New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-02-06
THE ANTI-MAINE LAW APPEAL
Remons STRANGE.

To the Senate and Assembly Of the State Of Nsc York,
in Legislature assembled:
Whereas, it has become known, from
proceedings already commenced IN one or both
of your honorable bodies, and from other sources
of public information, that it is the intention and
design Of certain of your members to obtain, If
possible, the enactment of law utterly prohlb-
ting the sale as well the manufacture, and
consequently the use and enjoyment, of all those
accustomed beverages of the people OF the United
States and OF all other civilized nations, from time
immemorial, known as wines, liquors, cordials beer
ale porter cider, or otherwise and enforcing this
prohibition by seizures, multiplied lines, imprson-
ments and other penalties we, the citizens inhao'
itants and commercial visitors OF the City and
County Of New-York, DO hereby, against the enact
ment Of this, or any similar law, for the follow
iDg and many other reasons, respectfully remoa-
strate:
Ist Recause wa beliovo it to DO our natural, pri-
mary, and nrevocable right TO use the fruits OF the
earth, whether naturally produced OF arthclaiiy
pie pared, both for meat and for drink, a. our own
pcysoLa discretion and responsibility.
Cd. Becau:e the enactment OF sucn law by any
legislative majority, however great would DC
usuIpation OF oespotic powers, IN connaYehtion OF
obvious principles and PROVISIONS, both oil our federa
and ate constitutions and OF the natural and inde-
feasible right already stated.
80. Because we regard the proposed law as the
nudacious interruptions, and fanatical project of
certain conventional associations, known as Tenn
perauce, or Total Abstinence Societies acting In
concerted combination, and actuated by prufiens,
perverted and reckless zeal to elect by legislative
coercion, and the ultimate physical force OF the
law, extreme and impracticable purposes, which
their moral influence has confessedly failed 10 &c
complIsh and because we believe that these So
ceties however useful and commeRdaoe heretofore,
within their appropriate and practicable sphere, as
moral agencies, for discussion from an odious ana
destructive, though not prevalent wee, already
punishable by law have justly incurred the lndlg.
nation and the political resistance and h0sullIy OF
every enlightened freeman Of the land, as the chief
| instJgatoIs and abe'tors OF despoc usurpaton,
| more degrading to the moral votion and digaty OF
| a free people, and more atroclous IN ITS political
| charscleT Than any which history records
4tb Because We believe that the accustomed be,
yerases Of civilized men, nterdicted AKA rendered
uIobaInabe by this tni eateDed la are essential 20
the h. aith ana com fort, he social enjoyment and
tie beneficial nierc Curse OF large number OF per-
| sOns in every community, AID who now use taein
unobJectlonably and wcrthlly, ior Sese deshaoie
| purposes.
5th Because man. a superior, social, and moral
| beng. exercising rational intelligence and choice
g. to v hat is most beneficial and agreeable TO him.
self Can 10 more be confined by restrictive legisla-
| ton TO tie drink Of the inferior animals than 10
their food or clothing AID requires neither medical
nor legislative prescriptions for the ordinary pre-
| servsuon OF his health, and recuperatlon oil his
| sutn.th I0r the example either OF drunkafds or
| re'otmed ofunksres to protect MS moras
9th Because we convinced, both by ooserVa-
ton ard reflection that the Infatuated total aostl-
rtnce fIom agreeable, nutritious, and Tenovating
beverages under conventional and unmtgateo ooli'
| cations, iascau.ed aud is still causing greater
sacrifice of health and life than even the lntempe-
| raie abuse OF them the foImeI victims, OF ooth
| stxts, teiDg far more Lumeious than the la'Ief,
| though less publicly knswn.
I'M Because il is undenable and obvious that but
| ocD,raFatiyeiy few persons in any community, I'M
| moderately and immorally abuse these beverages,
out Of the vast majority who moderately, ylI.uousy
and tenehciaiy use them ana eeeause
i.x 70 ia
a. Rscsuse even the abuse of them, however
SINCERELY ana deeply 70 be deplored, IL grossly ana
r.cseulousiy though Systematically, exaggerated rs
source ofpauPerlsm and crime, nearly al me ev.s
Of fnciety being fanacally ascri0ed 10 thls cause,
10 the exclusion Of all other causes inherent IN nu
| man nature and It's imperfect social concition ana
in mpUceIt defiance OF the notorious facI sha' tness
evils prevail 30 at least an equal extent, 10 taose
countries where such beverages have been Absolute,
y iutefdic.ec, both by civil and reNglous law" anu
! total abstinence established for more IMAM 'nou
| sandyears. .o..,;lx
| intoxicating as is falsely and fala!cahy assuhea
by the COW eIenal advocates OF the pfoposeu ia"'
m the face Of common experience ard ooservaIipn,
| 10Th Because we believe and observe tnat inc
| vice of irtoxlca,ioD now rapidly diminishing among
all cla..ts unGer the influence OF moral suasloh an1
example. would be aggravated py cianoesse a.
eenoe, uncer the propoeaiaE oow .Hs,irs
nrrDerly enforced, would DO fully adequate W sup
nrets ~ srcsser manifestations and consequences.
| fIish Because We well know that the enforcement:
of he nIeposfd Law IN the City Of Newly OK, would
cause less of many millions OF collars invested IN
the real estate Of cur many nagnhcens noteis ah1
the bindings and be intellectually destructive OF
tse commercial interests, character aud prosperity
| OF The American URion-
| Isth And finally, because we are solemnly con-
x,nced ard assured that such cespo,ic and unrea.
! sonsbe law could rot be enforced in the City Of
! New.York, except amid scenes OF riot and blood,
she'd In which, though its reckless advocates wouio
be the first and chief tuferers vast nu.uaes Of 's
| populs,ion would be Involved, and which would DC
| ioo frishtful in their results for any ou! CAUCUS
fanatics to contemplate with horror and dismay.