Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1853-1853, 1853-09-06
Published by requeSt.1
AnnRRaR
Before the "Hannibal City LiQuor Law Reform AssOoa
1879 n.. q a. ...En.

VI Wnom Is TINS meeting compobeuF Elhlhtihs
in a cause brought before the Supreme Court Of
the Sovereign People; and witnesses Of the evil
against which complaint is made-the evidence
positive. These meetings are Of solemn i'm
portance, and should be viewed and treated as
such.
We are accused Of assaulting the rights and
liberties Of others. Our accusation against our
opponents is, that without prOpriety or sufficient
reason, they support and sustain great public
evil. These two parties, am entirely willing
to believe, are honest in the maintenance Of
their several positions. question no mans
motives in this matter, My neighbours heart is
a sealed book which cannot read.
never had time to read law, but once, some
four or five years ago, when l happened to have
nothing else to do, glanced over an old copy Of
BlOckstones Commentaries, that was lying about
the house, and think have a correct reoollec-
ton of some Of the universally admitted prin-
ciples laid down in that book.
The article in the "Courier" Of last week
headed THE Force Law" | am convinced
that no lawyer wrote. a lawyer would hav,
known that there is no such thing as lav WITH
OUT force. Law is that rule Of action dictated
by some superior, and which the inferior i,
ROUND to obey. Anything falling short Of Thu
definition is not law. Further, among 9th,
eternal, immutablc laws of good and evil, tc
which the Creator himself, in oil his dispense
tons, conforms, and which he has enabled hu
man reason to discover, so far as they are ne
cessary for the conduct of human actions, ar,
these principles: that we should live honestly
should hurt nobody, and should render TO ever,
one his due; "to which three general pre-
cepts," says Blackstone, "Justinian has re
duced the whole doctrine of law" You see
then, that you shall Z" hurt nobody" is one o
the eternal, immutRble laws of good and evil,
which form the foundation of all laws and tina
all laws are "force laws"
Does the liquor traffic hurt anybody LiquO
exciteS the passions, and overthrOws reason.
is the cause of most Of the quarrels between
men; it hardens the heart, deadens the con
science, Olienates parent and child, divorce
husband and wife, produces riot, disorder AM
bloOdshed, and nerves the hand of the maliciou
or covetOus murderer. 1t iniuriously affects tn
prosperity Of whole communities, thus making
the innocent suffer for the guilty. When ma
commits murder he is removed forever fror
society, to prevent the recurrence Of q simila
act by himself, and as warning to others. ]
is thus the law rios communities of spirit
clothed in human bodies; but more destructiv
spirits in jugs and bottles and glasses are per
mitted with IMMUNITY to create public incOnve
: nience, public mischief and private injury; I
PROSTATE health, destroy life, waste property
blast character, and blight reputation. Ruth
less and inhuman, this law-sustained tyrar
draws his recruits from every family circle
sacrifices the noblest from every Preside; an
fills every graveyard with his slain. He enter
happy families, where abide plenty and cor
> tentment, and turns the place into hell. o
! hilltop and in the valley; on mountain an
plain, the foot Of the destroyer has marked hi
path, like Sues Wandering Jew" with cho
era and tempest in his PATH But in this cit
the bloody traffic is passing to its end. Her
we boldly assert that government has rigl
to interfere with any mans business, who's
business interferes with the public good" A
, the November election it will be proved tbs
the people Of this city maintain the dOctriu
that the individual man must not get rich at tn
I expense Of the property and lives Of the CON