Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1845-02-06

hisurred ~ many that we have no right 70
protibit this traIsic--it would be an invasion Of
their Liberty. This b1siuess has 20 long enjoyed
legal protection. that it claims to be regarded as
pre-eminsntly AMI Inherently . !" lawful business
This plea We will now consider. PEI hi .se led
A lascfi3 business il undoubtedly is. while pro-
tected BY law. But its only defence is in the stat
ute. on which, BY the graceof dsluded peoples
is suffered to lean. Strip it of that and it is
ked and fragrant nuisance. deserving beyond any
other to be instantly and Indignantly chased from
the haunts Of men,. Repeal the statute which now
shields IT, and this business, standing on its own
merits. wonld be indictable at Common Law.
We could bring the dealer to Justice, on themani-
fest tendency Of his traffic. as an accessory, and as
wanton and feioniops triher with the peace and
virtue Of society. While Law embodies' the full
temperance sentiment of the community, 1t is well
to have Law but If we are LEFT to choose between
no Law. and such Law as for the last three years
has at once stimulated and shielded the traffic in
this State, give Us hQne-leave US to Zeal with j
simply Is naissnee. Yes, this is lqscfasl busi-
exceedingly 70 and that is the very point Of
our inquirywhetherS we shall longer legalize this
rs
Incompatible curse. ~ N. belrls,... as
But the plea goes further, and denies that sccie-
ty has right to inteFdict this traffic. reply, it
is the main prerogative of government to poo
| hibit what wars on the we'll being Of. Society
Predictions 10 its end and business--the protection
Of the possessions, the rights, the industry, and
the, virtue Of community, from the invasions Of
| the lawless and mischievous. Hence the main,
fanctioaos government is Probation. II office
is to supervise the Complicated. and often clashng
operations Of self love among the associated thou
sands Of which society Is composed, and restrain
its injurious workings. We need civil govern
ment, simply because in the social state we are ex-
posed TO iniury from the evil minded. Its end is
protection and its power 10 nrotect. lies ii its
prwer to prohibit whatever conflicts with social
| order and priyafe rights. Turn now TO our Stat.
ME d.avvs and hi. val End This ahe neanino Of
each enactment Directly or indirectly. each Stat.
ME i. ! yro.eef;ee prosi5;t;on. n presupposes
some lawful interest endangered. some Iaudable
pursuit molested, some social riale inyaded--and
the Statute is thu arm IL The social confederacy.
stretched forth to project the violated right. by
prohibiting the invasion sms,
The only question then Il. does traffic in all
coholic drinks ;nfliot any serious injury on the
rights. interests. affections. 81 virtue of the COM
munitys By that issue Ill must abide. 1t stands
impeached in the name If every virtue. in the
name Of ali things ure and beautiful. and blessed,
as the pitiless invader of them all. Where else is
! there another such gushing fountain of yderange-
ment to all the interests Of the social state. Soci-
ety has no enemy so Injurious as this--none from
which all lust interests and rights so earnestly
CRY aloud for protection. We have panpered this
traffic with our sanctions, till ii has waxei tat and
kicked ii all restrictions Ii deyours III victims
at MONDAY, and sows or state with thriftlessness
and imnqralty. violence and crime; and pauses
from banqustins on broken hearts. and ruined
hopes and fallen character. only to tell US. with
'front.' Of brass. that we have no remedy We may
prohibit thet and arson and several other things,
but not TINS! Away with government as soonas
you piease-H Is an unmesnlng ana worthless
ining--h you deny " on principle. the power and
the right 70 Protect vs. py 9ronioning such war
fare onthe public good. SoH
But We must listen a moment TO he-dealers and
their constituents = You invade cur liberties
we nave natural F'shtso deal and drink as we
please? Admitted ,yen have ~ natural right to
90 80. But receiiecf where. you are. We are not
savages. It's good thing, we find, for men to
dwell together N the social state: but in the So
cal state every man yields many points OF natural
liberty. as me price o. protection from the injur'
ons aetion Oh DINERS. TO for'n our Of the social
s'aIe' away Hom any society OF your fellow beings