THE ERRORS OF PROHIBITION. AN ARGUMENT DELIVERED IN THE REPRESENTATIVES' HALL, BOSTON, APRIL 3, 1867, BEFORE A JOINT SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL COURT OF MASSACHUSETTS. BY JOHN A. ANDREW. BOSTON: TICKNOR & FIELDS, 124 TREMONT ST INTRODUCTORY. At the present annual session of the General Court of Massachusetts, commencing in January, 1867, petitions were presented by Alpheus Hardy and others, praying for enactment of a judicious license law for the regulation and control of the sale of spirituous and fermented liquors in the Commonwealth. The number of these Petitioners during the session already (April, 1867,) comprises thirty thousand legal voters, and is increasing daily. A petition was also presented by the principal inn-keepers in the city of Boston, praying for such changes in existing laws concerning the sale of wines and liquors as shall allow them to supply the wants of the guests of their houses, yet under such excise and regulation and subject to such supervision as shall be deemed needful for the public good. A further petition was presented by the officers and trustees of the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, representing that under the present statutes it is impossible legally to conduct that business and perform its duties to the medical profession and the sick, and praying for such amendment of the law as that apothecaries may be enabled to conduct their business in a legal manner. Various petitions, numerously signed, were also presented to the General Court, remonstrating against any amendment of the existing prohibitory statutes. All these petitions were referred to a Joint Special Committee of the two branches of the legislature, composed of Messrs. MORSE, of Norfolk, ALEXANDER, of Hampden, Dow, of Middlesex, SWAN, of Bristol, On the part of the Senate; and Messrs. JEWELL, of Boston, ALDRICH, of Worcester, SHERMAN, of Lowell, WRIGHT, of Lawrence, AVERY, of Braintree, FLINN, of Chatham, MCCLELLAN, of Grafton, BARTLETT, of Roxbury, MADDEN, of Boston, On the part of the House of Representatives. The Petitioners were represented before the Committee by Hon. John A. Andrew and Hon. Linus Child, as counsel; and the Remonstrants were in like manner represented before the Committee by Hon. Asahel Huntington, Rev. A. A. Miner, D. D., and William B. Spooner, Esq., as counsel. The hearings were continued for four days in each week, (besides two evening sessions,) beginning February 19th, and ending April 3d, at first in the Senate Chamber, and afterwards in the Representatives' Hall, in the State House, at Boston. The opening argument for the Petitioners was made by Hon. LINUS CHILD, and the following witnesses were called, sworn and examined in their behalf:— |