The Columbian fountain., 1846-01-10

For the Columbian fountain.
MEssRs. EDITORS Samuel has my thanks
for his timely assistance. Our Mr.. Bailey
will be apt to think that he is between the
hammer and the anvil We must strike
him lightly; taoo against one is one too
many. But then, upon second thought, we
are not against him. We are for him, and
against his traffic. We are anxious to do
him good, and prevail on him to become a
real patriot We were beginning to think
that he might be moulded into better form
by heating and hammering little, but our
hopes are dying away now, since the Hon.
Mr.. of Missouri, has lifted his potent
arm to strike. He has not struck yet, and
we cannot tell how he can strike, but
we do knoao that he blops well. If he
should be able to strike as well as he bIops,
and he can succeed in placing all the tenn
perance advocates between the anvil and his
enormous sledge, then will the whole mass
be perfectly pulverised, and scattered into
6 everlasting nonentityp' We have some
little hope, however, that kind Providence
will interpose, and save us from fate SO
much to be dreaded. We-should be glad to
live. little longer; and when we do die, we
would like to die to live again. The Edi-
tors will forgive us--this is not to our
taste. 4e
Samuel has said some strong things re-
specting the license law. We presume to
say that, if the Legislatures Of our State
governments do not prohibit the manufac-
ture and sale of ardent spirits as bever-
age, then are they "partakers Of other mems
sins !" for they have the right and the po,oer
to abolish the entire license system, and
make the sale of ardent spirits, as a COM
mon drink, penal offence. If, then, they
havethe right and the power, and neglect
or refuse to use them to- prevent SO destruc-
tive and wide-spreading an evil, are they
not equally criminal with the {. makers and
|vendersw The temperance men must press
this subject upon the minds of State legls-
lators. Let it be done respectfully, kindly,
in love; but firmly, in a manly tone, and
with power that will demand a hearing.
They are wrong in neglecting to interpose
their authority to stop this frey stream that
now runs through our lovely land, and de-
stroys, in its consuming wave, so many
green and beautiful things. Every thing
that is reasonable calls on them to put a
stop to this evil A national evil, physi-
cal evil, moral evil. The drinking of ar
dent spirits as a beverage is an injury to the
health, leads to the loss Of property, Of rep
utation, of life, Of the soul Love of, country
calls, reason calls, benevolence calls, re-
ligion calls, humanity calls, the poor heart-
crushed widow calls, the little starving or
phan calls, Heaven and earth call on our
State legislators to arouse from their Grim
| inal apathy and indifference, and speak with
| their authoritative voice. They ought to
speak, they will speak. We are informed
| that petitions are circulating for signatures,
requesting the Legislature of Maryland to
pass law permitting the citizens of each
township, ward or borough, to decide at the
polls whether there shall be any licensed
houses for the retail Of intoxicating liquors
within It's precincts. 1t is very desirable
that the friends of temperance should agree
among themselves. There has been, for
some years, union Of sentiment, feeling
and action, that is highly commendable and
praiseworthy. We, as friend to the tenn
perance reform, are rejoiced to see any
measure proposed to advance its interests,
provided it compromit no principle. The
present petition to the Legislature of Mary
land, was, doubtless, proposed by the friends
Of temperance, because they suppose tha,
public opinion would not sustain the Legis-
lature if they took higher ground. We are
free to express our opinion on this, as on
any other subject of general interest. We
are an American citizen, and we may mod
eslly say, if to love our country be regarded
as sin, then are we deeply stepped IN
crime.
| Allow me to ask, What are the funda-
mental principles of our noble temperance
reform Is not our beautiful temperance
edifice based on this position, viz That the
use OF intoxicating drinks as a beverage is
absolutely injurious, and destructive to the
best interests and happiness of man. Well
| then, this principle conceded, and we affirm
that the system which legalizes the traffic
In ardent spirits as a beverage, is itself a
whitening evil that ought not to receive the
countenance Of any humane and benevo-
lent community. To be consistent, then
and maintain our fundamental principle, we
must insist that the whole license system be
abolished, and the sale of ardent spirits as
beverage be made penal offence.
| We can see no reason in any other course
/ It appears 10 our mind as plain case