The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-09

ne isndsasy ., what .s called a state Of high
r.sllissiieu, - 30 a..sategrste OF subdisido the
saiifs efss'sd structure 81 man, physical intel
'srsasi and morsl The human body consists
- usAny asssshsrs, tis sAerriss and development
~ oil which afe hsccssary, 10 symmetry. health
spa sseeileaes. Nss thc mina.e subdivision OF
employment shloh results from what zoe regard
- q visisss and dias.mrcssd civilization, gives
sKesfisn gnig % ons go to !.w ~ these mem.
t'sfs 10 fAclerlss, one person works with few
hsgers al syseg o.. threads OF cotton another
"a Y0l'~srs she blade 81 kniie, another in copy.
as ~ah gssses the form q pattern. Prae.
t,rsiis, these J. lii,e use for any other part Of
hss h.ds, esespi as an appeudage 10 his fingers
and ssnes ,hs sss. o. the body languishes, and
desoFnitg epsues
- 10 RELATION 30 the mind Men are divided
iaio professional pursuits, and these are subdi-
siae8 Gao man becomes not merely ply.
- .ap, bot sn snaiomlsi, or deniisi-another,
Hst satisfied with combining him,ef 10 the law,
81 indies ao~a 90 eonyeyancer, and some be
cetns paie'rrs oi aewers, and performers on
ningis irssransent If music, for a subsis,erec
Aud The great faculties OF the mind, not being
Feqsrej iur these minute or restricted pursuits
AZ oot exercised or developed, bat perish
~ morality and religion, the entire system Of
haHan duiy Is asserted, and all lis parts are rec.
oEuized. But AS the system of disinieeraton
20 disuuion goes on, few, or a class of virtues,
receive the sanction of society, and are enforced
by al the power Of opinion and Of law, whilst
others are sacrificed
of late years, temperance, ms il is called, or
abstinence from alcoholic and even iermentcd
liquids, has become fashionable virtue So.
cieiies have been formed, pledges made, and
prescription proclaimed against all use, however
moderate, Of beverages which, in excess, will
inioxicste. Those engaged in this movement as
sumo the character ofmoral reiormcrs although
they admit into such associations the votaries of
every other vice, gluttons, fops, misers, adulter
crs and swindIers But this might be excused
provided they confined themselves to the expe-
derts OF moral suasion and voluntary selfre
straint The tendency, however, has occasion
ally been developed of design to enforce, by
political power aud by legislation, conformity
10 this solitary fragment Of moral code In
the State Of Maine, the sale of intoxicating
liquors has been positively prohibited, under the
peualty Of confiscation, and in New York, Ohio
AND other States, comprehensive movement is
going on for the same purpose. A law like this
Is sumptuary law. If il can be justified, why
not prescribe by law the costume Of the people.
u i were reduced to a uniform standard of
cpersencss and simplicity, vast amount of
money would be saved, extravaganza would be
prevented, and poverty, and want, and fraud,
and crime, aver,ed. Why not restrict the size,
and cost, and furniture of dwellings, Why not
regniaie Diet and restore the black porridge of
Sparta!
Now sumPtuary regulations are enforced on
the slaves of plantation, and liquor prohibited
very properly-on the ground that they are
morally inferior and unfit to govern themselves
But for a. mere numerical majority in State to
impose such restraints on minority of political
or social equals is to inforce one of the essential
conditions OF slavery. Such is the progress of
the North. Such is the modern transcendental
idea of liberty and equality.
AZ for success in any such attempt, it is essen
TALLY impossible. Compulsory morality is a
contradiction in terms. And the result will only
A
be reaction which will run into the opposite
extreme. The movement, however, is deeply
significant 1t proceeds on the assumption Of
great moral decline in the habits of the peo-
pie, and the necessity of reform; and it betrays
the incapacty of the people to perceive, or their
inaptitude to apply the eflcctual remedy