On the same day a proposition was made, by Mr. Preston, of Shawnee Co.,
to amend the Miscellaneous article by adding the following section:
"Sec. —. The Legislature shall have power to regulate or prohibit the
sale of alcoholic liquors, except for mechanical and medicinal
purposes."
A motion made to lay this amendment on the table, was defeated, by a
vote of 18 ayes to 31 nays. But the anxiety of the members to exclude
from the Constitution any provision that might render its adoption
doubtful, or prevent the admission of the State, finally prevailed, and
after a full interchange of views, Mr. Preston withdrew his amendment.
There is, it is said, nothing new under the sun. Those who imagine that
the prohibition amendment adopted in 1880 was a new departure in
Constitution making, have never examined the records of the Wyandotte
Convention.