Mr. Cummins made a vigorous canvass of the county, receiving in addition to the nomination of these so-called republicans, the nomination of the democratic convention, and by the aid of the democratic party and the whisky interests of the county he succeeded in being elected a member of the next general assembly under his oft-repeated pledge during the canvass to secure if possible the repeal of the prohibitory law, and the enactment of the license law. With all these influences, however, operating against the law, the next general assembly made no serious attempt to repeal the act. By an act approved January 29, 1857, the legislature had attempted to establish what was known as local option in Iowa. The act of 1857 provided for the license and sale of intoxicating liquors in any county of the state where the people by majority vote of the electors adopted the same, and by such adoption that the provisions of the act of 1854 would stand repealed as to that county. Our supreme court held this act of 1857 to be unconstitutional for the reason that our constitution required that all laws should be of uniform operation, and upon this subject of uniformity the court uses the following language: The sixth section of the bill of rights declares, that "all acts of a general nature shall have a uniform operation." Constitution, Article I. Recognizing as we do the distinction between laws of a general nature and those of a special or local character, we understand by the "operation" of a law is meant its practical working and effect. It is not, in our opinion, a sufficient compliance with the requirements of the constitution, that under the provisions of the act of the 29th of January, 1857, the question of licensing the sale of spirituous liquors is to be submitted to the vote of the qualified electors of all the counties of the state. Something more is contemplated by the constitution, in the words "uniform operation." We must look further, and to the effect of such submission to the vote of the people, and to the consequences to result from the adoption of the law. The prohibitory liquor law is a law of a general nature, and its operation must be uniform throughout the state. Can we say that such is the case, if it remains in full force in one county, while it is repealed in others by a vote of the people, and a license law adopted in its stead? And is the act of 1857, if the effect of it is to bring about this want of uniformity in the operation of a law of a general nature, to be deemed constitutional and valid? We think not.