Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-04-23
Number 10.
From the Albany Atlas.
LEGTsLATING OVER MORALS.


the time Of The present session to lubors
of somewhat auovel character Restrain
cd by public sentiment and State necessl-
ties IN tho direction in which il has here
tofore moved, Tho development Of tho
physical resources Of the State by means
Of internal improyemcn;s-its energies
have sought employment in the field Of
morals.
When one hundred and sixty men arc
required tomoot annually, to devote ono
fourth or third Of the year to luw-making,
they are very apt 10 90 out Of their lcgti-
mate province for the want Of materials 10
work upon, or keep within il by undoing
what their predecessors have done, or do
ing what their successors are sure TO undo.
The legislation OF the present session
has diyerged 10 subjects not heretofore
dcemsd 10 DO properly within the legIti-
mate sphere Of government. There are
projects of law before the two houses, in
various stages of progress, for prohibiting
tho sale of intoxicating liquors, Tor closing
tie canals on Sunday. prohibiting what
are deemed infringemenis Of the Sabbath,
and for furnishing RIGHTEOUSNESS, as tho
law making the fact Of paternity in an
unmarried man felony, denominated.
The people OF this Republic arc rccog-
nized in the character Of its institutions,
as capable Of sclGgovcrnmcnt, and the
majority have shown themselves worthy OF
the trust they haveto administer, by deny
ing to themselves, by the terms Of tho or
ganc law, oil power OF control over the
mere opinions and sentiments and moral
conduct Of the minority. They have or
ganized government Of limited powers,
and designated the Legislature topcrform,
within certain restricted limits, portion
of the functions for its exercise There
is, perhaps, no definite limitation Of tho
power Of government over tho moral ac-
lion OF its citizens. But there is, in the
fact Of lis being q republican government,
an admission that the people are al least
capable Of deciding upon what they shall
eat and drink, upon what due observance
they shall render to religious rites, and OF
restraining their passions without any now
intervention Judges, juries and jailors.
The history OF the moral progress Of
the American people shows how wise and
fortunate bus been tho abstinence Of tho
State from all Interference in The depart
ment Of mere abstract morality. la the
progress Of tho cause Of temperance alone,
there is an example, and a warning TO the
Legislative power There is not now, on
the statute book, a law that has aided the
cause Of temperance, and yet, unaided, it
has secured triumphs far wider, more en-
during, more acceptable 10 man, and more
glorious TO human nature than all the laws
framed by the highest human intellect,
and enforced by despo,lc power, could
; possibly attain. Yet, now that tho free
win efforts Of the phiIanthropsts, who have
engaged in this work, arc all but perfect
cd, the law proposes 70 step In and to ten-
der It's iails and bolts as aids 70 It's pro-
gress. II seeks to add the repnlsiye Gle
mont Of force 10 a cause which has found
infinite strength in the affections aud the
understanding Of man.
II such Legislation were merely useless,
if the laws il enuctedl lay dead on the sta
tuic book--whch is the best that can be
: expected Of them--thcy would be Of little
comparative Importance. But they are
Of a character 10 arouse spirit Of resist
ancc. The mere sembance Of authority
which they will have, may awake pas
q sions that may not &c os shadowy as ihcms
selves. Law has no other instrument than
fines and imprisonmcnt--thc con6scation
o Of the property Of citizens, or Of their IL
2 berry. @These are not instruments to de-
|. vote 10 the cause Of abstract morality,
1 much less 10 religion, and those who seek
to obirude either upon these sacred causes,
n bring danger upon both,