The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-02-05
Anti-Temperanoc Movement.

Anu.Vemperanoe movement
The following rem onstrancs Is circulated va
exen svey for signatures over the 10 900 grog shop
in New York, and will receive 30 900 names
REM oNsTRANCE
To the Senate and Asstn,by Of the STATE Of Nc York
/ IN Legislature assembled -
| Whereas, it has become known. from proceeding
already commenced 10 one or be tn OF your hpnora
Ole odies, and from other sources Of public nfof
nation that u IS the intention and design o. certain
ci your members 10 Obtain If possible, the enact
ment OF law utterly prohibiting the sale, rs we'll
ssthe manufacture, and consequently tho use and
enjoyment, % ell those nc .ust ed beverages of
tne people o. the Ohited States. aud Of oil other
civilized nations, from limo immemoris known a.
wines, liquors, corcias, beer, ale, por er der or
otherwise and enorcii tha prohibition by seizures
Multiplied tines, imprisonments and other penal
ties We, the citizens, inhabitants, and CO nmercial
visitors, OF the cty and county of New York, do
hereby, against the enactmen mt OF this, any similar
Law, for the itlo wing, aad many other reasons,
respectfully ren onstrate:-
lst Because We believe it to be our natural, pri-
mary, and reVocable right to use the fruits of the
oSrth, whether naturally prodaeed or artihcauy
prepared, both for meat and for drink, at our owe
personal discretion and responsibility.
I'd Because the enactment Of such a law by any
legislative majority, however great, would be .
usuIpation Of despotic powers, In conIayention OF
obvious principles and provisions both OF our federal
ard state constitutions and Of The asural and inde-
feasible right already stated.
ID. becauEe We regard the proposes law as the
auoacioos. INSCRIPTIONS, aad tanaslca pre- ect OF
certain conventional associations, known as Tom.
perance, or Total Abstinence Socetios, acting in
concerted conn uation, and actuated by prurient,
perverted, and reckless zeal to effect, by lex satve
coercion, and the ultimate physical force of the
Law, extreme and impractcable purposes, which
their moral Influence has coniessedy failed to 40
complish; and because We believe that these 30
cetes, however useful and commendable heretofore,
within their appropriate and practicable sphere,
moral agencies, for discussion from an odious and
deeruct,ve,. though not prevalent wise, already
punishable BY Law, have justly incurred the indig-
nation. and the political resistance and hostility of
every enlightened freeman Of the land, as the chief
instIgators and abettors OF q desp0tc usurpatlon,
more degrading TO the moral yolition and dignity
OF free people, and more atrocious in id political
Oh aracter than any which history records
18th. Because we believe that the accustomed
beverages of civilized men, inteId cted and render
ed understandable by this threatened law, essen
tia to the health and comfort, the social enjoy.
mont, and the beneficial Intercourse, Of a large
number OF persons in every community, and who
now use them uDobjectionably and worthily, for
these desirable purposes
9th. Because man, as superior, social, aud
IL oral being, exercising rational intelligence and
choice az to what is most beneficial and agreeable
TO himself, can no more be confined by restrictive
legislation to the drink Of the inferior animals than
TO their food or clothing and requires neither me-
dica nor legislative prescriptions for tho ordinary
preservation Of his health, and Incorporation o. his
strength, nor tho example either Of druuka! DIS or
8 h. Because we are convinced, both by obser-
walton and reflection that the infatuated total alb
stinence from agreeable, nutritious, and renovaing
beverages, under conventional and unmitig gated
obligations. has caused, and is still causing, q
greater sacrifice OF health and lie than even tao in
temperate abuse OF them; the former victims OF
both sexes, being far more numerous than tho lat
ter, though lees publicly known.
7lh. Because it is undeniable ard obvious that
but comparatively few persons, in any com munity,
alu iu1m ahuaa haze have
out OF the vas. majority who moderately, virtuous-
ly, and beneGcially use them and because their
abuse by the few is no just reason for their being
interdicted to the many.
Sth. Because even tho abuse Of them, however
sincerely and deeply to DO deplored, is grossly and
Iidculousy though Systematically, exaggerated, a.
q source Of pauptriSm and crime, nearly all the
evils of society being fanatcally as;ribed to this
cause, to the exclusion Of all other inherent
in human nature and its imperfect social condition;
and in impudent defiance OF the notorious fact that
these evils prevailto at least an equal extent, in
those countries where such beverages have been
absolutely nterdicted, both by OWL ana religious
la nd total abstinence established for than
q Thousand years
9th. Because these beverages are not necessarily
intoxicating, as is falsely and tanaticay assumed
by the conventional advocates OF the proposed Law,
IL tic face Of common experience ana ooserva-
ton
l0Sh. Because we believe and observe that tbs
vice ofintoxication, now rapidly diminishing among
all classes, under tho Influence OF moral suasOa
ard example, would be aggravated by candestins
in iugences, under the proposed law, as under the
suffrage license law Of 1915; while the laws now
existing, properly enforced would be fully adequate
TO suppress its grosser Manifestations aad o0nse-
quences
18th Because We we'll know that the enforce
nent Of the proposed law In the city of New York.
would cause loss of many millions Of dollars in.
vested in he real estate OF our many magnificent
hotels and other buildings, and be iucai ua-
by destructive OF the commercial interests. cha
-acter, and prosperity Of the American Union.
l2h And finally, because we are solemnly con.
7inoed and assured that such despo.ic and unrea-
enable law could not be enforced in the city Of
New York, except amid scenes Of riot and blood.
she'd, Ia which, though it's reckless advocates would
be the first and chief sufferers, vast multtudes Of
the populace would be involved, and which would
be too frghtful in their results for any but calous
fanatics to contemplate without horror and dismay.