The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-07-09

Besides, il Is well known, that ior-
merly, it was a very difficult thing 10
obtain conviction? Wewefe harrsssed
By constant failures. The grand lnry
might refuse to indict through some de-
iect of evidence. The traverse jury
might refuse to convict, through the dis
agreement Of some juror, who over.rode
both law and evidence. And ! have
known witnesses, whose faces must have
been twenty years, in receiving their deep
coats Of vanish, to swear they did not
know how brandy tasted, Thus the
weapon broke in our hands, and not un-
frequently wounded him who welded il
But here, the dumb fiend itself is forced
to testify. A drunken witness is not
called into court to equivocate or pe1ure
himself but the liquid devil is forced TO
attend bodily, 20 make confession OF all
the crimes he was about to commit, pre-
paralory TO being executed. And how
much better TO do execution upon the
rum than to allow a man to drink it, and
then execute him!
Human law has no direct power to
control diseased appetite. He may
punish the retailer for selling, and inn
prison the drunkard for getting drunk;
but as soon as the victim is released from
his confinement, the retailer kindles the
appetite anew. We have tried this meth.
cd of reform for more than two centur-
les, and yet we are not all advanced be-
yond the starting place, probably are
behind it. Now we have found that,
though we cannot knock human pas
sion on the head, yet we can knock whis-
ky barrels on the head, and thus balk the
passion and save its victims.
The friends of temperance, then, | say,
have achieved a position entirely new.
The "Maine Law" is as great dlscove.
ry in morals, as steam was in physic,
We now have an instrument of vast
power, which a single man can put in
motion. And is it possible that there can
be, anywhere, within the boundaries of
old Pilgrim Massachusetts, single rem
desvous of all the curses and crimes that
torment society, which has not some
Followers OF God and friends of hu-
man kind, " near BY, who will apply the
torch and send it to quick destruction!
For this purpose, the whole State must
be thoroughly organized, county, town,
city, ward, sc. Wherever an enemy
lies in ambush, watching his opportunity
TO spring forth and destroy the happiness
and peace of society, there let compa-
ny OF faithful sentinels be placed to re-
sist and defeat him.
There is another consideration which
shows the immense importance of our
present position. If we are defeated
with existing advantages, under what
imaginable circumstances can we ever
triumph2 Death, or an Immortality Of
life now impends over the cause. If
we are beaten, what corps de reserUe have
we to bring forward, what citadel to
retreat tol So, too, OF our opponents.
If vanqulshed now, they can never
rally. If they are driven from their
present balefuI traffic and manufacture,
they will invest their skill and capital in
some new department Of business, hon.
orable to themselves and useful to the
community, will draw around them a
more profitable, because a temperate set
of customers, and, in the and they will
| rejoice, and thank us, forthe change they
were constrained TO make.
Permit me to say word on anoth er
topic. The most serious obstacle TO be
encountered under the new law, is the
revenue law of the United States. We
cannot attack foreign liquors, until the
parcel which have paid duty are bro
ken up, and are mingled with the COM
modities of commerce. Hence great
quantities of liquor will claim exemp.
uon under certain circumstances, and
must have il. How can this obstacle be
removed! Only by sending such tenn
perance men to Congress as will alter
the revenue laws, pronounce the foreign
article contraband, with proper limita-
tions) and leave us only the domestic foe
TO contend with. But such men will
never be voted into Congress, until the
MAINE Law" shall be adopted by the
Individual States, or at least by enough
Of these to command a majority of the
Congress members. WhatCa be hoped
of Congress where members may be
seen with a glass Of brandy and water
before them while speaking, the effect
OF which soon becomes as perceptible to
the judgment as to the eye of the hearer!
What can be hoped of President and
Senate, when, but short time since we
had three foreign ministers, at three Eu-
ropean courts, each of whom was no
toTlous drunkard, and one Of whom was
so permanently drunk, that it is said he
never was presented to the sovereign to
whom he was sentl And hat, without
great reform, can be hoped Of country,
in many parts of which it is no objection
10 candidate Tor office, that he is noto-
riously intemperatel All these things
counsel prudence, vigilance, energy, and
indeiatigable perseverance. We are
warmed and we are encouraged. Let us
hope for the best, and strive to win it.
Let us fear the worst and strive to aver
it. Let all the impulses OF hope and
fear be guided by conscience and rein
forced by a sense OF duty 10 God and
man, and the songs of a Iegenerated
world will be our reward.
Yours, very truly, H. MANN.
Washington, June 21st, 1852.
Temperance Messenger.