Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-03-05
The license Law.

days Sentinel, who subscribes K, doubts or rather
Processes to doubt exceedingly the Vereiy of
ton which appeared few weeks ago in the Demo-
craft" that much excitement existed on account of
the license law" After attempting to shew that there
was no occasion, for excitement except among groce-
~ Keepers lest their craft might sufer-because the
passage of the law was fairly procured-because the
subject had been publicly discussed through the fall
and winfer-because petitions asking for such n law
were widely OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES said petitions were
numerouSy Signed telling US that the law is
democratc-that no mans rights injured, (by t.)
because Tin his opinion Of course) man has right
to keep grog-shop; to prove which want of right
he asks with an air of triumph whether any has
right to keep gambling house or house of i'll
Iame or, what must be new idea TO every one,
whether any one has right to stop traveller and
take his money Surely n does not want information
on these points, in contemplation of his present occupa
ton, whatever it is, failing. He would sci. grog
however, Tor he says, ''groggeres effect more devasa-
ton than them all together" Meaning, probably that
more devastations effected through the means of
groceries than through those of gamblng houses, bro
thels, or highway robbers But excuse his English
After long rigmaroe of vain assertions, without
argument, X flaps his wings and crows out, " We all
stand together in opinion-all pronounce traffic in
liquors great wrongl" When did K take the ques-
toni Whilst he was writing, indeed, he heard no
dlssentient voice, and he opnes. doubt, that his
unsubstantiated assertions carry their proof with
them.
As you can only afford to dispuants on this ques-
ton reasonable scope, and a reply to all the asser
tons of would require a scope somewhat unreason-
able, let it suffice at present to ask X few ques-
tons.
Is it constitutional in this free country, that ono
part of the community shall be restricted eating
drinking what TO them good through the inter
ference of set of enthusiasts who because hey are
persuaded that the of certain viands or certain
beverages is injurious wrong contrive obtain the
of 70 &c clo
Or is the law itself consistent with the free
tion Of which we boast :!
Ought that part Of the community who have sense
enough to perceive the olly-the iniquity of being
ruled by set Of enthusiastic had almost said
fanatics-to submit TO such law!
lis the law not an entering wedge TO make room for
still greater and more important restrictions upon the
people by the would-be saints and is it not ap
Proclamation to connexion between church and Staei
Will the law have any tendency to abolish the evil
of drunkenness; or will it not rather promote it!
Let K. and his co-adutors exercise their persuasive
talents to the utmost of their skill to induce men to
be sober; let them if they choose by the terrors of
the Lord persuade men to abstain from what is I'M
seemly and will applaud their efforts and assist them
TO the best of my power. But let them not by the
terrorS Of the law restrict men from the use of what
has been provided for them.
may take another occasion to say moro on the
subject but fobear at present. as wish to keep with
IN reasonable scope. Much remains to be said Q.
HUMAN NATURE. We shall never witness the
perfection of government of morals and education
nor the full aud successful operation of republican
institutions, until laws and customs are founded
upon the nature o. man, rather than the whims of
vsionares the arbitrary regulations Of blind guides
Let all our legislators rightly understand the motives
of human action and the natural laws of society," and
the people would be gradually provided with laws,
which are calculated to promote the permanence OF
government and the peace of the nation The object
of legislation is to direct the actions of men by con-
trolling their motives. The legislator must therefore
understand the philosophy of human motives, or ne
will be liable to laws which may tend to de-
sroy, rather than to promote the happiness of the
people. If we carefully examine the tendency of
many Of our laws and institutions we shall perceive
that they originated from individuals who were unac-
quainted with the nature of man-who better under
stood the principles of morality than the proper meth
cd of promoting it. 1t is this ignorance of human
nature, which permits all tho abuses of power and
the greater part of the evils which aict soci-
ETY.. 1t is this species of ignorance which produces
ali the impractcabe schemes IF modern philanthro-
pists on the one hand, and permits the successful
mpositons of hypocres knaves and impostors on the
other. Without knowledge Of the nature of man.
IT is impossible TO understand those principles upon
which the true laws of morality and government must
be established-prnciples which all the citizens of
republic ought especially to understand, who are the
makers of their own laws, in order to render secure
their civil liberties and social privileges s.The
proper study of mankind is man,