| Ga. | Sep 15, 1879
Lead Opinion
It is impossible to ignoro the evils of intemperance or the blessings of religion. bio candid observer can fail to notice them or to be impressed by them. That the vocation of retailing spirituous liquors promotes intemperance is certain; nevertheless, a retailer is entitled to all his legal rights, and they cannot be denied to him in the interest of religion, great as it is, or in any other interest. No court can mould its decisions by a higher standard of morality than the morality of the law. Law is the measure of forensic justice. So far as I know, the conrt-house is the only place on earth where the vicious and the virtuous may contend upon perfectly equal terms, receive the same patient and impartial hearing, and have their respective dues, whatever they may be, meted out in the decision. It is this characteristic, more than any other, which entitles the court-house to be called a temple of justice.
Under these charter provisions, the mayor and council establh-hed bj7 ordinance a fee of $175.00 for a license to retail spirituous liquors; and on the 5th of January, 1878, the plaintiffs in error paid the fee, gave the required bond, took the prescribed oath, and procured a license to retail for twelve months from that date. There is no dispute that they thus became entitled to retail within the town, and that they entered into business accordingly. Shortly afterwards, new incumbents were installed in the mayoralty and council, and the former board' retired. The new board, of which the defendants were members, passed an ordinance in the following terms, and caused it to be enforced :
“ Be it ordained that during the continuance of divine service at any time hereafter to be held by any denomination of Christian people within the corporate limits of Stone Mountain, the doors of all houses or rooms where intoxicating liquors are sold by íetail shall be closed ; and if any person sell or cause or permit to be sold, or in any manner furnish any intoxicating liquors, spirits, wines, or other intoxicating drinks during the time appropriated to such worship, he shall pay a fine of fifty dollars upon conviction for each offense. And it is further ordained that this prohibition shall cover the entire time appointed for such divine worship, from its commencement to its final close, that is,
At the trial of the present case in the court below, tbe presiding judge charged the jury that the mayor and council had power, by virtue of the charter, to pass and enforce this ordinance. The jury were thus constrained to find against the plaintiffs on one of the main branches of the controversy.
a. The chartered power in respect to license is to grant or withhold, and the duration of the grant cannot be less than twelve months. Does the power to grant or withhold include or imply the power to grant, and after granting, to forbid the use for some indefinite or uncertain part of the twelve months, both by day and by night? Nothing is more manifest than that the validity of the ordinance cannot be made to rest on this provision of the charter.
b. The general police powers conferred by the charter are, however, very broad and comprehensive. May the ordinance stand upon them ? Mark that the divine service or worship which the ordinance embraces is not confined to public service or worship in a church, meeting-house, or other defined or described place' or places, but that the ordinance comprehends worship conducted anywhere in the town. By charter the area of the town is a circle having a radius of l'OOO yards, and, of course, a .diameter of 2000. Any denomination of Christians might assemble on any part of this area, at any time, by day or night, and when their services of devotion began the business of the plaintiffs had to be suspended and remain suspended until the services were over. The worshippers might take rests or intervals in their spiritual exercise, and during these, might return to their avocations and prosecute them, but the plaintiffs’ doors were to remain closed until the final breaking up. By adjournment from day to day and from night to night, a religious meeting might be protracted indefinitely; and in a time of peculiar zeal and excitement, a few such pro
o. But were it competent for the mayor and council to set up indirectly any will other than that of the corporation to regulate the time of closing and re-opening the plaintiffs’ doors, and could they select for that purpose the devotional will of worshipping assemblies, it is contrary to the spirit and genius of our law to discriminate for or against any particular religion, faith or creed. There can be no monopoly of any privilege connected with worship or the protection of worship. If profane doors must close for one faith, they must for every faith. To readers of the constitution and the Code of Georgia, such a phrase as “any denomination of Christian people,” is unfamiliar as a legal
Buildings used for “public worship” exempt from taxation. §798, p. 4. “Church” may be incorporated. §1677. Conveyances to or for use of any “church or religions society” for the purpose of erecting “churches or meetinghouses,” good and valid. §2343. Trustees subject to the authority of the “church or religious society” for which they hold in trust. §2344. Provisions for “religious” instruction or worship, proper matter of charity for equitable jurisdiction. §3157, p. 3. Nothing “religious” if licentious in tendency, or inconsistent with the peace and safety of the state. §3159. Every “church or religions society” authorized to fill up vacancies in its trust board. §2345. All criminal laws in force March 5th, 1856, for the protection of “religions societies,” extended to all societies by whatsoever name called. §2346. Selling, or causing to be sold, any spirituous or intoxicating liquors, within one mile of any “chuicli or meeting-house,” or other place set apart or being used for “divine service,” during the time appropriated to such worship (unless the same be within an incorporated city or town), declared a misdemeanor. §4575. Vending or exposing to sale anything whatever within one mile of a camp-ground, during a period of “divine worship,” without written consent, made penal. §4576. Policemen may be appointed for any incorporated “church or campground,” whose duty it is to arrest disturbers of the congregation assembled for “religious worship.” §4577. Bathing on the sabbath day in view of any route to or from any “house of religious worship,” declared a misdemeanor. §4581. The religious attitude of Georgia is that of a friend to religion generally, with no faith or creed of her own, and no preference for one over another. Iler laws protect all equally and impartially, and she has conferred no authority on any local board or other body of magistracy to legislate in behalf of the “denominations of Christian people” and leave all others out. There is no “state” religion, and there cannot be a “town” religion.
