The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-02-27
NJ. An,i.Maine Law Appeal

The Anti-Maine La"
The following article, purPOrting 70 Ds
-.n,onstrancs to the New York Legislature
= = ;su dssprit, is superior 10 the lutte
man reply, and is fully e9p-l ,~o, = We can
hoax, Pepetratod some s...,. se1,% 80, or two aud
suusu Ieave the reader himself to Gscover
the playful extravaganza the keen sarira,
and the admirable vein of irony that runs
through the whole -
RemORstragce. To ths Senate and Assembly
ofthe State Of Ne,o York, in Legislature assem-
bied:
Whereas, it has become known, from pro-
ceedings 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 10 OBJ
tain, il possible, the enactment OF a law utterly
prohibiting the sale as well as the manufacture,
and consequently the use and enjoyment, Of
all those accustomed beverages OF the people
of the United States, and OF all other civ.
llized nations, from time immemonal, known
as wines, liquors, cordials, beer, ale, porter,
cider, or otherwise and enforcing this prohi-
biIion by seizures, multiplied fines, imprison.
ments, and other penalties we, the citizens,
inhabitants, and commercial visitors OF the Clty
and County OF New York do hereby, against
the enactment Of this, or any sinsilan lasli -
fully demonstrate;
The deception is well maintained in this
paragraph, except that the idea of drunk
enness being characteristic of civilization,
brings to mind the incident Of the gibbet
and gallows being evidence of refinement.
The humor is rather broad, to be sure but
with what specious affectation Of tact, does
the writer omit all motives Of interest and
expediency involved in the manufacture
and sale of the article, and appeal directly to
the appetite. But we are OBTAINING the
reader:
lst. Because we believe it to be our natural
primary, and irrevocable right to use the fruits
OF the earth, whether naturally produced or ar
tifcially prepared, both for meat and for drink,
at our own personal discretion and response
bility.
3D. Because the enactment Of such a law, by
any legislative majority, however great, would
DO a usurpaliOn OF despouc pewers, in contra
vention OF obvious principles and provisions,
both Of our federal and State constitutions, and
of the natural and lndlteaslble right already
stated,
81. Because we regard the proposed law as
the audaclous, unscTupulous, and tanaucal pro-
iect OF certain Cunven iOnal assoCi ,tlOns, known
| as Temperance, or Total Abstinence Societies
acting in concerted combination, and actualed
| by prurient, perverted, and reckless zeal to
effect by legislative coercion, and the ultimate
physical force Of the law, extreme and lmprac.
| ticable purposes, which their moral influence
| has coniessedy failed to accomplish; and be-
cause we believe that these societies. however
| useful and COmmendable heretofore, within
| their appropriate and practicable sphere, as
moral agencies, for discussion from an Odlous
and destructive, though not prevalent vice, al
ready punishable by law, have justly incurred
! The indignation. and the political resistance and
| hostility Of every enlightened freeman OF the
land, as the chief instIgators and abettors OF
4 despotic usurpation, more degrading TO the
moral voition and dignity Of free people, and
more alrocious IN It's political character than
any which history records.
What superficial reader, would not, in the
first paragraph suppose the imaginary re-
monstrant in downright earRest2 In the
second, how extremely sarcastic upon those
pretended friends of the people, who. in the
very face of their pledges, consult their own
interest, aud defend their conduct by the
adoption of scruPles supplied from that
never failing fund, the Constitution. In the
third, the vituperation against temperance
associations, is somewhat overdone. We
have often heard that lawyers discover the
weak point in their adyersary's case, by the
superintendent efforts to conceal it. We
presume that by this extra display of denun-
citation, our friend endeavors to cover the
fact of his being the president of a temper
ance society, or perhaps P. G. W. P. of the
Sons of T. The title of " all the talents d
as pertaining to political party, has for a
long time been lying in allegiance. With
what humor he revives it for his adopted
party, comprising " all the enlightened free
men of the land :"
4ih. Because we believe that the accustomed
beverages 0! civilized men, lnterdicted and rem.
iered unoblainabe by this threatened law, are
essential to the health and comfort the social
| enjoyment, and the beneficial intercourse, Of a
large number O1 persons in every community
and who now use them unObecuonably and
worthily, for these desirable purposes.
5lh. Because man, as a superior, social, and
moral being. exercising a rational intelligence
and choice as 10 what is most beneficial ant
# agreeable to himself, can no more be confined
Dy restrictive Legislation 10 the drink Cf the in
i terior animals than to heir TODD or clothing
10 and requires neither medical nor legislative pre-
v. 5cnptIons tor the ordinary preservation Of hi
le health, and recuperatIJa OF his strength, no
:; the example either OF drunkarts or reformed
10 drunkards to protect his morals
Here is moral reflection on the indebted
" ness of man to the inferior animals for ever
n rag of his habilimept, down to his yer
10 shirt Ironical.
9Th. Because we are convinced, both by ot
servutiOn and reflection, that the infatuated Il
tai abstinence irem agreeable, nutritious ar
: renovating beverages, under conventional al
VI unmidgaled obligations has caused, and is st
le causing greater sacrifice OF health and Ii
e. than even the inlemperate abuse Of them; Il
former victims, Of both seXes. being lar mo
" numerous than the latter, though less public
le known.
!" Well preserved
Infatuated total abstinence - we do nc
of however, consider this proper subject
IN a Jest Total abstinence of this despera
ne kind, wherever it prevails, does, we da
e, say, produce vast amount of mischief
law ought to be made to arrest that, too
n. as soon as it is detected. The rhetoric
IF figure is, however, admissible.
.e. 7Jh. Because it is undeniabIe and obvious tn
a., but comparatively few persons, in any cor
GO munity, immOderalely and immorally abu
Iy these beverages, out Of the vast majori