Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1852-03-02
MERCuRY
TO THE FRIENDS OF rEmpEnANcE

Mn. EDITOR: Among the reforms proposed in
our State | have as yet seen no allusion to one,
which, in my humble judgment, claims the Sc
rious and candid consideration of every good citi.
zen. l refer to our present laws, regulating the
manufacture and sale of Intoxicating liquors
Uniform experience proves that they tend rather
to increase than diminish intempeTaDCe and its
consequent evils. Is it not high time that some.
thing should be done to effect a radical. change I?
The friends of Temperance have been slow to
reach the conclusion that moral suasion is made
quate TO accomplish all that their hearts desire,
and their efforts contemplate. But the eXpe-
rence of twenty years has taught them this i'm
portant lesson. There is one position OF the cne-
my which, it is obvious, cannot be taken in any
reasonable time, with our present means of war
fare. True, we have thus far, triumphcd in eve
ry fairly. fought battle. The tyrent, tntemPer-
ance, has been routed in every conflict on the
open field. But he has, at length, retreated TO
his stronghold-he has fortified himself in iens
and caves OF the earth. He turks in secret-hid
from the light OF day. In darkness, he sailies
forth to capture our unsuspccIing citizens. He
must be hunted and driven from these informal
retreats. Entren&lied behind a bulwarit ofsilyer
and gold, there are no weapons which willreach
him, but the strength and authority of the law.
1t is idle to address, moral motives to men en-
gagged in n traffic: so profitable, when they are
sustained in it By the influence OF the statute
book. No other alternative is left us, than the
exercise Of our right as citizens in demanding Of
our legislators the enactment ola law, making
the manufacture and sale of Intoxicating liquors,
as a beverage, Illegal. TIC this, popular ecnti.
ment is evidently tending, and it requires no pro-
phetic eye TO sec, that it will meyer stop until it
has reached "a C0Dsummation'' SO "devoutty to
be wished" Such a law has been passed in our
sister State of blaine, whose citizens, it must be
admitted, are as little addicted to fanaticisr1 as
those of any Slate in the Union, and the result
has more than equallcd the expectations OF its.
most sanguine friends. Massachusetts is on the
eve of adopting a similar course; Vermont, New
York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware,
are in motion. The war is actually begun. and
we may Inappropriate the languageofPatrick Hen
nv, on a memorable occasion--'We must Fight.
/ repeat it, sir, we must fight" Shall Virginia
lie inactive and itTesolute, when the enemy is
not only on our shores, but has already invaded
the peace and ~sanctity of our homes Messa.
chnsetts and Virginia lave earnestly disputed
the honor of lifting the first blow against the foe
of our political interests; and are there no lau-
rels to be won in a contest against the common
foe to every interest Of humanity.
But my objectain these remarks is a more!defi.
mite, aud, | trust, a more useful one, that the
mere waste Of words in describing the evil 10 be
removed, and the efforts elsewhere making tn ac-
complish its removal. Can not something be done
in the County of Jefferson? Fhe work before
us must have a beginning, and why shoIfld it
not begin on the banks OF The Potomac and the
Shenandoah? Why should not these noble riy-
CTS anu our puISit nOuDIalD air walt inc news 20
other parts of. the State, that Jefferson has de-
Clared independence of the tyrant, AlchohcI a.
Agitation seems 70 be the proper mode of accom-
Plishing every Object which requires the a:tion
of the people. Let; us, then, agita1e by lagiti.
mate argument. Let us keep il befotes the peo-
pie, that three foHrths ofthe crime and pauper-
ismin the land spring directly or indirectly from
intemperance, and that a large portion of our tax
es is paid to support rum sellers. Let us ask
them ,ehether Ills nghi that OPe class ecc$isens.
should De protected by lao IN Eadking gain from
the miseries of taeirtellotos, or 3ire By imposing so
heduya burden on The remGinde& of le community?
Let us tell them of the youth of the Common.
wealth, ruined in numbers-wives and children
beggared, and crime increased. And after hav-
ing done all this, let us calliupon them 10 oct in
the mtghtoftselr strength by pettion and through
the ballotbox.
Without prespning to direct, / would reepcct
fully suggest 10 Ihe friends OF. Temperance, the
propriety OF holding a County Convention, in
HGhaIieStown, al some early day. say Saturday,
the l4th, OF Masch,to adopt a petition 10. the pre-
sent Legislature; TO enact a law similar 10 its
provisions 10 the Maine law. Mean while, meet
TIngs might be hcNd at Gharlestown Harpers.Fer-
aEy'a ShepherdsInWn, Middleway, KerneyEville,
Hbeetown, Elk Branch, Halitown and Kabietown,
TO appoint delegates TO such Convention.
Should any aak. what cana mere handEald do
IN the whole Sta1e Q the answer is, we can be-
gInthe work, and by the blessing of God, The
people througtF9pt the Old Dominion will, ere
long. rejoice ioiepmple,e Il.
ASH am tonafesponsible foEthese sentiments.
It IS proper they should appear over nv; own
name. YoaEag &c! p FBEFGHNR.
RoRRERH e1lensan5f from
lrgInia, by ihssname q SamuelH FFazier. who
hadS been s!oPPssag Tor the last few DAYS. Et1thei
Esgie H9tsl lnit Frederick, Md, WIS robbed sofI
100 on Wednesday night last 81 Thsssday
md MdEaH 81 GlAgsaTns Rspshlie TBB4saay