The banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1844-1847, 1846-08-19
Rem Ger m s.
FOR THE BANNER
True Temperance Principles-The Law
The ChurCh-The Aiken Convention.

Au0 CluICI-iut hlhCu tUuttutuN'
Mr. Editor - have no conjecture
who penned Tsmpera. ce No!ious," in
your las, Banner, but viewing him as
friend to the cause, laboring under a
deep mistake as to some Of his notions.
and misapplication of others, | give
him credit for rectitude Of intention.
He surveys one half the field, and
makes his plat accordingly. Let US
survey the other, and see if we can not
reach "that propriety Of measures"
which our friend, and all true friends to
the cause are "consulting."
lst. I dissent from some of the "no-
tions" Of " AMo THEos," on civil govern
ment. His position is, "that this great
monster of enmity and destruction,
should (not) be permitted to range un-
checked over the peaceful dominions OF
civilized people," and that greater in
fuence can be exerted over an enlighte-
ned people by the gentle art of persua-
sion as method of reformation, than
by any resort to forced restrictions"
The great error of this position is con-
veyed in the two last words. 1t is false
motion of civil liberty to call govern
ment forced restrictions !"
The idea of force and restraint in civil
government, should never enter the
head of good citizen, or law abiding
man; it is rather the language of disaf.
fec,ion and licentiousness. Who makes
the law, but the people themselves2
What is law, but the public sentiment,
and the public wish and villa Does
good man view government as forcing
him to what is right2 Certainly not;
he obeys because it is his choice, and he
is one of the law making power. Nor
does he view it as restriction but a
great blessing, privilege, and his high
est liberty to cease from evil. But fur
ther; this position is untenable in the
premise it is not the tact that all the
people of this dominion are "enlighte-
ned' or virtuous, as sad experience and
the history of the world too abundantly
testify.
This, and all good governments, have
upheld and supported public morals. 1t
isjust as legitimate an object of its guar
dian care, as life, property, or character
The law Of this State supports by le-
gislation the preservation Of the Sabbath
day. The laws Of this State aid and
support public morals, in suppressing
gambling and gambling houses, and
why not retailing and tipping houses,
as more prolific source of crime and
social disorder, than both the others put
together. Are there not innumrrable
other evils AMI disorders connected with
retealing, over and beyond dr~mkrnness?
From whence arises more idl mess, p,-
nury and heavy taxation {? and where
are greater facilities to corrupt the purity
Of elections, your slave population (and
Of course your property by inducing
shem to steal, and making them insub.
ordinate, than are to be found IN these
sinks Of neutrality-suspicious..
Now have not Temperance men as
deep an interest in these things (apar,
from all considerations peculiar to tenn.
perance,) as other citizens have2 Every
relation in life carries with it correspon-
ding duties and obligations, which har-
monise, but never conflict or dispense
with those of another. For instance,
my relation to the temperance society re-
quiEes but one duty, and but one obliga-
tion-not to drink-That is its precept
on1 ovo <ho% g. "a.