Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1853-1853, 1853-09-06

raj rights and liberties in exchange for those
benefits and privileges which society OOnfsrs.
There is scarcely calling in society which Is
not under the supervision Of law, and limited
and restrained by Il. There is q limit even 70
the boosted freedom Of the press. LAsoiviouS
publications or prints in newspapers or books.
or libels, usually draw the punishment Of law
on the head Of the offender. The editor Of the
A" Police Gazette" had to Ay the State Of New
York to avoid Imprisonment on account Of bic
publications; Cooper gained verdict every
trial from Webb, Of the Enquirer" for libel.
Gus editorials published in relation 70 his novels.
The same principle runs through all law, every.
where, that individuals shall not produce pub.
lie inconvenience, public mischief, or private
injury. In most markets, If man offers to sell
lightweight butter, he fOrfsitS il; man il
punished il he undertakes to sell meat from a
diseased animal, In q word, freedom, properly
defined, is not unbridled licentiousness not tho
privilege Of doing whatever a man pleasss, 70.
lgardless Of the welfare Of others; but Glib
erty, rightly understood, consists in the power
of doing whatever the laws permit" and it has
always been considered that the laws ought not
to permit that 10 be done which is o source Of
public inconvenience, public mischief. OF pri.
vate injury.
To command what is right and prohibit
what is wrong" is the business Of the law
maker, The United States Government does
not allow liquor to be sold to Indians, because
it produces mischief; our State laws do NOT
allow liquor to he sold to negroes for their own
use. Here are two cases Of mischief arising
from the liquor traffic, where the law steps in
and prohibits the liquor dealer from exercising
his calling. If this is not an invasion Of his
rights, why may not the law go further, and
prohibit him from working mischief among
white people9 Is the welfare Of white people
in this country worth less than that Of negroes
and savOgesp
Our citizens are not allowed to use disturb
ing language in the streets, or 10 gallOp horse
through the principal streets; and many other
ordinances are passed, restraining individual
freedom for the public good, in ful6llment Of
the city's duty, as far as her power extends, to
guard the interests and happiness Of her peO-
pie; yet greater evil than all is sustained BY
numbers, strong moneyed interests and personal
friendships, and not by any natural right or in-
trinsio merit Of its own.
A pretended objection ls raised, that the sup
preston Of the liquor traffic is an attempt 70
regulate mems diet by law. This bacon and
cabbage view Of the question we do not think
is worth serious answer for the very per-
sons who make this objection are perfectly well
aware that the opponents Of the liquor traffic
are actuated BY consideration Of ito social
evils. .....
1t is said, that while engaged in reformation,
the work will be incomplete unless you can step
men from chewing tobacco and smoking ciRars.
+. This is as if man with the cholera had corn
on his toe, and you were to refuse to give him
medicine for the cholera till you had cured HE
corn! "DO one thing at time" 10 the Reldsn
rule for business. The man who attempts too
! many things at once usually succeeds in accom-.
plishiug nothing. Tobacco don't kill people, or
bring ruin and distress upon families; and z
our lawmakers will redress glaring, prOminsnt,
, destructive evils, we can afford to excuse them
from meddling with some others that are Of in
finitely less importance. The lovers Of tobacco
need hardly take alarm at the dOmOnStEssisns
against the liquor traffic,
CCOneusOn tO.nOnOw.l