Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 1.djvu/180

128 that the legislature has no right to prohibit the introduction or the sale of liquors, and this probably the strongest used in defense of your bill. But do you not as effectually prohibit every person who has not the sum of one, two, or three hundred dollars to pay for his license, as does the law now on the statute book? Are not your proposed fines and penalties, as great or greater than those of the old law? Where, then, is the benefit to the people? There is no doubt in my mind, but that the law will be evaded as easily, and as often, under the new law, as it was under the old, and, in addition to this, there will be the legal manufacturers, importers, and sellers, who will be able, under the sanction of law, to scatter all the evils attendant upon the use of alcholic drink. We are in an Indian country; men will be found who will supply them with liquor as long as they have beaver, blankets, and horses to pay for it. If a quantity should be introduced among the Walla-Wallas, and other tribes in the upper country who can fortell the consequences—there we have families exposed, cut off from the protection of the settlements, and perhaps at the first drunken frolic of the Indians in that region, they may be cut off from the face of the earth. But we need not go so far; we are exposed in every part of our frontier, and when difficulties once commence, we cannot tell where they will cease.

It has been proved before the house of commons, that one-half of the insanity, two-thirds of the pauperism, and three-fourths of the crimes of Great Britian, may be directly traced to the use of alcholic drink. The testimony of our most eminent judges in the Unites States, shows that the same proportion of crime is attributable to ardent spirits in that country. Statistics might be produced, showing the enormous evil and expense of an indiscriminate use of liquor.

As to revenue, the small amount received for licenses, instead of being a revenue, would be swallowed up in the expenses attending trials for crimes, &c., caused by the crime of these licenses.

But, leaving all other countries out of view, let us consider our own state. Surrounded by Indians, no military force to aid the executive and other officers in the discharge of their duties, not a solitary prison in the land, in which to confine offenders against the law, and consequently no way of enforcing the penalties of the law. I think these things should call for calm and serious reflection, before passing your final vote on this bill. My opinion is, the people are opposed to legalizing the introduction and sale of liquor in this land. I may be mistaken, and therefore should be in favor of the old law, or something similar should be adopted, of referring the whole matter to the polls at the next general election. If the people say 'no liquor,' continue to prohibit; if they say, through the ballot box, 'we wish liquor,' then let it come free, the same as dry goods, or any other article imported or manufactured; but, until the people say they want it, I hope you will use your influence to keep it out of the territory.

It is with regret that I return any bill unsigned, but I feel that we both have duties to perform and when we think duty points out the way, I trust we may always be found willing to follow it.

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