The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1839-12-28

ION on SUBJECT ike This, IS frequently
change it to an antagonist, and in it Great
a C 'unteracting influence seldomto be ca.
troIlcd, and which may be for years rio,
and wild without the possibility of correc-
ton. The history of the attempts which
have been made to correct this evil in 9TH
er communities, will most fully support the
CORE ctness ofthese views.
Your committee, in the examination
which they have made concerning the pro-
priety of any legislation, have referred with
some eagerncss, to the effect of the regu-
lations which in Great Britain have been
adopted to suppress the use of spirituous
liquors. In England, in the year 1885,
ministers from their pulpits, and grand ju-
ries in their presentments. denounced the
use of ardent spirits. The most severe
measures were enacted for the suppress
sion of this evil. Ingenuity seems to have
been taxed to furnish means for the dctec-
ton and punishment of the offender. But
instead of supprcssing, they had an effect
directly the reverse. The law, it is said,
"became odious and contemplate, and
policy and humanity forced the commits
sioners of excise to mitigate its penalties" :"
At the very time when the most severe
measures were adopted for the suppress
sion of this vice, upwards of seven mil
lions of gallons were consumed annually.
At length the folly of the attempt display
ed itsclfso plainly, that no one could long
Ier doubt. In l742, the law was repeal
ed, and the conviction, which has forced
itself upon the minds of all, who have
calmly and deliberately examined the
question is, that it is impossible to repress
the evil by prohibitory enactments. The
attempt has been productive of more inju-
ry than could possibly result from the sale
of ardent spirits.
1t is not however to England alone that
that the investigation is to be confined
In Ireland, similar legislation produced, it
is said, more than the horrors of civilized
warfare, and in Scotland, the effects were
scarcely less disastrous. In the United
States the same consequences have result
ed. In whatever Of the states prohibitory
enactments have been made against the
consumption of spirituous liquors, eva
sions Of the law, the most disgraceful and
pernicious to the morals Of the people
have resulted, or popular disconten: has
erected itself into antagonist faction. A
contest ensuns between .anatcal reform
ers, and those who in their opposition will
lend themselves to the widest anarchy
In matter where such conscquenccshavc
resulted, and may again result, it is the sug-
gcstion of wisdom and patriotism to pause
and reflect. If we enter upon system
of legislation now new to us, but long
since tried and condemned, as Intellectual
in other countries, the sir Of the consc-
quences must fall surely ON all who urge
its adoption. There is no reason why the
consequences which have resulted in 9th.
er communities should not betall us. And
if by perseverance in such measures, we
should introduce an habtual disregard of
law-make perjury common, and cause
the citizen who is now an example, to be-
come, from violent opposition to such mea-
sures, the ally of the lowest; if we excite
the passions of all to a degree, at which
they will lose sight of the distinctions Of
right and wrong; we may boast of having
prohibited the use of spirituous liquors,
but we shall long deplore the blight which
such reform would produce.
Your committee have not been able to
concur in opinion with those who advo-
cate repeal of the license laws. The H.
cense tax is not tax legalizing that which
is intrinsically unlawful. 1t might with as
much propriety be said that labor is for
bidden, because the laborer furnishes to
the Treasury, a portion of his labor in the
tax he pays. The tax on spilituous IL
quors may be comparatively higher, be-
cause it is tax on what is considered a
luxury. 1t supports therefore higher
tax than any other articles, which are es-
sential: and on which consequently the
price of enjoyment or use as the rate Of
taxation is much reduced. 1t docs not
seem to your committee, that the present
license laws are obnoxious to the charge
Of absurdity, Or to the still more serious
! l. r. xI,t Il