Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-11-30
1858.
The Traffc-Legislation.

is but one of three courses for Legislatures
to pursue-manage and restrain tile traffic
let it alone-prohibit it. OF the license sys-
tenn, with the knowledge now possessed, it is
in the first place utterly indefensible as a
source of revenue. Nj. Everett computes
that the use of alcoholic beverages has cost
the United States in the last ten years, $780,
600, 600 has burned or otherwise destroyed
s.. 000,O00 more of property has destroyed
300, 600 lives sent 10000 persons to our
prisons, and 100000 children to the poor
house; has made 1000 m~aniacs, and 100000
widows; has caused 1900 murders, and 2OG0
suicides and has bequeathed to the country.
1000, 0G0 of orphan children. 1t is, then ut
terly unwise to authorize the traffic, as a
source of revenue. And it is utterly useless,
if designed for prohibition, when if there be
any right to prohibit at all, there is a right
and a duty to prohibit entirely. 1t is utter
" inefficient as a guarantee, that the trade
f will be conducted in the way most conducive
, to the public good, when most Of our Judges
and lawyers add their earnest testimony,
e that the traffic in spirituous liquors is among
the most fruitful causes Of crime one Of the
e III thHS SdoHSy GApltSSlhS nlihScll-1
S have spent too large a portion of my life in
d the administration of criminal justice, not to
have seen many melancholy proofs that our
accursed license system is a prolific source Of
crime" The traffic itself is unquestionably
I an immortality. In a day of so much light,
it cannot be other than a crime, to continue
administering to the depravod appetite of
L
y be wicked to contribute by furnishing the
q means to the spiritual and immortal suicide
? of a man, then by construction, a legislature
4 is at least 9 an accessory after the fact" fit
=. lend its influence and authority to the traffic.
~ Prohibition is then the duty of legislation.
We do not here intend to found the duty
of prohibitory legislation on religious argu-
ment, in this article. We cannot too ear
"a nestly guard against that error Of past
al ages and of the existing governments Of Eu-
rope-~founding human legislation upon re-
y ligious doctrines. But having been obser-
10 wing the influence of the spirit-trade upon the
higher nature and destiny of man, we are
led to look more earnestly into its bearings
ID upon his temporal interest, which furnishes
the legitimate occasion for human legislation.
And in descending from that, the higher, to
the lower ground, we find as might be antic-
ipatcd, every consideration of policy, of ex-
ola pediency, of propriety, of patriotism the
o1o duty of defending the rights of the public
10 againstthe interests of the few of cutting off
the streams of moral pollution, come from
md what quarter they may all combining to
,+S make it the duty of a legislature to drain off
,ro the waters Of these stagnant pools the fiery
streams Of these burning mountains. We
ubo hear much indeed of moral suasion. Would
,o;r you persuade the brute that daily amuses
,oS himself by beating the wife of his bosom, af-
tho ter all your "Reminiscences? or would you
VOC chain him? Will you persuade, or punish
the man who Continues tn hrutalize himself, In
AZ. spite of the persuasions and agonizing re-
and monstrances of his wife Have you elo,
quence to move such a man?
10th No nation can stand before Alcohol, if hi
min Is permitted TO hght the people, man by man
Their Ii his recruiting sergeants and officers are 40
\ mitted and sustained he will prevail. Baby
Ion and Nineveh were great but drunken
ness was greater. Alexander was the world
conquerer and alcohol conquered Alexar
der. Rome was mighty; but it was only s
long as her legions and her rulers were TEN
long
Where it will rise again, man cannot say
But of this be assured, it will never be wher
the spirit-tradc fourishes; where the highe
n classes l~ovewine, and the lower love whiskey
where the young men are strong to drink
Az and the daughters dread not the enchantc
and cup. No; if the use of alcoholic drinks is
Is re- increase here, America will want no Oregon
City nor CALIFORNIA;. She has space enough no,
d for twenty natious of drunkards. 4 pun
and Mexican race will be strong to chase her bae
him to the east, as she has chased the Indian
y for the west. God has legislated on this subject
II po- and written his law on the monuments of a
0p' the mighty nations; yea, on every fibre G
man. the human frame, that withcrs at the deadl
ola touch of alcohol. He has legislated, and d.
N be clared-no drunkard shall inherit the king
= - dom of heaven. He has made n decree cor
select corning our beloved land. 1t is written OF
| that in characters that cannot be mistaken
you make peace with alcohol your doom
sealed. Every d~istillery in your land ev'
ry store-house, every shop that contains !
are traitors to Americas best interests. Ayr
=. culture, mechanics, commerce science, cd
cation, legislation, the Judiciary, the alta
: = the Preside, all demand that these be p'
- = down. If the spirit-trade increases. the
- Jul physical feebIeness, intellectual degenerate.
y nS private vice, and public crime, foolish legi
qlan lation, unrighteous judgment, rash diplom
= cy, mad instruction, fierce ambition, loss
na'o mutual confidence, mobs, instructions, ITO
W and murders, insecurity Of property and hi
must increase in equal proportion. And CT
49, any legislature, believing that, r%efuset to qua
- the dearest interests of their country again
a traitor so subtle, but SO powerful?
'e you @-A letter from Wilkes County co
! him. tanning some Resolutions for publicatio