Article #84 - Election Night Drunkenness in Kennett Square

            For The Journal

Mr. Editor     The election with all its excitement is past all surmise is at an end and we have to dwell beneath the reign of a Democratic rule [of Franklin Pierce] at least for four more years

whether for the better or worse time will make manifest. the whigs console themselves with the

thought that they have done their duty and were defeated in a good cause be that is it may be

one thing is certain that is there was more disturbance at the election in Kennett Square than was ever known there before residing some distance from there and happening to be in the place on that evening, I was attracted by the shouting and hurrahing, dismounting from horse I went into what appeared to be head-quarters and it was indeed the head-quarters for drunken[n]ess and blasphemy, there could be seen drunken[n]ess in all its glory, the barroom was crowded and

some had imbibed so much of the delicious beverage as to be almost insensible of what they

were doing, and would act out whatever thought their bewildered brain gave rise to thus it made

one continued scene of contension [sic] all running to and fro everyone anxious to do something

rather in advance of anything yet done struggling with each other in the vain endeavours to do

something they knowed not what sometimes I would hear the cry of put him out and with one

simultaneous rush they would clear the room of someone it mattered not who sometimes they

would elevate one on their shoulders and with his head scraping the ceiling they would carry him

to the door and while he was enjoying his ride he would be hurrahing for his favourite candidate

and as the inward heat arose they thought the stove was a nuisance and soon cleared the room of it but their good humour did not last long but soon gave way to passion they would curse each other and call on their God to damn to the lowest depths of perdition the soul of any one who

dare give them the least insult some few blows were exchanged but the constable being present

prevented any serious damage being done, in one instance a man well known for his temperance

principles entered the barroom some few of them consulted together for a few minutes and then the word of put him out was given and with one accord they sent him to the street. Shame was the cause of this, although they were intoxicated they had feeling enough to be ashamed of there [sic] condition especially when viewed by such a man, while these things were transpiring there behind the bar stood the one who caused them still dealing out the damning draught, but soon I became tired of viewing such scenes and withdrew as I was crossing the porch I heard someone

moaning as though in pain and upon drawing near beheld a young man scarce in the prime of life who had passed through the various scenes of drunken[n]ess and was now prostrate unable to move, he was alone all the others were to[o] busy to think of anyone but themselves, disgusted I mounted my horse and steered my course homeward, as I rode silently on a train of reflection passed through my mind. What thought I are such disgraceful scenes as these upheld by law, are men licensed to deal out this damning stuff to their fellow man and spreading drunken[n]ess and crime around. In this the nineteenth century in a country whose inhabitance [sic] are famed far and wide for their intelligence and yet such scenes as these transpiring unnoticed in their midst

it was with a feeling of shame that I admitted such to be the case, but it was with pleasure that I looked forward to the time when the Maine law* would spread its beneficial influence over our land, when such scenes as these would be looked back to with horror and he who votes to

sustain them considered a disgrace to society. God speed the time when the flag of temperance

may wave uninterrupted over our land and peace and plenty be restored to its inhabitance [sic], but further thoughts were cut short by my horse stopping before my own gate.

                                                Observer

*The Maine law, passed in 1851 in Maine, was one of the first statutory implementations of the developing temperance movement in the United States. Temperance activist Neal Dow helped force the law into existence. The passage of the law, which prohibited the sale of all alcoholic beverages except for "medicinal, mechanical or manufacturing purposes," quickly spread elsewhere, and by 1855 twelve states had joined Maine in total prohibition. These were "dry" states; states without prohibition laws were "wet." The act was unpopular with many working class people and immigrants. Opposition to the law turned violent in Portland, Maine on June 2, 1855 during an incident known as the Maine law riot. The riot was a contributing factor to the law being repealed in 1856.