Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-06-09
For the Spectator.
The License Law.

.afessls Editors Having in vain examined the
columns Of the Staunton papers for some writer on
the subject of the Temperance Reiormatiou, my
solicitade has been excited from the fact of some
dissatisfaction having arose in regard to the Tenn
0ershee Convention held in the town Of Staunton
u few months SINCE This dissatisfaction may be
owing to erroneous ideas entertained rs to the de-
sion os that Convention. learn an impression IS
saoat that the design of said Convention was, and
still s to abolish the ''tond drops root and orane
Phis mistaken notion, feel assured, will be ADAM
toned so soon as they learn that the result there
of was simply asking the Legislature tor sPeciai
law. authorizing the people of Augusta to submit
NJ an early day the question of License or no LII
cense. for the retailing of intoxicating liquors.
Here it NAV be seen at once that this will not af-
fsct the manufacturer in the least he being liber
~ az before. buying as much grain as he peases
and dstil it, selling it in such quantities as he may
choose Ii is therefore, evident that the object of
the law is, simply to put the veto on the llustri-
Gus knights of the Bar, the Cellar aud the TIP
ping Counter, thereby arresting those streams OF
evils which unhappily diverge from the last liam
ed place, like rays from common centre.
The special law aimed at by the Convention,
being all we can expect at present. shall not en-
deavor to point out the happy effects the Name
Law would have upon our people. However, de-
nounced as it is by many cannot refrain from adj
ding few lines in its detence-a law now siren
uously advocated by Massachusetts,, New York,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Yea, and
even Augusta has caught a glimpse Of its beauty
and is endeavoriug to send the halOwing raysofitS
light throughout our renowned Old Dominion and
| do hope that there is day Fastening upon us
when every portion Of our State will catch Its twl
light, tanning it into flame till it shall burst forth
as luminary from beloved old Augusta, in the
bright effulgence of its native mother.
This law, stringent as it may appear to some
has no doubt wrought for its Statea name that vii
be lisped by ages yet unborp-a law, here bitterly
denounced as base infringement upon the rightso
the people; yet, in reality, we can see no argumen
against the conStitutionality of such law, which
would not apply equally to various laws now in op
Grafton. There, in my view, is case favorins
such law fit is right to prevent any one from
selling food that will injure another is it not equal
" right to prevent his selling drink that will d
the same thing. BY reasoning on somewhat sim
liar principles, we might point to the law prohibit
inc the vending of lottery tickets and icentiou
books the laws prohibiting gaming, swearing
oaths, Sabbath breaking, SC. Here it may be ask
ed, what was the motive of our Legislature in tn
passage of those laws2 |, for one, should answer
that one great motive, and perhaps the leadingone
was to guard the morals of their constituents. Tn
annals of nations abound with admonitions on thi
subject warning us seduouSly to guard and protec
this right arm of our strength, Again. the RICH
our Legislature has heretofore claimed OF regula
tine the liquor traffic has never been questioned
III has right to regulate this matter, 1t has ais
the right to abolish ESPECIALLY If the people de
mand such thing, which they may do by simpl,
asserting their right.
Intemperance, as it now presents itself, is a sub
iect upon which none who have proper feelings cal
look without melancholy interest. 1t being sub
ject which has excited, and is still producing tn
most profound emotions in the breasts Of benevo
lent men, We, therefore, living as we are unde
the blaze of the glorious Gospel of the Son OF God
should hail with joy the words, TEMPERANCE RE
FORMATION, now vibrating on our ears, and stimu
lating as it were the dormant faculties of our mind
10 arouse and hasten ON the tide of affairs, till thu
permanent suppression of the evil will cause, IL
imagination. the united cries OF JOY from widows
and orphans to rush with assaultng violence to the
very gate of heaven, and pluck hosannas thence
to celebrate triumphs here.
In view of the intricacy of this sui ject its mag
ntude and its importance to the human race which
is even reaching forward to our pOsterlty, meeting
them ere they arrive on the shore Of being, who,
ask, Will not eSpouSe the NOBLE cause Oh temper
ance. and arrest if possible, the odious influence;
ofhisHonor Squire Alcohol, which have been sweep
ing over our land as simeon, blghtiRg, desola
ting, and hurrying into premature ve,many Of
our fellow mortals Not satisfied with acting q
conspicuous part in almost every broi that has Wis
tied our land, strewing his way with misfortune,
vice and degradation, but figures boldly in sunder-
iRg domestic ties, and singing the peace which
waved her pinions over their fire side, Frustrating
many noble-hearted man to level with the
brute, converting him into tormentor and ruth
less tyrant, who, in better days, vowed at the hy
meneal altar, to love, cherish and support that
lovely and amiable woman, who left the hallowed
scenes of home and childhood, to cling, with I'M
wearied affection only TO him with the firmness of
the oak, and ceasing only when ife's last CLEAN
goes out in death. In looking around us, we may
see him Interviewing the curse Of his policy with
the lgaments of society, that he may strike with
more unerring certainty at the health and lives Of
our fellow men, and annually secure additional ones
to the thirty thousand victims already within his
grasp; driving others into the asylums, penitentia-
ries jails almshouses, and narrow winding streets
of our cities; and burden the remainder of our race
with excessive taxes to support them, to say no
thing of building expenses, fees of stewards, ar
rests, prosecutions, sc. NED PROCLES.