Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-09-20

, the elementary essence Of the Order. to al
low it to be mixed in any way with the gov
eminent Of the State, the laws under which
we live, or the religion which we profess to
believe. In addition to this perfect freedom
from political. legal or religious restraint, it
is one Of the beauties Of the institution that
t it contains nothing calculated to excite hos
: tility in the minds of those whose interest
| leads them to oppose it. Its gentleness, and
t mildness, and freedom from bigotry and ia
; naticism, have won for it friends among grog
: sellers and drunkards, and enabled it to
t snatch its brightest trophies from the very
citadel of its enemies. Its policy is to inter
fere with no mans pursuits, against his will
: But, amid churches and States, legislatures,
4 conventions, courts and elections, it pursues
the g even tenor of its way" reclaiming
= from vice the objects Of its beneieient aim,
; by argument and persuasion, and by the in.
ducements presented in its own intrinsic
beauty and power to save.
Vi Some of the strongest reasons which have
k suggested themselves to my mind, against
k our calling for Legislative aid, are
a LIST. We do not need it. We have shown
that we can stand on our own principles Of
truth, and prosper without any help from
the " strong arm of the law"
I'd. 1t is contrary to our Order, to inter-
a fere with the Government, or with legisla-
Or ton.
ri Sd. Our Order has increased so rapidly,
SO and g~rog-shops have disappeared before it in
ID such numbers, that / think We have reason
Mt to believe that we will stop the sale of intox-
at icating liquors, as a beverage, in due time,
r. without the assistance of the legislature.
4? 4th, By taking steps to put down grag
wv shops by law, we make enemies Of the grog
Ill sellers, and all hope of gaining them will b.
? lost.
ss- 9Th. IF we begin to move in this matter
ho candidates for the legislature will soon begil
I'm to pledge themselves to cooperate with us
me- in order TO secure our influence, and thus j
Isl will in time be a question in elections, b,
on which means we win become a political pan
MI ty, as in the cases Of the anti-Masons am
of Aboltioaists,
me 9Th. The license law has existed a lon
as time, and the people have not complained {
the it as an evil and if others can bear it, it
as not SO great a grievance to the Sons of Ten
as perance as to require us to incur any risk
sla- our great enterprise, in removing it.
nee It'll. We have no right to inform othel
leg what laws are burdensome to them, and p
ing tition for their repeal, for the sake Of other
les, while the laws do not Cypress us.
m? 9Th. If the license law is an evil, publ
Ids, opinion will be enlightened on the subjeC
Of and the matter will regulate itself.
and 9th. / think that, both as an Order al
d to as individuals, we ought to have such a CO
fdence in the wisdom and patriotism Of t
Legislature Of North Carolina, as to leave
them the management of all that concer
E. the public police and economy of the Sta
10th. I am afraid that any change in q
institution, in the objects of our energies,
in the means we make use of to promote I
Asia ends we have in view, will be attended "
disastrous results. Our success has prov
a: that we are in the right path ; and we
doing as well as We can desire /; we hs
every reason to believe that the future '
y: be as the past has been, and we ought
to resort to innovations, experiments, or
ventitious aids, until we see the necessity
them.
mia In conclusion, I will remark that I c
didly believe that the great danger to VII
west our Order is exposed at present, is that
will grow too warmly attachedto it. WI
mes we find ourselves connected with an inst
esia ton which brings directly into active e,
ania cise all the highest and nobiest attributes
Pan our nature, which develops and improves
those purer and better qualities which ad
nsis humanity and make it amiable, we arr
danger of falling so in love with it as to
thern blind to the consequences Of our acts.
us remember that all the good il is calcu
ed to effect; cannot be accomplished at Oh
ny; ana take a lesson IRON the liable OF the
; whose goose laid a golden egg every {
ia; and who, in order to secure a great treaI
in too hastily. killed the goose and cut he
pen, and thus lost all. I