John Dickinson Quotes

At the time, the chief executive of these states were called Presidents because they presided over the legislature as well. This proclamation was issued before the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and the later ratification separating church and state. However, even after the Constitution was ratified some states continued to use state law to enforce the Christian Sabbath. That practice would continue in some places until the 2nd half of the 20th century.

At one level this quotation shows that Congress made the rules and regulations of the armed forces and not the Commander in Chief or the General Officers. But the quotation is important for several other reasons. First, it is the first federal attempt to regulate alcohol and drinking. It is also what we would regard today as a severe infringement of freedom of speech. Politically, it was very hard for any member of Congress not to support legislation to prevent blasphemy. But these and other examples of over a decade of the Continental Congress legislation persuaded most Americans that Congress was not to be trusted to protect their rights and there was a real need for a Bill of Rights so that much of the early activity of the Continental Congress would not continue.

In effect this was one of the earliest civil Blue Laws.

Sunday Excise Laws, sometimes called “Blue Laws”, prohibited commercial activity on Sunday, the day most Christians believe to be the Sabbath. Then such laws had not been constitutionally tested and when the were later were they were all found to be unconstitutional. Some Christian sects believe that Saturday is the Sabbath as do most Jews. Muslims believe Friday is the Sabbath. So any state determination on the Sabbath favors some religious viewpoint and discriminates against others. Today, decisions about Sabbath are left to individual consumers and store owners. Saloon keepers were particularly hard hit if they catered to the working man as in those days people worked a 6 day week and Sunday was the only day that people had leisure time. When TR became Police Commissioner, the law was on the books but rarely enforced as they were unpopular with most of the population—the orthodox Christians excepted. He felt obligated to enforce it even if he thought it too strict himself.

This method of substance abuse prevention represents what scientists now call “environmental prevention” where instead of dealing with individual alcoholics the environment is altered to reduce the likelihood of developing fewer alcohol-related problems. Almost every state uses Locke’s principle and regulates the number of liquor outlets in any most areas. Those communities which have a very high density of bars and liquor stores tend to have more alcohol-related violence. The riots of the Watts area of Los Angeles in the late 20th century took place in one of the highest densities of liguor stores in the country.

Dodge was a hotbed of violence, gun-fighting, drinking, gambling and prostitution. At one point they had 19 saloons serving liquor for a total population of only 1200. The Governor wrote this letter to the mayor to get things under control. The mayor, also one of the town’s successful business men, was doing very well and was apposed to changing the status quo. He wrote a return letter {587195} to the mayor to get things under control. The mayor, also one of the town’s successful business men, was doing very well and was apposed to changing the status quo. He wrote this return letter trying to convince the governor to let him deal with things. Others accused him of being in cahoots with the violent element of town and an apologist for the worst elements of the community.

Dodge was a hotbed of violence, gun-fighting, drinking, gambling and prostitution. At one point they had 19 saloons serving liquor for a total population of only 1200. The Governor wrote to the mayor demanding change but the newspaper documented what really happened.

The motion to go on record against the Blue Law the closing of the World’s Fair on Sunday was supported by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and a few other leaders but it was too controversial to carry.

Aristotle adopted this view later in his Nichomachean Ethics. Mytilene was ddat war with Athens. Pittacus suggested that instead of the armies fighting, the war should be decided by a battle between him and the Athenian General who accepted. Pittacus won and was the Ruler of Athens, where he became quite popular. He wrote all his laws and decrees in poetry. He resigned after 10 years. He was considered one of the 7 great Greek Sages.

The poem was his summary of the Wickersham Commission’s (National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement) conclusion regarding Prohibition.

This is one of the several examples of Biblical injuntions to burn transgressors at the stake. See Related Quotes for others. Both New and Old Testamant not only did not condemn this cruelty, but actually proscribed it. This was one of the reasons that it was so difficult for Christian nations to abolish the practice. Not also the patriarchial nature of the rationale for such a punishment. It was not what the daughter did per se that was the offence. It was the the dishonor and profanity of the father that was the crime that had to be punished, Also, priest's daughters were treated more severly than other daughters.