The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-04-22
NEW WORKERS SAFE IN VER-
MONT.


The New York Sun is indignant. 1t
has lust begun to realize the meaning of
the decision in the O'Neil jug case, and
it solemnly warns citizens of New York
that they are now liable to be seized in
the State of Vermont and punished for
acts performed IN their own homes. II
admits that the Vermont authorities did
not cross over to New York and kidnap
O'Neil, but it says that they waited until
he came to Vermont on a visit when they
seized him and found him guilty of 307
separate offenses at Rutland, because he
had sold liquor in New York, which the
purchasers had carried into Vermont" "
The Sun continues:
THE people of the State of New York
should be put on their guard against
visiting the State of Vermont, lest they
meet a fate similar to that of O'Neil.
There are many statutes in Vermont OF
which the people of New York are ignor-
ant: and. according to this wonderful de-
cision. the State of Vermont can punish
a New Yorker for what he does in New
York. if there is statute in Vermont
forbidding such acts. The only conclu-
sion to be drawn from this remarkable
proceeding is that the laws of Vermont
are operative in New York, and can be
enforced against an offender in New
York whenever he crosses over into the
other State.
"What remedy can the Empire State
apply for the protection of its citizens?
| Can it enact and enforce law making it
a crime for the authorities of Vermont
| to interfere with any citizen of New
York under such circumstances as those
above described? At any rate, some
remedy should be found by which the
State of New York can exercise the
same powers in Vermont as Vermont is
authorized by the Supreme Court of the
United States to exercise in the State OF
New York"
The Sun ignores the decision of the
Supreme Court when it says that the
liquor was sold in New York in this
case. The place of sale was the chief
point at issue, and the supreme bench
decided that in this case the sale occur
red where the liquor was delivered. The
Sun is unduly exercised, however. Resi-
dents of New York are continuing tC
cross our borders unmolested and un
scathed in spite of the Supreme Court'i
decision in the O'Neil case and it is pos
sible that some of these good visitors
bring their "jugs' with them. But they
must not violate the laws of the State by
selling or giving away liquor here anC
expect to go free. Vermont is just al
independent now as she was when TIN
Green Mountain Boys first taught thei
neighbors of New York how to shoot,
century or so ago, and she proposes Il
have her laws respected whether tn
violators are residents of this State o
the great Empire State. Now that sh'
, is backed up by the Supreme Court II
this matter, however, she is not expect
ing to receive very many summer visi
tors of the O'Neil stripe.
The retaliation suggested by the SUI
, would probably not be acceptable to on
/ luminous contemporary itself, if ono
! undertaken. However, II any Vermont
er tries the O'Neil dodge in New Yori
, Vermonters in general will not complain
if he meets O'Neirs fate. The Sun
4 therefore, may as well chain up il
: "office cat'' and its dogs of war for ther
, is no fighting to be dOne.-Free Press.