Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-09-08
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
MTTNDE I'D v

fOR IdE III " LIE AYE.
NUMBER x.
The evils consequent upon the sale of strong
drink, are SO numerous and great that it is diff
cult to give any thing like a just view of them,
in a few short articles in your paper. OF the
evils caused by an Incorporate use of ardent
spirits" may, Mr.. Post, any use at all ten
thousand books might be written-they cannot
be exaggerated by any power of eloquence.'-
Even SO! Enough however has been said,
hope, to give some faint idea of the vast amount
of injury that is done to our commonwealth by
authorizing the sale thereof, and protecting by
law those who are engaged in scattering desola-
ton through our land.
knd if it is not possible to 'exaggerate , these
evils by any power of eloquence,' it is not
possible to 'eXaggerate the Injustice done the
community by protecting the agents of this
unexaggerabie' evil. The fact is, while this
evil is legalized by legislative authority, there
IS little prospect of relief to the community
While it is admitted, and must be acknowledged
that the temperance reformation has done a vast
deal of good; yet, it must also be admitted that
that reformation has always been, and always
must he, greatly retarded by this very evil that
Is allowed by legislative authority. Indeed.
this seems to have been, and is so especially
now, the chief obstacle in the way of success.
And could the public mind be fully aware of
this fact, and that too, that the legal protection
of the vendors of alcoholic liquors, was the
main cause of the apostacy of many who are
from time to time reformed, there can be scarce
y any doubt, but that the traffic would soon he
put down.
1t is this legal authority that gives life and
this source of its being and power, and the
measures now employed for the redemption of
our fellow-citizens would soon triumph and
carry new life and vigor through every grade
Of society. But this Iegalized evil sets "a vast
majority of our fellow citizens in array against
a minority, that has to struggle against the cor
rupt passions of the people, backed by the au.
thority of law, and protected by legislative in
fuerce. EntrencI,ed within the ramparts set
up and maintained by the highest authority OF
the land, these commissioned officers of the
; State 90 boastingly and boldly abroad through
the LENGTH and breadth Of the commonwealth
= and in the name and by the authority OF the
! ! Legislature of North Carolina pour down the
/ threats of the galping thousands and thousands
of their fellow citizens, repeated draughts OF
e poisonous drink and liquid damnation,' by
G which multiple thousands ofthem are plunged
into eternity and all this is done at the premi
o um Of s~ix-pence q pint and a shilling q quart
n But this is all right, because the Legislature O
q the State has authorized it !!
r What would our fellow-citizens think if tn
next Legislature Of North Carolina were TO an
thorize the establishment of an equal numbe
lp u u lax y AjOGlo II u SlolNI 10 nv SAS SIoS
10 geries. whose authority should be to take tn
property Of as many of their fellow-citizens a
. they could, and then with a friendly stroke {
" the sword send them uncalled for into eternity
y and that too, at the premium of six pence pc
Ut stroke! They would doubtless look upon sue
p legislation as cruel and murderous in the e.
st IRENE and so it would be. But that woul
lg not come up to the dreadful evil ms it now e2
lists in another form. For while the propert
IS; and lives Of our feilow-citizens would be force
lc. from them By these authorized and legal mu
lis derers, their morals would not necessarily
corrupted, and they, though hurried uncalle
into eternity, would not necessarily be miser
Die forever but, as the case now stands, Il
very means by which these Iegalized murdere
II take away the property and lives Of their fe
OK low-citizens, corrupts their morals ,hardens the
'p- hearts. pollutes their souls and fits them for Il
Damnation of Hell!!!! This, then, is to
intent8 and purposes, legally authorized mt
der and Legislative damnation.
1t is time, however, to pursue the plan int
. ded to be developed in this discussion. Leg
his Iative action should be had, so as to prohibit
,Id sale consequently the manufacture OF aIcoh'
- ic liquors entirely;
lo' III. Because the permission of the manuf;
10; ture, and the protection of the sale of into
leo eating liquors, is q great moral evil.
ihu An evil is moral when the causes product
it act in opposition to. and in contravention
the laws Of God, either as revealed in the
ing bic, or plainly indicated in his Providence, a
glo- when the agents employed in applying tn
pom causes are intelligent aud moral beings, q
nto the results of such causes and agencies affect
art subjects upon whom those evils fall. in th
CO moral and spiritual interests. In this sci
ax- both the manufacture and sale of intoxicat
liquors. are moral evils. By both. the laws
God. either of his word or his Providence,
contravened and his will opposed. An evil is
81 fiicted also, not only of a temporal and corr
~ 1 al character. but also of a moral and eter
ITCH nature, in Its final results upon that commuI
where these things are authorized. This be
IN so, the primary fault is in the Legislature wi
ms authorizes these causes to operate. and col
+ OF q%uently, the Legislature is primarily invol
sad in the guilt of all the evils flowing down u
society from the operation of these causes.
1ged Legislature is legally the source from which
uke- the power and influence proceed, that gives
their thority and privilege to the agents engage
lever this work of death, to employ the means
rent causes to produce these results. But for The
do, ton of the Legislature i'll the premises, the
no+ thority and privilege could not be posses
80. and consequently, the evils in this way,c
'Poi not take place the Legislature. therefor
primarily responsible for all these evils.
my 1t is my purpose. now. to show:
IN of l That the manufacture of Intoxicating
omit quors, is a great moral evil.
1t will doubtless, be admitted on all nj
will that il the manufacture of Alcohol IS IN i'
the great moral evil, that it must be morally !"