Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-08-22
THE DTFFERENeE..

the Femotest allusion to law interference ID SUP
port of Temperance, but are perfectly content
that the Liquor traffic should be c~ountenaheed,
supported, upheld BY the law power Of the
State! What is the fact in this matter ! The
business of Notwithstanding is under the pos
tive patronage Of the lato! They are fostered,
encouraged by legal ~enaetments, and yet these
special and exclusive guardians Of the g Hber-
ties Of the people" can see nothing to excite
the least alarm for the perpetuity Of our { glo-
rious and blood-bought privileges The strong
arm Of the law may be invoked and i~nterposed
for eri, but if once exerted for good, the most
dire calamities await US as a nation. Is it less
rational, less republican, to say there shall be
no grog shops in a community, if they are not
desired by majority Of the People, than to say
they shall exist, whether the people wish them
or not? According to the Interpretation of
our law upon this subject, it is decided that
grog shops cannot be abolished in a County, if
one death-dealer wishes to infict the curse up
on his neighbors and can only produce the sig
natures of two or three who testify to his
q good moral character though every citizen
of the county beside is opposed to their estab-
lishmcnt! They may reduce the number, but
no power can abolish these " necessary conve-
niences." If these men were sincere in their
fears for the disparagement Of our liberties by
the interpcsition Of 9 law power" would they
not become alarmed on account of its exercise
in behalf of the liquor traffic
We do not desire any special enactment of
our Legislature or any other law-making pow
er in behalf Of Temperance-ihdeed we would
not have it to be given-but we do ask for the
withdrawal of Legislative sanction and enact
ments in behalf of the enemies of temperance.
We want the liquor traffic to stand on its own
merit, stripped Of the responsibility attached to
It on account Of It's being a State institution
for every grog shop keeperin North Carolina is
now as emphatically an officer of the State, as
are the Governor and Supreme Court Judges.
If the liquor traffic is so useful and necessary
an appendage to good society, let it live, as do
all other professions, upon its worth and
intrinsic excellence. Strip itOf the legal right
and power with WHICH II is invested. and leave
it free to be aasalled without being entrenched
behindAs1aw. If a physician administers ar
~<nlcto a patient, knowing il will produce DEATH
he would be tried and punished as a murderer }
IT a gun smith sells a weapon charged with a
deadly load, without apprising his customer Of
its contents, and he STAY himself or his ueidk-
Dor with it, the smith would be held responsi-
bic for the deed, and be punished accordingly
i IN editor or author give publicity to state
melts that viii injure the fair fame and eharac.
tef of a fellew c~itizen, he will receive eondien
and summary punishment. So would we
have the liquor dealer amendable for bis works.
He is daily and hourly administering a deadly,
poison to his victims who are falling by hun.
dreds into a drunkard's grave; but he is en-
scensed behind the law, and shakes his license
to do his work of death in an outraged COM
munity in utter defiance. From his loaded
bottles, charged with sliquid damnation,'' he
sends his customers into a dishonored and I'M
timely grave, and defes the suffering survivors
to help themselves, because he is empowered.
authorized, chartered to do this very thing
He is squandering the property and blasting
the reputation and prospects Of husbands, faith
ers and sons. and degrading and empoverish-
ing the wives and daughters Of our country.
but, forsooth, he is the officer of the State.
entrusted with this work, and to whom can YOU
apply for relief?
And is there no relief? Are we doomed To
suffer this b1ighting, damning curse perpetuaIy!
Is outraged humanity, Christian purity and lofty
State pride, forever to suffer the humiliation
and dishonor of this foul scourge? hs Gods
name, we trust not-aye we believe not. Pub
lie sentiment is becoming awake upon this
subieet-the muttering voice of popular re-
.mOnstrance and indignation is beginning to be
heard from Buncombe 10 Currituck, and its
rumbling viii not cease until in one sweeping
storm it viii overwheTm this odious system,
and blot from our statute book The dark page
that authorizes and snstains ii. The people,
the whole people are interested in this work,
and we are glad to see that it is awakening
the attention of all classes, parties and creeds.
Let the matter be kept in constant agitation.
Let Judges and Jurors, Solicitors and Counsel,
Clergy and Laity awake to their responsibility
upon this a~il-important subject, and the day
will yet dawn upon the old North State, when
the united voice of her citizens shall demand
the expurgation of this deep stain from hsr
escuteheeh. Separation Of The 1aic popcer from
the liquor traffic! Let this be the watch word,
and let every friend Of humanity take up the
sound and rest not satisfied, until a divorce is
obtained,
MORE FRUITS OF THE REFORM.
We learn from the Spirit Of the Age, that in