October 16, 1861
CITY COUNCIL - THE LIQUOR SELLERS AND THE SOLDIERS. - Since the quartering of the soldiers at Camp Carlile many blue uniforms have been seen swaying to and fro on the streets, and many difficulties have occurred in consequence of the fluid that is abundantly dispensed among the sons of Mars. Soldiers have been arrested and not being able to pay their fines have been put upon the chain gang, so that, unless taken off by their officers, they are of course absent from duty. Recently the State authorities requested the City Council to pass an ordinance prohibiting the keepers of coffee houses and ordinaries from selling liquor to soldiers. The Council was called together last evening for that purpose.
Mayor Sweeney read a letter from Adjutant-General Samuels, requesting the Council to pass an ordinance as aforesaid, urging that the safety of the city and the discipline of the camps required some such action.
Mr. Jacob, from the Committee on Ordinances, read an ordinance embracing provisions similar to an act of Congress passed at the last session, prohibiting the sale of liquor to soldiers in Washington City. The ordinance provides that all persons convicted of selling, giving or administering liquor, knowingly, to officers or soldiers, shall pay a fine of not less than ten dollars nor more than twenty dollars. In case of default of payment, the ordinance provides that the party offending shall work out the amount upon the chain gang.
The ordinance was passed.
October 17, 1861
SELLING LIQUOR TO SOLDIERS. - The ordinance passed by the City Council on Monday evening, prohibiting the sale of liquor to soldiers, is published to-day. The ordinance is calculated to puzzle the liquor seller, the soldier and the officer. A Brigadier General can no more get a dram of liquor now than can a common soldier. By a strict construction of the ordinance, no liquor seller can sell a glass or liquor to any person wearing the uniform of a soldier, even if such person is known not to be a soldier. The law says, "spirituous or intoxicating drink," so that the vexed question of whether lager beer will intoxicate may come up again. Altogether, the Sons of Mars are going to have a hard time wetting their whistles.
October 17, 1861
AN ORDINANCE
To prohibit the sale of spirituous liquors and intoxicating drinks to soldiers.
Whereas, it is the wish of the Government and officers in command here, that the free indulgence in the use of ardent spirits and other intoxicating drinks should be suppressed.
Sec. 1. Be it ordained by the Council in Common Council assembled, that it shall not be lawful for any person in the corporate limits of the city of Wheeling, knowingly, to sell, give or administer to any officer, soldier or volunteer in the service of the United States, or of this State, or to any person wearing the uniform of such officer soldier or volunteer, any spirituous liquor or intoxicating drink; Provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to hinder or obstruct the sale or administering of such liquors or drinks to such officer, soldier or volunteer by apothecaries, upon prescription of a surgeon or physician.
Sec. 2. Be it further ordained, that every person offending against the provisions of this ordinance, shall, upon conviction thereof, before the Mayor or any Alderman of the city, or Justice of the Peace of Ohio county, be fined in a sum not less than Ten nor more than Twenty dollars, and in default of the payment of such fine, such person shall be subjected to labor, without compensation, as is provided in the ordinance "to prevent certain improper practices" therein specified, and found at pages 151, 152, 153, 154, 155 and 156 in the volume of printed ordinances of the city, published in the year 1855, and the ordinance to amend the last named ordinance, passed the 16th day of May, 1861.
Sec. 3. This ordinance shall be in force from and after the 21st day of October, 1861.
Passed Oct. 15th, 1861.
oct17-3t Jacob Burkle, Clerk.
WTimeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: October 1861