The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-08-10

JAMES MCCAFFER1Y,
Augusta, Geo.
s55" THE intelligent Charleston cores
pondcnt of the Winnsboro Register, writes
thus to that paper about the Maine Liquor
Law.
Whiic on this point Of coercing people
and communities into morality, by positive
legislation, we are brought naturally to the
Maine Liquor Law, which is now made a.
test IN many States, and which there is rem
son to believe will soon be attempted with
us. IL is dangerous ground we know, for
our ultra temperance men have ready an
swer for any one who suggests a doubt, or
hln's at the possible infallbility Of any of
their pet schemes. You are invited quite
cordially to meet them, and discuss the aues-
tion," but if you do not take particular care
10 discuss all on their side, you are politely
told that you advocate, and perhaps practice
intemperaGce. There are still however, n
few, who vii! think for themselves, and we
shall accordingly submit some views on the
Maine question. The following States have
adopted substantially the same prohibitory
law, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
Vermont, Michican and Wisconsin, Altlro'
the subject occupies large space in the Nor
thcrn Journals, we at distance still need reli-
able information rs TO the workings and eff
iects OF the law, for the misfortune is that
nearly all the journals who go into the aues-
ton, are strongly biassed on one side or the
other. We can Judge of the policy of the law
however, by n few general considerations
Sumptuary laws have been often tried and as
often found impolitic and inefficient, when
they coincide withand represent exactly pub
lie opinion they are unnecessary, when other
Wise they are cvaded to 4 good extent and
the public mind, so far deteriorated for the
habltual evasion of our laws, tends to edu-
cate people into general disregard of law
law on the statute book, not thoroughly
enforced, is therefore not merely a nullity,
but positive evil and nuisance. In our ultra
democratic age, and especially in our North
ern section, people have come to regard q
majority as almost omnipotent, and to attri-
butte some magic sclfexecutinu virtue to
every law, as such. The cool observer how
ever, can find everywh here instances 10 prove
that law doing violence to the opinions and
feelings OF even Il respectable minority can
not be- generally enforced.
Another view The Maine Law strikes mt
the sale of liquor as beverage. Every act
OF sale requires two parties and il would
seem in common equity that equal guilt in
ordinary transactions should attach TO both.
On the other hand the sellar alone is pun
ished, and the buyer Is tempted to turn in
former. We much fear indeed that the ef.
feet OF the Maine law and similar regula-
ions will be to create and train mp class of
professional informers-onc of tho greatest
scourges that can visit n country. We have
already gone too far in the matter of money
inducemcn;s-duty rs duty is lost sight of
in our civic relations and the almighty dol
lar is held up as the one all-sufficicnt mo-
tive. The odiousness and dangerous ten
dencies of this informer system, have alrea-
dy been perceived. In a late case at Prov
idence (R. ~ Judge directed the acauit-
tai of the defendant, although the act Of sell
ing liquor was clearly proved, on the ground
that the informer, who had purchased ayow-
ed, that his only intention in inducing the
defendant to sell was to lodge informa-
ton.
All will admit the enormous evils of in
temperance, but there is also an intempcr
ancc, IN zeal and in legislation, and in the
countless shifts and evasive subterfuges to
which prohibtory laws give rise, there are
elements of degradation and corruption that
cannot be estimated. The physical effects
ofa 'half pint" may be the same under all
circumstances but we should think the
draught, would prove far more injurious TO
the moral constitution of him who TO pro-
cure it would sneak into back door or bring
an order for Medicine, than to him, who
could indulge his appetite in more open
and manly mode. Enough on this topic
for the present. We are only surprised
that in these days of consolidation when
"strict construction" means the construction
Of Pacific Railways, some one has not tried
to pass once for all Congressional and
general liquor law. Such law would
come ms fifty under the power to regulate
commerce" or the general welfare" clause,
as many powers that have been found there.
As many Of tho Northern zealots of the
Maine law are also flaming abolitionists,
such law would also help their cause and
pave the way for Congressional blow di-
rect Mt slavery. Once admit that majority
is omnipotentA-whicht the Maine law as
sumes--and our Northern friends will say
"we have in the Union large majority Of
non-slavehoidcrs who believe slavery
wrong" One link alone will be wanting
in the formal recognition and assertion Of
the doctrine that for general governmental
purposes the Union is q consolidated repub-
lie, and Southern men are aiding the North
zealously, in inculcating this doctrine. Give
these data and you easily deduce the aboli-
ton of slavery.
ThenSopth Carplipian. and the Colum-