Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1853-11-27
CHAPTER iii.

|
Importance as their carnesness and the feeling
pressed by their countenances plainly showed.
This cry is all humbug, humbug," and lawyer
Turner struck his godheaded cane sulartly on the
grOud. ''The people have too much good common
sense to pass such prepOsterous law"
"Ah," returned the other, shaking his head a It's
this common sense | most fear. The people, as a
mass consider this liquor traffic aggrandizng the
few, and beggaring the many. They know that
fOurffths of toWn-paupers are made so, direct
ly and indirectly, by ntcmperanee and theeef fourths
of the inmates, of country iails and State Pr-
son, are there from the same cause. They know,
they have these institutions to support, if this
traffic is abolished, it will be money in their pock-
cts, BESIDES improving the moral and physical con
ditiOn of the community. Now, men like u.s.
| squire, don't mind little extra tax, particularly
when We receive an equivalent by the very means
| that leyies it; but it comes hard on the many.
But" he continued, he observed the neither lip
of the sleek lawyer seornfully curl, Il am not so
free to speak my mind with every body, but very
well know where you stand run no risk; though
| canddly confess, squire, if my sons inclined to
intemPerance, might take different grounds, but
as they are not, it alters the case entirely
"But this idea" said the lawyer, "that respec-
table man must have his rights invaded, his privi-
eges restricted because others are fools enough to
make brutes of themselves, is absolutely absurd"
ct this respectable man" looked as though if
allowed to pursue his course uninvaded and unre-
strcted he might, before long, find himself without
the pale of humanity. "lf gentleman he CON
tinued, "Prelers glass of wine at dinner tis an
unjust limo vatiOn to question his right TO use it. 1t
is barc-faced des potism, and the friends of this
law should be denounced as tyrants;' and the law
yer wiped the perspiratiOn from his brow.
'You cannot be more anxious than /, squire"
replied Elton, "as to the ISSUE for between oursel
ves. have more at stake than many guess. In the
first place, there is Wiley if this law is enacted
he will be down fiat; for, you know, his business,
aside from the liquor trade, isn't worth a straw
lie has always sold every thing, except his liquors,
at an extremely low rate, to draw customers, and
put an extra price them, adding what he took
off one end of his store to the other; and when he
is obliged to close his bar, he has nothing to fall
back upon, for if he raises his goods and sells as
Others do, he loses One-thrd of his customers be-
cause many temperate men patronze him on ac-
count of his selling provisions so much below COM
mon rates. Well shall not only lose a good Gus
toner, but hold notes against him to the amount
of five thousand dollars, for that place of his and
furnishing his new house. | never had a suspicion,
but he was going ahead fast and perfectly sure till
lately, but now, have reason to suspect his bills
in -- are pretty large, and am very much a.
raj he has been living too FAST for since there has
been much stir about the law, I've tried to get
mortgage of him, but can't; and five thousand is too
much for a man to lose, that commenced with the
capital of six pence.
But this is not the worst of it, Squire" cOntin
ued he, drawing nearer and speaking in a lower
tone. Il presume | can with all safety eonide in
you. lam debtor to two firms in the city of -,
in the sum of twenty thousand, and have heard
their capital is really drawn from third person.
wine merchant, and if this law comes in force, |
may be called upon for this twenty thousand, at
time not very convenient for me, you know. But
here comes Stuart, no doubt up to the boiling
with zeal for what he terms the elevation of hu-
manity." he added, laughing as a man approached,
whose kind noble, benevolent face bespoke heart
and hand, open TO every good work.
Good morning, friends. Discussing what is on
every tongue, presume" said he smngly.
"We" said Elton, Il was just telling Squire
Turner, that Wiley is feeling rather bad, in view
of his prospects Hes pretty humble just now
"Ah," exclaimed Stuart, his countenance chang
ing TO mingled look of pity and Indignation, "the
fear of losing some Of his worldly possessions Me
price of blood, Is but drop of suffering in that
cup, he must one day drain D God. what load
of gilt that man carries. He has done more, to
demOralize this community, than all its moral ard
religious institutions have TO elevate it. He has
peopled the alGs-hOuse with miserable beings, that
call for support-le has filled the ehurehyard
with the graves of brolen-hearted wives and pa
rents, and famished chhren-and the jail, the pri-
son, and lunatic asylum can each add moro than
one victim to the number.
@LoOk at that man" he continued, as wretched
sin-worn being came lettering towards them, "a
few years ago and not "a dwellcr in this village
more prosperous, had pleasanter home, more
lovely or loving wife, or happier children. Where
are they now? His wife in an early grave-his
children beggared-that pleasant home in the hands
of his destroyer. Ah! he IS ba Of that host Of
uictis, for trhose bood e Lord trjH one dag make
inquisitiOn Wiley coveted that beautiful cottage
and grounds. He was known to say So and that
he would, one day other, possess them. And how
did he succeed. lie dared not ask Walter Hale to
drink at the public bar he knew, he would scorn
to do it. but he solicited him to test every fresh
rival of choice liquors, then he invited to 4
cial glass at his own house, and nice bottle Of
champagne was occasionally sent, a neighbOrly
gift, till ut last Hale could call for his dram az
unblushingly, as the West sot." 81 denOunce Wi
ley" said Stuart, his eyes flashing, and the warm
blood from the heart sullusing his cheeks, @as the
murderer of that wretched wife, the destroyer of
this poor mans SOUL if he never reforms, though
God knows, what this righteous law may yet do
for him."
"DOn't deceive yourself" said the lawyer. "Such
| man as Hale will have rum, law or no law"
Turner. there are hundreds of miserable, abject
beings in this Commonwealth, who look to this law
as their only hope, and believe he is one"
"Humph! your fanaticism carries you beyond
reason. Ha--ha, It's worth something to hear
these fellows rave, at the prospect of losing their