Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-07-30
Gen, Cary,S Address,

To the citizens of Ohio, on the subject Of
Temperance is an admirable thing. We
subjoin the following extract. Our columns
will not allow a greater portion this week.
but we may fnd room for more in our next
issue.
"Those who resist the effort now making to
outlaw liquor, urge as a reason for their
course, that the whole question is a moral ona.
and that however desirable it may be to rid
the land Of the evil, it can not be done by
legislation, but must be wrought out by ap.
pealng to the understanding and heart of
those engaged in making and selling liquor.
The friends of legal prohibition do not in
woke the aid of government in the prosecu-
ton of mere moral reform. They only ask
that the civil government shall carry out the
great design and object Of its establishment
1t is both the right and duty of government
to protect all in the enjoyment of life and lib
erty, in acquiring and possessing property. in
pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.
There is, however, one condition which each
citizen must comply with before he can ask
protection, and which must be performed be-
fore government can properly grant it; name
ly, abstain from injuring, and respect the
rights of his fellows.
1t enters into the very definition of civil
liberty, that no man shall pursue any trade,
occupation, or calling, inconsistent with the
general interests of the community Of which
he is a member.
The principle has been affirmed by the
Supreme Court of the United States, and its
soundness will not be questioned, that "no
person has a right to introduce into any
neigh5orhood, any thing which will endanger
health or life, peril the property, corrupt the
morals, or disturb the peace" If such an
element Of mischief is introduced, the agent
becomes trespasser, and it is not a mere
question of morals, but one OF civil liberty.
Hence, Chief Justice Taney declared that,
if the internal traffic in intoxicating liquors is
injurious TO the citizens Of a state, it may be
restrained. or prohibited altogether. 1t does
not involve the morals of community alone,
any more than gambling yet the right of
government to seize and destroy the impe-
ments of gambler has not been questioned,
but repeatedly affirmed. The gambler, the
| thief the highwayman, take money without
giving an equivalent-so does the liquor sell
Ter. The vender Of unsound meats impairs
the health-so does the liquor-seller. The
vender of lottery tickets, or obsceue books
and pictures. corrupts the morals-so does
the rum-selter. The liquor-seller does more
he endangers the lives of innocence. BLAST
character, destroys reputation, disturbs the
public peace, encourages idleness, promotes
Ignorance; his entire work is one of DEATH
How comes it, then, that this is mere ques-
ton Of morals? Let those who assert the
doctrine dare maintain it'll
Ifappeals to those engaged in the traffic
are the appropriate and only remedy, ther
indeed may we make up our minds TO bear
forever the cruel and merclless inAictions, fol
the whole magazine Of argument, persuasion
and entreaty has been exhausted without ef
fectl
The press pulpit, and the platform hav'
discharged their heaviest artillery. The mis-
cradle drunkard, the heart broken wife. tn
ragged and starving child. have all made thei
touching, eloquent appeals. Almshous
and prisons, crowded with wretched inmates
have sent forth their pi:eous tales. A count
less company of liquor-sellers. ruined in body
estate, and reputation, have lifted their voic
of warning; and that the whole earth migl
} know the wickedness, and the blighting an
damning nature Of their business, God hs
/ uttered his voice of warning, and pronount
ed woe upon him who dares to put the bo
tie TO bis neighbor's lip. But all these az
peals. and expostuations, wailings. warning
: and woes, bave been disregarded."