Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 3, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 June 1859 — The New Liquor Law. [ARTICLE]

The New Liquor Law.

A writer in the Vevay Reveille, some weeks ago, presented some of the features of the present liquor law in a light in which they have not probably been generally vietved. The writer says he proposes to apply for license to retail liquor. And rn what position will those who sign his bond as security, place themselves? The writer answers: “The will find that they will be liable for the payment of alt penalties, that may be assessed against: me for any violation l of its enactments; they will s e that it is-madte my dot? to deal in no liquor that is in’ any way adulterated; and that I cannot plead ignorance—J must know that it is pure', or be at the trouble of hiriwg a chemist to- analyze the liquor that I buy, at great expense. But the law binds me to know the quality of the liquor that I intend to sei l ?; ©nd moreover, it binds me to be punished, and my bail to- be endangered, if I ever ignorantly purchase corrupted liquor and sell it again, Tlien let me buy at Cincinnati, Louisville or New Orleans—there is no such bad law as this is Ohio, Kentucky, or Louisiana—and the liquor dealers in those cities may cheat me *9 much as they please, and they cannot be punished for it crimminally, while I, who have bought bad liquor—supposing it to be good—if I sell it again, a n liable to be imprisoned and my securities may be made liable on a five hundred dollar bond. “But some will say, hire a chemist and analyze the liquor before you buy it. Who don’t know that theiiquor dealers in the large cities can buy up the chemists to certify the ir liquor to be good in every instance! But. some will ask, how can you be detected!— and how ctin it be proved on you that you sell bad liquor! I answer, it is said, and 1 believe it to be true, that a Carson League is to be formed, that will extend to every township and village of ttre* State of Indiana— for the purpose of raising a fund, to enlorce this worse than Maine law; to pay lawyers .and agents, and to defray all expenses that may be needed to carry the law into full effect, and to punish all offenders against its provisions. “Now, suppose it possible that I could find two men who were fools enough to go my security and sign my bond. What then! I send to Cincinnati or Louisville for a supply of liquor; I open my establishment and mean to keep a good house and be a law abiding citizen. “One person comes in and buys a quart of brandy, and another a quart of whisky, and I suppose they honestly buy it to drink. I soon however find out my mistake. A writ is served on me to answer two indictments—one for selling adulterated brandy to A., and the other ior selling adulterated whisky to B. I feel easy about it—l am certain they can prove no such tiling. But my eyes are opei ed at court. The trials come on; A. swears he bought a quart of liquor from me for brandy, and that he took it immediately to Dr. W., a chemi, t, to analyze; and W. swears he is a chemist, and can with cer'ainty tell the ingredients of which any liquor is composed, and that the very quart of liquor called brandy, that was brought to him by A., on the particular day that A. swears he bought it of me, he (W.) carefully analyzed, and that it contains certain poisonous materials, and is adulterated. lam convicted by the jury—and if they are a jury opposed to liquor selling, they will put upon me the whole penalty of the law—three month’s imprisonment, and five hundred dollars fine. “Then comes up the case for selling the quart of adulterated whisky. The proof is as clear as the other, with the addition that there was strychnine enough in it to kill a large dog. Another three month's imprisonment and five hundred dollars fine. And enough of fines and penalties could be obtained on one week’s sale, to break me up and to endanger it not greatly damage my securities.”