Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-09-06

~SoAAN HoAt li6 lttdllin5 OIL "dEGSutsFH- l
ITS, The public welfare requires ats aboli +
lion. We cannot say that maiorities Of r
the people, in all sections Of the State, {
are IN favor Of suchSa measure. But we |
believe that in many counties, nearly
the whole populations except a low aud
worthless class, wish to remoyeg rog shops
from their midst, and prevent ~lntoxicat-
ing drinks from being hawked about atl
their public assemblies. II is highly i'm
proper that such large and respectable
maJorities, should be subjected to disgust
ing nnisances which e%ndanger their pro-
Peity and their lives. to gsatify the appe-
utes Of a degraded few, Not that the re-
taller should be held responsible for the
injuries that follow his traffic. We ap.E
prove of no penalties on a man, for do
ing that which his fellow-ciiizehs desire,
and which The law allows. II The pub
lie convenience requires the retailing oil
ardent spirits, letSthe public pay the
damages. But, III he counties referred
TO, the people ought 70 have the power
to abolish retailing altogether. If this
is so, il is only a question for legislative
wisdom TO determine. whether 10 wait
] lOI PGtlltOIS lfClI UilIGf Gttt COtllliGS. Us
the spirit Of reform ~advaaces, and pass
private acts for each; or. untIlthe State
is prepared for a general law, 10 give all
the counties power at their pleasure to
T,dee restrictions upon or pldhibit the
retailing Of ardent spirits. Even ii no
| reform, no change in the existing law is
desirable, to render that law effective, all
t sale Of ardent spirits 10 be drank at the
: place of sale, unless under license,
! should be prohibited. II the Grand Di.
; vision Of North Carolina should memoir.
alise the legislature on these subjects
$ granting that they are within the jus
powers of that body, would any person
have a right TO except 10 such a cours,
who does not already except to all tina
y the Sons Of Temperance do? If on
d great object IS to ous the public mind
and bring vast m9jorities, even thong'
not totally abstemioas. TO assist US i
d preventing, if not intemperancc itselI
= at least the greater injuries r~esultin
ST from it; why should we not call the al
to %tention of the law-making power 10 lh
re change which we have effected, or pei
s. haps TO the change which gives I 81
as ciety existence, aud thus give eticienc
re TO an improved popular will? Ougt
it any question 10 restrict us in this RICH
but The justice or injustice Of the objec
% at which we aim2
at But fear may arise, IN the minds
some, that such conduct might only
d, the harbinger of real interference wi'
IT, the rights Of others, al a future day. "
ut presume this fear has reference to son
is anticipated possession Of power by j
crease of numbers. Now, we beliey
= the larger our numbers are, the more W
he we, by conflicting interests, be restri
for ted to a legitimate exercise Of our inf
Igs ence. Nor do we think That our socie
W will ever number a majority Of the Ct
he zens of any State. Ii then We stall e
10 er be united against the other either
is our fall will be certain. Bat should the
rs, be real danger Of any improper EXERT
nly of power, even indirectly, that dang
our will not be increased, but rather dimi
fiji ishef, by ascertaining now, what
eg- may be permitted to do. Every t,
we attempt to advance beyond our leg
err innate bounds, now while we are We.
our viii be warmly contested.
SIX If then the Grand Division OF No
,w- Carolina will call the attention OF the
gislature to the License system, aud
in Of that body nothing but whatjustice a
the public interest demand. The Ora
Is a Division will not exceed the line of
9 Of duty and will give cause TO none, to {
'ple a future exercise of improper power
ave We think such a course expedient
fair good which our society has already do
ests The responsibility of its standing,
wer stability Of position which it seem:
the occupy. and the moderstion which 2
n Of ems her general movements, Justify
pro- interested in the Temperance refor.
tate ton, in looking TO our association as
ions remedy for existing evils. Those /,
e as have fed to our Asylum for refuge,
one fering millions who expect US TO ref
'orm their husbands, fathers, and p~rotectt
. Of the inactive though moral portion Of
an communities, anxious fer a change,
Ie- prevented, some by one reason, som,
another, and others by none from gi'
tim US assistance; all in fact, but tie &C
acts enemies of our institution, wish earn
ng a ly that we may succeed in our werl
train B~enevolence. The observation Of G.
r the member Of OR Order will satisfy
$ SUI that we have the good wishes of
ID an majority of our lellow-citizens. \
er.- i the conduct we propose is TO a
% an this majority against US, our useful
It OH will be greatly retarded. But wi
d to- have that effect? We have tried to 5
ppos- that such action will be only a legitit
r OBJ. method of carrying out the prope
mote iects Of cur institution, and our fri
other have intelligence enough to know
evers if we are bound together TO carry
,e asfeeriain objects n a Nu,li effart fbao, II