Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-05-18
STANTON, May II, 1858

therein that sat a Temperance Mass Meeting
held in Stanton, on the 9Th inst, Dr. J:F. Kurtz
moved that the following questions be respectfully
submitted to all candidates, who have been, and
will be put in nomination for the next Legislature.
|. Are YOU in favor of the total prohibition of
the Liquor Traffic, except for medicinal, mechan-
cal and sacramental purposes?
2Will you, if elected to the Legislature, use
your influence and jealous efforts 10 secure the
passage of law to effect this object, subject to the
ratification of the people?"
And you. request me to answer these inter
rogations, as soon as possible for publications.
You are doubtless aware, that am in nomination
for seat in the next House of Delegates, by the
choice of the Democratic party of Augusta, and
that the Democratic party, as such, has never
taken ground with regard TO prohibiting the liquor
traffic, which is purely measure Of State policy.
Notwithstanding, however, these facts, can have
no hesitation in responding to the interrogatories
which you have submitted y The right of every
voter to inquire, and the duty of every candidate
for the popular suffrage to answer fully and freely,
what his course would be upon every matter which
pertains to the office he seeks lie at the basis Of
representative government, and cannot be with
held without violence TO free institutions. The
man who goes into our Legislative Halls with his
hands free to act, though his lips have previously
been sealed, upon questions of moment dividing
public opinion, must inflict grave and reasonable
disappointment upon one portion or other OF his
supporters. For these reasons, | venture here to
say that the fiat of no political convention or eau
Gus shall eyer place me in position in which |
shall have difficulty in promptly responding 10 ev-
cry interrogatory, touching my action in office,
which shall be properly propounded for my consid-
Grafton. Accordingly, i now beg1eave to answer,
very respectfully, and not less decidedly, to both
of the questions addressed to me, NO. My rea-
sons for this answer will probably be of small in
terest to you, and cannot, of course, be given in
full in the briefspace to which am now confined.
shall therefore content myself with reinarhing,
that there are certain rights, oppertaining to the
individual man, which rise superior to the legit-
mate powers of government, rights which are born
with him, and which, if he is true to himself, he
will take care shall not be wrested from him that,
in my opinion, the "Nlaine Liquor Law" and all
similar legislation, is tyrannical as subversivo of
one ofthese rights, for the exercise ofwhich man
need offer no other reason than that it is has lcu
Iam further ofopinlon that the Maine Law should
be resisted, not only as oppressive IN Itself, but
because believe it would be fruitful example
for, and precursor of, much other Legislation of a
similar character and not only do consider this
law as odous in itself, but think that, if enforced,
it would necessarily be by penal provisions scarce
ly less Objectionable than the law itself
Having thus limited at some of the objections
which entertain to the prohibitory system, you
viii not be surprised that the answer which have
given TO your second interrogatory is also in the
negatiye | am not one of those whose convictions
of rich, would be altered by the simple fact that
majority of my fellow men differed with me in O.
piuiou. Believing that the law, which You con-
template, would be tyrannical its character would
not be improved, IN my estimation, by the fact,
that it was inflicted by the many men potoer, IA
Their than by one loan power. Besides, hum
bly, conceive that the mode, proposed in your Sc
cond interrbgatory, by which you hope to secure
the passage of this law, is not only unnecessary,
but variant, and perhaps fatally so, from the mode
of legislation provided for BY our consttulon-un-
necessary, because if the people of the State desire
the passage of this law, the readiest mode OF Ell
fecting this end is to send representatives. to the
Legislature who favor It's passage-yaraut, because
the Legislative powers of the State are vested In
House of Delegates, and Senate, a majority Of
the votes of each of which are necessary to give
law existence Should such an enactment as pro-
posed receive the votes Of majority of the people
of Virginia at the polls, this fact alone would not,
suppose, give it validity unless it should subse-
ouently be passed by majority of both Houses of
the General Assembly which, even under such
circumstances it might neverreceiye. If major
ity of the Legislature, which submitted the ques-
ton to the PEOPLE, were in favor Of the Law on It's
merits, there surely could be no need of submit
ting it, as the law could be by them at once enac-
ted .,t.
In conclusion, Sir, permit me tosay that claim
to be no less concerned about the evils of intern
perance than the meeting which you represent,
and would he rejoiced to see period put to them.
am happy to believe that inourown-Stae dru1k-
enness is on the decrease, and look with conf
dence to the holy teachings Of religion the iusruc-
tons of our schools, the influence of the press, the
Jealous efforts of the friends of temperance, and
our improving condition, as people, for its fur
Their diminuti0n-meanwhile the only legislation
on this subject which could contemplate with
patience. would be such as denounced penalties
against drunkenness alone, and such as might seek
to protect wives and children from the restitution
which is often consequent upon that vice IN hus-
bands and fathers.
With great respect, am
Very truly yours, &C.,
Isl. utia JAMES II. SKINNER.
Mr.. S. K. TAYLOR, Sec. Temp. Mass Meeting.
P. ST. observe in the Spectator of this morn
ing. an inquiry signed by many gentlemen, and
addressed to the candidates, which is the same
with your second interrogatory. | beg that this
letter may be taken by them as sufficient an
swer.
SrAUEToN, May II, 1858
Sir:-Yours of the 9th inst, has been received
containing two questions, which you, as the Sec
rotary of Temperance Mass Meeting, held in
Staunton on the 9Th inst" have been instructed
to PROFOUND :'to the candidates, which are, or may
be nominated for the Legislature"
The questions are these: 49,.
]. care you in favor OF the total prohibition of
the Liquor Traffic, except for medicinal, mechan-
ical and sacramental purposes? 2"
2. ''Will you if elected to the Legislature, use