The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-01-18

From :le EdgcEe,d -ddrcrtiser.

So: Iha Chairman Of the Joint Com
n.!t!"e 10 whom the memorials upon the
s>;:iect Of the License law was referred
has reported uniavo-ab!y, and has Sc
for!h ;he reasons FIR such Report al some
length. Tie fact that this report comes
from the Legislature, wells it in a sort o.
mystery to the common eye, AMI gives il
Il lict ,inus nportance with those who arc
ignnranl Of the details of business, and
lie triekery Of Legislation. Such person:
seem to be ignorant Of the fact, that this
Report is, alter all, but the production OF
Il single Individually" q man, perhaps, for
whlse opinions as an indiridual, they have
no respect, and to whose authority they
"a, all events, acknowledge no Difference.
Strip, then OF its imaginary importance,
will examine this Report, touching its
intrinsic merits. Respect for the source
whence it comes, but still more respect
for myself, forbid my characterising this
Report in the terms which il merits |
shall therefore cnieavor to give it a res
psctful and candid examination.
The Report declares "that any prohibit
tory legislation upon this subject (retaiI-
ing) at this time, is not advisable" The
reason assigned for this orininn is, that
such legislation would produce angry feel
ing, and party strife, which, in the opin-
ion Of the Chairman, would be greater
evil than all the drunkenness, crimr and
misery growing out Of the retail system.
And this opinion is based upon the fact,
that the Parliament Of great Britain pass
ed an act, in the year 1876, prohibiting
the introduction of liquor into the coun-
try: and this act could not be enforced,
one hundred gears ago, in Grea. Britain!
Is this all that our opponents can bring, |
from their laborious research among the
laws of nations and the records Of anti
quity, to answer our memorials? Then,
truly, may the friends of reform rejoice.
Our efforts, then, have the sanction Of
antiquity; other ages, and other people,
have left record, on the page of history,
Of their wisdom and their virtue, which
trust will not be lost upon their descend
ants in another land.
But what does the very learned argu-
ment, from the English statute book,
amount to? More than century ago, tile
people Of Great Britain we're so iniemper-
ate, that the great moral reform, which
was then attempted by the few virtuous
and wise, did not succeed! Therefore, the
effort to reform, in the opinion OF The (
Chairman, must ncrcr again be made,
Less than century since, Missionaries
we're sent to preach the gospel to the t
healhen, some were received with indif- t
were put to death; there {
iore, according 10 the logic Of the Chair t
man, you should no longer preach the t
gospel 10 qnu ono. Thai my illustration c
II the Chairman's argument is not forced t
'r unfair, will refer to an anecdole told S
" that great man, John Foster, in his t
york on popular Ignorance.' About "
he year 1870, just at the time this law
vas passed, Minister Of the Gospel, in r
me Of the parish churches in England, p
urtailed the morning service of the church tt
o nrgch, as to excite the curiosity of his p
upon which he explained II
1e circumstance thus; "Brethrcn, as q
cighbour Smiths Ball batting comes on e;
lis afternoon, | shortened the service as DIT
luch as possible, that the congregation m
light have good time for the SPORT III
his circumstance actually occurred in tn
'agland, not more than one hundred pt
ears ago! This was the state of morals, m
I'd these the people who refused to aban- B.
N their dram shops, and their bull bait OF
gs on the sabbath. What must have it
zen the morals of that people whose tic
mister was a Bull-hailer? And these ce
e the people who are held up, by the of
hartman, as our prototype. These are lc
e people with whom we are compared, III
ID whose example the Chairman suppos- CT
~e will follow. The insinuction is an tn
suit to the people Of South Carolina.- tel
pes the author Of this Report, regard Of
e people Of this State, as set of Bear
iting--Sabba,h breaking heathens!-- wi
serni-harbarous people on another con- fol
1cnt, century ago, refused to submit mi
the restraints Of law; and it is taken III
r granted Ly the author of the Report, tit
at the people Of south Carolina, whom Nj
!, regards, | suppose, as equally barba- arr
us, will evince the like resistance to the dit
ws. Is this an argumen: worthy of the CO
gh place whence it comes? Is this the fin
lswer the people had a right to expect, fin
om :he Chairman Of Legislative Com pr
"