Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-10-11
OUR oPpoNENTs

Perhaps the most common argument used bv
a certain class of opponents to the Order ofthe
Sons of Temperance is, that they are dissatis-
fed with the laws of the country as they now
are, but wish to change them and engrat upon
our code such as will better conduce to the adj
vancement of the temperance reform. They
say that we exhibit a spirit Of dissatisfaction
with the laws of the country, and thereby man
ifest a revolutionary and -disorganizing DISPOSE
ton. Without stopping seriously to refute so
silly and unfounded an allegation, may we not
remark that this complaint and accusation comes
with a very bad grace from a class of men who
are the veriest croakers in all the land, against
every law and ordinance that does not accord
with their peculiar notions of propriety. For
instance: Is a Chaplain in the Army or Navy
appointed, who are the first to cry aloud for the
getting up of memorials and petitions to Con-
gress for the repeal of the law by which such
officers are allowed Is a College granted a
loan by the State, who are the first to create a
great noise about the union of Church and
State" and demand a repeal of the law grant
ing the loan Does the Legislature engage in
a great system of State improvement, and in
vest therein a portion of the public funds in
carrying it out, who are the first and loudest in
demanding a revocation of the contract? Is a
religious or charitable institution incorporated
by our Legislatures, from whom proceeds the
great lanentation, that our civil and religious
liberties are about to be wrested from us, and
who make doleful appeals to the people to rise
up in opposition to these laws, and by memoir
ais, petitions and circumstances, endeavor to
procure their repeal? Who, we ask, but the
very class Of men that are d~enouncing the Sons
OF Temperance because they are in favor of a
change in some of our laws, which are carry
ing death and destruction through the land, and
therefore branding them as being disorganizers
and as being dissatisfied with the government
under which they live? If they possess the
right to seek redress through memorials and
petitions, against laws which are ~repugnant to
their notions of propriety, without mourning
any unpatriotic odor, may not we, as citizens
possessing the same rights and privileges, exer-
the same prerogative, without expatriating our
selves? 1t is the opinion of most bigots, that
those who do not think with them, are the most
dangerous of men and will not do to be trusted.
But if their opponents seek to procure an OBJ
ject through the very same channel which they
have marked out for themselves to prevent il,
there certainly can be no great criminaIity in
the means employed, or else both come in for
a share of the obloquy. If the Temperance
men should memorabilia the Legislature upon
a subject, and their opponents should send up
counter memorials, would not the means en-
ployed be precisely simiIar-and if one is
wrong would not the other be also? So far
as we are informed, (and We think we are full
ly advised upon the matter) the intimation that
the Sons of Temperance will have petitions and
memorials before the nex Legislature, is with
ont foundation the idea originated with their
enemies, and no where else.