78 Ga. 683 | Ga. | 1887
On the 5th of March, 1875, an act was passed by the legislature to incorporate the city of Forsyth; and by the 5th section of that act, the mayor and aldermen were given power “to pass ordinances regulating the management of market-houses, private and public transportation through the city, bar-rooms and saloons licensed by them;” and by the 12th section of the act, they were vested “with full and exclusive power to regulate, control and direct the sale of ardent spirits, malt liquors, wines and cider, within the corporate limits of said town, impose such restrictions, charges, conditions and penalties upon the same as they, or a majority of them, may deem necessary and proper, not repugnant to the constitution and laws of this State.”
In 1882, the legislature passed a law applicable to the county of Monroe (acts 1882-3, p. 548), to prohibit the sale of spirituous and malt liquors in that county ; and it
We are further justified in this construction by the usage that has obtained among the people of this State. From the first, our people were always adverse to any legislation looking to interference with private business — to nosing about and inquiring into the private affairs of men; and it has only been on rare occasions — and these have been since the war — that any such legislation has been passed by the General Assembly of this State. It is known to all of us who are acquainted with the history of the State, that our people have been adverse to such meddling on the part of public officials, State, county or municipal.