Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-08-07

this land of free institutions, have been ef.
lecred by appeals 10 the understanding and
The feelings of the people. Nor has the
privilege ever been denied TO any body Of
citizens peaceably to meet and respectfully
to address their fellow citizens, with refer
eoce to any existing abuses. either ia
legislation or morals. Does the Gem
eral Government. in The estimation ofany
of our citizens, transcend the limits as
signed TO its action by the Constitution of
the United States, who denies to such
citizens the right TO complain? Is the holy
Sabbath day openly and shamelessly vio-
lated, in conlrayention of human and
divine laws, who denies to those, who
reverence this sacred institution, the right
10 appeal 10 all clases OF society, that The
existing abuse may be speedily and effec-
tually removed? In either of the cases
supposed, who is there, that regards The
originating Of such movements. either as
stepping beyond their own bonnds, or as
infringing upon the rights of others?
Moral suason is the great resoluionizer
in q land of liberty; and whether it be ex
cried by one mau, or by numbers of men.
cemented bya common bond, i, is equally
unexceptionable. And iii, be right in US,
as members oil "free trade associations" 10
complain Of grievances. under the General
Governme n, can it be wrong in US, las mem
bers of Temperance Societies, TO complain
of grievances under The State Govern
ment? The very insirumentallly, which
we would employ for the accom- plishment
of our wishes IN the former case, we design
to use in the latter, which is nothing more
nor less than mural suasion.
We will respectfully, yet earnestly press
upon the attention of our fellow citizens
other considerations, which haye great
weight in our mind, and which strengthen
our desire 10 witness complete revolu-
tion in public sentiment, as regards The
subject before us. When we shall have
done that, we will leave our fellow citizens
to act for themselves.
The evils resulting from establishments,
where "wine is sold and drinkers enter
laincd" are so palpable, that legislation
was had upon this subject, as far hack as
the reign Of the 9Th Edward, when "keep-
ers of ale houses and Iippliug houses were
prohibited from carrying on their business,
unless permitted by the Sessions. or by
two Justices, who are required 10 take re-
cogDizance against gaming and for good
order" Notwithstanding this statute.
however, the privilege of keeping zip.
pIing houses" was so greatly abused, that
additional legislation was deemed necessa-
ry, as we learn from The statue of the first
James. where it is declared, that The
ancient, true and principal use Of inns,
ale-houses and victualling houses, was for
the receipt, relief and lodging o. way(arins
people, travelling from place to place."
and not "meant for harboring lewd and
Idle persons 10 "spend and consume their
money and time in lewd and idle man.
ner." And if we refer TO The history of
legislation in this country, we shall find
that, as far back as 1894, it is declared,
that the "upIimited number of taverns,
tapp houses and punch houses, and the
want Of sobrie,y, honesty and discretion,
iu the owners and masters of such houses,
have and will encourage all such vices as
usually are the productions of drunken
ness" When the bond, which uuited the
colonies 10 the mother country had been
severed, the people Of South Carolina; in
their sovereign capacity, as early as 1854,
gave their attention To this subjeci. and
passed salutary laws, in reference 10 it.
From that period, to The present lime,
legislative dction has been had upon this
subject; aud so late as 1885, an act was
passed, which was designed to protect the
good people of South Carolina, from The
abuses of "liceused retail shops" These
are important facts; and we feel constraip-
cd 10 call the attention Of cur fellow citi-
zens to Them! 4 little reflection will
satisfactorily show, first, that, If it be
wrong 10 Iegistale Upon the subjec, of re-
failing spiriluoGs liquors. ,fiis wrong has
been perpetrated not by Temperance So
cieties, but by the sovereign people upon
themselves.
1t appears also, from these historical
facts. that If, as the friends Of Temperance,
we should seek to promote it by legislative
action, we would do no more, than follow
the example Of our ancestors.
But while We disavow any such inlen.
lion on our part, as Temperance Societies.,
il is manifest, in the third place. that our
object is one, with that Of tho laws Of 5.
Carolina, 10 wit, to ''repress the odIous
and loalhsome sin Of drunkenness"
And lastly, not to multiply inlerences, 1t
is too plain, to oe concealed, that every
blow struck at Temperance Societies, be!
cause Of their efforts to mitigate the evils
resulting from The dram shops Of the land
reaches the laws ofthe State, the very vItais
of society. We beseech our fellow citl-
zeps to ponder this, well. There are,
however, considerations, of another char
acter, suggested hy these facts.
The laws of The land are exponents oil
the popular will, and that will is to be
carried out 10 the administration of The
laws, wbichilselfhas enacted. Otherwise