The charge was erroneous, and there should be a new trial.
Judgment reversed.
Concurrence Opinion
concurring.
The seventh section of the charter of Stone Mountain declares “ that the mayor and council of Stone Mountain shall have power to grant or withhold, to any person or persons, license to retail and sell spirituous liquors within said limits (one thousand yards in every direction from the Georgia Railroad depot), and in no case shall the license be for a larger sum than $2U0.00 for twelve months, and no license shall be granted for a less time, and the person receiving the same shall execute bond, etc.” This section of the charter is exhaustive upon the question of retailing spirituous liquors within the limits of Stone Mountain, and confers no authority on the mayor and council to pass the ordinance complained of. The sole power granted in the charter in relation to the sale of spirituous liquors within the limits of the corporation, is the power to withhold or
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting.
1. It is true that the constitution and laws of Georgia open the entire state to the free exercise of religions opinion and worship therein, so long as such worship does not embrace or encourage licentiousness or immorality ; and Jew or Gentile, Christian or Pagan, are alike entitled to equal protection under our liberal and wise toleration of perfect freedom'of religious thought, and equality of protection extended to religious worship. Nor do I suppose that it entered into the brain either of the counsel who advised, or the town authorities of Stone Mountain who enacted, the ordinance in question, that any preference was thereby given to Christians over other worshippers. It so happens that at Stone Mountain, as in most of Georgia villages, the only churches are Christian, and the only worshipping societies are believers in Christ as the Son of God. If there be a place of worship or any society of worshippers according to any other faith within the limits of Stone Mountain, the record does not disclose it, nor have I ever heard of such place of worship or society of worshippers therein. If such had been the case, doubtless the ordinance would have extended to them, as it should, equal protection
2. The charter of Stone Mountain gives to the town authorities power to grant or to withhold license to retail spirituous liquors. The power to grant, covers the terms on which license is granted, except in so far as the terms are prescribed and restricted in the legislative grant of the power. Therefore, the restriction that the retailer should not sell during rqligious meetings, whether stated or protracted, whether white or colored, is within the grant to license, that restriction not being forbidden by any words in the grant to license or in any other part of the charter.
A greater power includes the less over the same subject-matter ; therefore the power to withhold license altogether includes the power to withhold unless it be accepted on terms, or to withhold for certain solemn occasions, or festive occasions, or on certain days. Therefore the power to put this restriction upon these retailers is clearly deducible from the very broad grant of power to withhold all license.
3. If it be argued that after this license was granted, the council could not curtail or restrict its unlimited exercise for one year, I answer that these plaintiffs, in order to obtain license, voluntarily agreed to take it subject to any future ordinance which might be passed by the council granting it, or by their successors. Therefore they stand precisely as if the ordinance had been passed prior to the issuance of the license. They not only so agreed, but came under bond with hands and seals thereunto affixed, to be controlled and regulated in their traffic by ordinances enacted in the future. This agreement and bond became part of the contract of license, as much so as if included in the same writing — and they are bound by their contract.
4. The plain facts, considered altogether, irrespective of any isolated views of law applicable to portions thereof,
The suit is brought to recover damages from the town authorities as individuals, for their conduct in the discharge of their public trusts. It is brought, under the following state of facts. A wot and dry ticket were voted for for town authorities. Those in favor of the retail of spirituous liquors and those against it met in battle. There was an open field and a fair fight, and at the close of the day victory perched upon the hosts of temperance, and the dram-sellers were sorely diseomfitted.
What should, what could they do? They hastened to the outgoing council, before the victors who had fairly won the field could be installed, and applied for license. Everybody loves fair play. It looked wrong even to the outgoing party1 to run counter to the policy of a majority of the people, and to forestall their contemplated stoppage of the traffic. So they finally concluded not altogether to disoblige their friends, the applicants, but to grant-the license sub modo, on condition that they should be protected, and that the incoming administration should be permitted to do after liceni-e whatever they themselves could do before. Thereupon, on being installed a few days thereafter, the new council, naturally distrustful of those who thus procured license and anxious to do nothing without legal authority took legal counsel and advised with Judge Floyd in respect to their powers under this state of facts, and their charter. The judge advised them that they could not revoke the license, but that, they could regulate how itshonld be used ; and at their request drew up the ordinance in question which the council adopted. And this suit is brought by these plaintiffs, thus obtaining license against the will of the majority of the community in which they live, and thus under bond imposed by their own friends to abide the terms which should be imposed by the new council, against that council for their official conduct in passing the ordinance and enforcing it, on the ground that they acted ma-.
In my judgment there is neither law nor equity, nor good sense, nor good morals, in permitting plaintiffs to re co.ver one cent; and I therefore dissent from the judgment of reversal — with entire respect, let me add, for my colleagues, and with regret that my own convictions are too strong to permit me to yield to their view of the law.