The native American., 1839-01-26
OBSERVATIONS.
From ire Geo,gia .ftgus. Nov. 8.

done hy legislation. Undertakings that ought to
be left free individual enterprise, must have le-
gslaiive action upon them. Evils that can be re-
medied by public opinion alone, mast he acted
upon by tile Legislature. II an individual, or a.
dozen oi them, desire some advantage over their
neighhors, they manage TO slip bill through the
Legislature, under some prctext of public good
Hence the time Of the Legislature is taken up in
passing Laws, the most of which. TO saw the least
of them, Are Of no public utility, and many of
which are absolutely ni>ehlevous.
We have heen led to these remarks from having
ohserVedla the presen,ments nt some of the grand
Iurles disposition 10 get mp legislation upon the
sale of ardent spirits, by way of putting sop to
drunkenness.
Il is to us always mat e-lof regret to see ef-
forts making to legsiae uro hose thin which
belong exclusively to tie morality of The country.
We regret to see il. because it argues the exis-
tence IN that community of wofully corrupt state
OF morals in the mass. and am Of ftmness and
moral courage in those who pretend to be the
friends and advocates of morality and virtue. We
have often said and row say again, that the leg-
innate. and the only legitimate sphere of egisla-
tive acll1n. is 10 be found in the protection Of the
- rights Of the people. The morality and religion
o. the country must take care of themselves, and
when thew weak to do H. the attempt to
do it by es.Slatlon is farce and a inockerv. If
laws could execute themselves, then it might he
al some use TO engage in this sort of egis!atun;
but ii requires men To do il. and when any vice
not affecting the rights of individuals is so preva-
lent III the country 10 induce people to ask e-
gisalion for its suppression. it is conclusive evi-
dence that legislation will be Of no service. If
public opinion y i'll not put it down. that same pub
lic opinion VIII not permit the law TO he enforced
r Common sense teaches the truth Of this and ex-
perience proves it. Yon may la. about the use
OF ardent spirits as much YOU please. and abuse
the sale Of III hut as long as large portinn of tho
respectable part of the community drink it, and
Tor that purpose visit the places where it is sold,
nobody will indict those who drink those who
SELL Look at the laws against gambling-see
how they are executed. Two or three vea,s ago
the grand jury of this county were about to pre-
sent the gamblers, and as they found it
out they made out list of those citizens who
had gambed wi h them, and presented were
about to presenlt them, and the grand jury dropped
the whole matter. The laws against gambling
are fine things so long as they operate only on the
poor vagabond Of gambler, who has no wealth
nor friends nor influence; but if they should hap
pen touch the wealth and responsibility and the
blood of the coun!ry-w no. by their influence
and example. do more in Jury in day than the
gamblers would do in year--il is better that the
law should not be enforced!
A great deal is said about drunkenness and
gambling, and all these sort of things, hui people
are not much opposed to tn they want to
persuade themselves they are. 1t is true, if a
man gets drunk and spends all his property, or if
he CANDLES and is too dull or too honest to swim
die any body out of their money, every body's
face is set against htm but let young man get
drunk and gamble and make plenty of money,
and keep it, aud it may sometimes be said, 9 it's
pity 4le drinks and gambles,' but you treat him
with great deal more attention when you meet
him in the streets, you would invite him to your
house much sooner, and be more willing to see
him marry your daughter than poor young man
eofthe same intelligence, who pursuing some
honest avocaon for support. These efI,rts to
get up legislation for the suppression of these
vices are only contemplate pretences, to make
show of regard for virtue and morality where
there is none. When the laws are passed they
are never excepted. Ifpeople want these things
put down, let them mark the men who are guilty
of them. In the first place, neither drink nor
gamble yourselves give employment. nor coun-
tenance to man who does instead of giving
your sons fine clothes and fine horses and pocket
fuil OF money to go out to play the gentleman
upon, put them to some honest useful emI ,y-
ment when you invite men to your houses to as
sociate with Your wives and daughters, select
them for their morality. industry. and Intelligence.
and not for their money. Do this and Won will
econ have but few people TO @ mhle or to drink
ardent spirits; and when people qui, drinking il.
they iii quit selling it. But, while You pursue
a different course. do aot attempt to inAir, dis
grace upon man hy the law f1ran act which YOU
do not think sufheiept 10 exclude him from your
family circle.
IF there were (orty laws arains the retailing Of
ardent spirits, would be indicted for it, un-
less perhaps, it were some poor vagabond. No
7'ady would indict man who kept Il grnteeI FASH
ionahle drinking establishment Your grand iu
rors would then drink from one court 10 another.
and would not present The owner, because thew
would say they not bound 10 notice anv
thing that cane to their knowledge before they
were entnanneed, and during court they would
walk a Y,ile nut ot The way rather than 90 near
enough 10 see him selling liquors IF your Off
GERS were 10 do it. you would cry cut against them
for being too partic1la~: >'u would gay that the
I4w was only tended 10 put down low, vulgar
drinking shops; you would keep the witnesses
out Of the way ; get your solicitors 10 n"( rr2s.
ia hill ari all office who would be 81 very par-
t ."sr woull soon be put oul y! office.