, from
the traffic in liquor, which damages
should be determined by suit at
law or equity, or by presentment on
indictment of a grand jury anywhere
within the State. Thirdly, it should
he made the duty of every person so
bonded to keep Register of the name
and date of every person to whom
liquor has been sold, either distilled
or malt, and said register shall be
submitted to the grand jury in each
county at every session of the Circuit
Court thereof, by the trafficers of said
county in the sale of liquor. And
every one selling liquor Of any kind
to a person not so registered shall
be guilty of misdemeanor, and on
Indictment thereof, shall be fined i'm
any sum not under five dollars nor
over fifty dollars with costs of suit.
The above three specifications are =
crude view of remedy for the regu-
1ation of the liquor traffic. 1t may be
novel, but / think it would satisfy the
demands of all right thinking people,
and is free from what some people
consider Objectionable in other modes
of treating the liquor question. But
in any form in which the people
largely petition the legislature on this
or any other subject I think they de-
serve to be heard, and their memo
rials should be treated with respect
ful consideration.
W NJ Ety0p