Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1853-04-06

oficel 1t is sufficient for present purpose, 10
say that the Church is moral institutions It cXcrts
a moral influence, operates by moral motives, and
effects moral good. it is not and was never int, nd
cd to be poltico-ccclesiastica ab'ishmct opera
ting by physical force, and imposing physical pans
and penalties those who do not submit To It's ni-
thority; or holding out carnal inducements to The
discharge Of Spiritual duties. The union OF it with
the civil power is an unho.y alliance, and mEst
bring forth the bitter offspring of intolerance and
persecution. il is also spiritual institution, with
spiritual priesthood; it nculcatcs spri'ua! duties
and precepts, and promises spiritual reward III
spiritual word i" an inheritance on high, indebted
and that fidctil not away, eternal in the heavens
Ts is not, of course, set forth ;s complete dcfn-
% ito" Of the Church, but it is ntisS"' to indicate
Next comes the State, which is more difficult to
define by ore in no way fsmiiarwi;l tho science
Of Civil Government What understand 10y it
however is, that it is civil institution; body oi
men living under particular fur:n Of governments !
political organization, whose object is to secure 10
c,cliindiridull, the rights privileges AID immuni-
ties, to which he is entitled andcr the form Of Gov
crnmcnt to which allegiance isacknowlcdgcd. IN
essential feature in the State Isl law making power,
which defines the duties of It's subjects, positive and
IL. g,t;v,, and rrescribrs penalty in connection
with Tic transgrcssinn of its cnacmcnts 1t is cot
the province Of this institution to cxtcnG lis aur-
t. the religious opinions of'thc people, nol t"
restrict the liberty of tho cilizers,e.ccp where thc
exercise of that liberty (ralher the abuse Of III is
adverse to public veal. Any act that is opposed TO
the public good is crime and t, S:atc has the right
and only has the power un cr divine appointment
to remedy the evil. Thosc who do not believe in Il
divine apo ntmcn, c.nno surely object to the right
and p"wer accord to the State.
Wit. regard 10 the institution of The family, it
| is unnecessary to say anything here. Without f.r-
tlcr crcumlocut:on then, let apply these pr;l'c-
PIES TO the questions before us. Should the STATE
by an act of the Legislature, prohibit the manu,c-
ture and sale Of ardent spirits except rs medicine
| | am no advocatc of the Maine Law" because |
do not know what are its provisions, never having
seen it. But for the subjoincd, maintain the
affirmative Of the question propounded above. lift is
not it oush to be, an axiom in poIit cal economy
that tho Slate has the right and it becomes its duty.
to suppress whatever initiates against the peace and
welfare Of the people. Wclin the name Of reason.
and observation and history, Whit is and has been.
more dangerous 10 ,hcpcace Of society. more Gcs-
tructiyc of the well being Of individuals and COM
muili,s than liquor! Men talk about the cvils of
war: but have al The wars tha; have drsnlacd the
carih done more 10 entail misery upon the human
family than liquor2 Have famine and pcstoncc
done il and has mt liquor itself contributed largely
TO produce these very evils. Surely, surely this fell
destroyer Of human happiness, this b!astcr Of human
/ hopes, this fruitful producer of widows and or
phans this consumer Of lroperty,f this di graccr Of
families, this ruincr Of SOULS has done enough to
earn fpr itself high place in tic records Of crime.
If the manufacture and sale of liquor with all its
attendant and inscparablc ills, be not crime, am
at ln.s to designate what is such and if the higher
authorities have not tho right to suppress it, pray
inform me what they have9tlc right TO forbid
1,uI wouu imposing upon the libGrtIts o1 tTr
people to pass such law"
Why, my dear sir, do You not sec that such n
notion of liberty as this, would make every legal
enactment on the Statute books violation of Tie
liberties Of the rcoplc2 What is libcrty3 Is it to
allow The qualification Of every base passion? Is it
to permit the indulgence Of every vic appetite?
know you too well to entertain the thought that you
would define liberty the right TO exercise ones
thcvish propcns;tics so far as 10 appropriate to linn
self the property Of another ! know you would
not cal it liberty Tor the debanchcc TO exert his Sc
ductivc arts to the prostitution of beauty and nno-
ccnce and virtue. You would not say that liberty
CONSISTS in allowing ones passions to drive him t.
the commission Of murder. And how YOU can
cal that liberty which condrccs strongly to these
and thuusand other crimes Of LlackcSt hue, is al.
most us inconprrhrnsbIc as the Elcusin'an mystic
res, or the puazGng performances Of TIE Spiritual
Rapp,rs. If this be lib, riy, let lis give up all civil
regulations and acknowledge no law, but Tic :" law
Of the desert land"
g But the people will not submit to the law.'
Well, it would be strange thing if the people
would not submit 10 law Of their own making
It is not the design or the work of the friends O
this measure to force it on the people without the
consent of the majority. II would be both rrwisc
and unfair to do So But let the matter be brought
bcfor. the people. Let it be discussed in Ness
meetings and in the newspapers thr"uGhunt the
State, and let the people speak through the ballot
box at the General Election, by endorsing on their
tickets, g. Liquor'' No Liquor" T his is the
course pursued in many uf the States and IL the
true Democratic policy. And If tic Sovereign,
people determine that the traffic lIa be turprc: SD
where will be The difficulty Of passing and enforcing
the law. But if they decide otherwise and prefer
TO continue the present system with I'LL its attendant
horrors, why in reasons name let them do so. Let
Drunkenness and dcbauchcry, and .rurd,r, still!
curse our land. Let men die by mania Il puiu and
Leave poverty TO administer their estates. 1.c,
widows die brokcn.h hearted, and children =" forth
into The world, ignorant and nncarcd for. dependent
upon carlh's cold charity for food and raimcnt
with no bright prmpcct for The future, ard III rc-
collections Of the past but such rs arc assuc::l d
with shame and distress.
Liberty, my dear Sir, is blessed Icon, but from
such liberty Liquor gives, may Kind heaven prcsc We
US! know not with what degree Of favor these
views will be received by your readers. To many.
they may be dstastcful. Some kno,o will freely
endorse them. BE ,liat rs it may however, claim