Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-07-30

wholesome laws. Il is true that the consilu-
ton provides that, Congress shall regulate
Commerce" and there would seem 10 be some
apology for the unfortunate merchant, # he
should, IN such case as this, employ eminent
counsel, and Try the consiituionality OF his case
but who 80 simple a 10 believe he would be
successful Do you think Mr.. Webster would
advise II No doubt. il the suit had commenced
ne would act rs counsel and, we doubt not
with more heartfelt satisfaction, than he can
now desire, IN Sustaining, or endeavorlng to
sustain q business which he knows, is the de-
SlrucIlOn OF happiness and the ruin of most of
allwho engage in IL. Exol btant as he may charge
Tor his services, We believe ii will be the dear
est case he ever undertook, lone that he will
never be proud of, if successful and, whether
successful or Otherwise, will afford him no con-
ISOLATION, when human applause, shall be no
more satisfying, than the passing breeze. We
are sorry that MIR. Webster has consented TO de.
lend tins case, not on account of any fears Of
the result, for we have none but on his own.
lie is altogether too good to defend cause SO
miserable. IL is acknowledged by our oppo-
nents, that the only hope of success they have,
Is contained IN the quotation We have made :;
and, we believe, our feeble endeavor TO show,
that, Notwithstanding we admit that, the power
10 regulate commerce, is not IN any State, but
in Congress, still, that The poner 10 regulate an
erH or dgem us from any DANGER pCSitire or
eared rs one ofhoSe rights reserrtd Jy Me States, in
the foiioning scords. article ID EACH STATE CON
FEDeRATF, RETAINS ms SOVEREIGNTY, FREEDOM
AND iNDEPkNnENcE. AND EVERY POWER. JuRlsDIc
TIoN AND RIGHT. waICH Is NOT, BY THIS CoNFED-
GRAFTON, EXPRESSLY DELEGATED TO THE UNITED
STATES, ia Congress assembled"
As before stated, il is matter of history, that
Tor two hundred years, the Stale OF Rhode Is
land has assumed The right To regulate the sale
OF intoxicating drinks and that this right, nm
M recently, has never been questioned VIZ
PLANT OURSELVES UPON THIS POSITION, and call
upon our opponents, including Mr.. Webster, 10
point ont The time mhen and The place nhere Me
right 0f The State, ,cds EXPRESSLY" surrendered
II il was surrendered. then the Quarantine reg.
uations were also surrendered, for the one is as
much "eLpressed' as the other. II the right To
regulate commerce is that provision which
" "erpHSsfy' surrendered our right to regulate
the sale OF intoxicating drinks. it certainly bears
with much more weight upon our Quarantine
laws. for they do, as we have shown, most Sc
fiouSly interfere with commerce: But il cannot
be So,-our opponents believe no such thing F;
and, If they were as sanguine of success, as
they profess to be, why do they permi, their
case 10 slumber in the Supreme Court, for a
full bench :" The fact is, they are not sangllne.
aud their object is 10 delay.
Having, as we promised, briefly, but as we
think cuncluSively made good our promises
and shown, first, that the sale of intoxicating
drinks Is a great evil, in our land - -sccOndiy
that The License Laws. which lcgalizc the trade
and makes ii respectable, is wrong in principle,
injurious To the best interests of the people, and
does not effect the object desired that ii eStab.
fishes a monopoly and, what is worse, punish.
rs man tor his poverty, and not for his sins !;
and thirdly, that the States have a right to reg
ulae The business, IN their own way and, that
such legislation does not in any manner, con.
tllct with the Constitution of the United States,
we consider ourselves under no obligation, by
virtue of our promise, at the commencement,
further TO write upon the subject bat as men
are slow to believe" and particularly anx.
ions to sustain their opinions when their inter
eS,S can thereby be promoted, we may, from
time to time a. our leisure will permit, give
such other views in relation to this miserable
business, as is hoped NAV bcnch, such as are
not completely blinded, to the duties and the
obligations imposed upon them, by Him who
has commanded us TO love our ncighbor as
IourSelf
We again assert, with rs much confidence as
before, that, as individuals we have no more
interest in this matter than our opponents -
indeed, we feel we have even less, for it cannot
be supposed, that men who are active in the
cause of temperance, and, both by precepl and
example, cndeavoring 10 save their unfortunate
brethren, from The sin, the shame and the mis-.
cry Of intcmpefance, are so likely To be left of
God, as to become incorporate themselves or to
mourn over it. in their families, as their oppo.
ncnts are. We know that the providcnces of
God, are TO us, miserable short-sighted crea
fureS frequently dark, mysterious and painful ;
but, as general rule, we may expect every
seed, to produce its likeness. When the friends
Iof temperance look ont upon this beautiful
world, and see, that but for sin, it is good
enough for them ever to dwell in when they
reflect upon the chief cause, OF all the sin, so
visible, and 50 heartrending; and then, with
streaming cycs,--wi,h gratitude and love to
that God, who, by his rich grace, in Jesus
Christ, has made them to differ, not only with
those who are stepped in The lowest depreciation
of drunkenness, but also from those, who hold
The cup 10 their lips with what confidence NAV
they appeal to their father in heaven, to save
them, and those most dear, from the effect oil
this awful curse.
The enquiry is frequently made, why are YOU
SO active: why not let others do 1t : 1t will bel
unpopular, it will iniurc your business and you|
viii yet regret it. We answer, "none Of these
things move uS';-dRiics are 0nrs--,esuits ,rc
harc uM G0d and besides this, ihcre is lux.
ury in doing good, which no one unacqnainled
with the feeling knows how to value. We in
vito the manufacturer, the vender and the
consumer, most earnestly and atTectunaey TO
1.