The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-10-19
THE MAINE LAW IN OHIO.


alone can tell whether from this chaos will b.
evolved the perfect world. Free Soism WI
no dub, make lis disturbing force felt in th
play Of the machinery, but the question roun
which the hottest Of the strife goes on, so far a
we can judge from our exchanges, touches tn
enactment of the Maine Law.
| The pos tions Of the Democratic Tarty in tha
| State are so well taken by an editorial of III
only for the light it throws on the position o
parties in that State, but for the excellent prac
tical sense and close argument, evident in it,
The spirit and tone of the article identicu
wi h tina, evinccd by the democratic press in tn
eastern States, with the Boston Post a, thei
head How for future events may make these
doctrines applicable to our own state, remains Il
b seen, and on the subject we express no opin
The blue laws Of Connecticut are the origin
ais from which the liquor laws Of Maine hav.
been derived There certainly is and ought t,
be marked difference Of character between thu
people IF New Englind and the West. There
trast rather than comparison--a difference mos
obvious the aptitude ofthe Yankees to origin.
ate and paronize every species Of humbug anc
anatcism and of western people, doggedy t.
refuse on all accasions to participate in the move
MI nt be it what il may.
Anti masonry, which had its origin among the
Yankees If New York, from an absurd story
about one MORGAN being murdered for divulg-
ing what probably never existed to be divulged
and what was entirely unimportant, it it did
reached a degree Of consequence and attained to
an organization among them that aimed at the
highest Office in the government. 1t had its
hour, its course, its trial its def. its death and
burial.
IN this Yankee atmosphere, prolific of enter
prise, and famous for "nineteen tweniielhs oil
the ingen !ons improvements America can boasl
Of the spirit of philanthropy has become SC
purient that 1t is devisng mans salvation by
law, from the sinful temptations that whisky
leads us into. Among those with whom it is
said, "originated our be- ideas Of religious free
dom sprang up, too, the notable idea of Native
Americanism; that which denied 10 the refugee
from European tyranny an equal participation
in the blessings we enjoy-although our privi.
leges could not thereby be in the least impaired
more than the pure springs of our valleys could
be dried up by the thirst Of the exile wanderer
This conspicuous spirit of liberation in the city
If brotherIy love, forbade the victim of foreign
power to sit at our feast where we had liberty
and to spare. It too had It's day, and pershed
In the West This fanaticism, or policy it you SO
please to dignity it, found no rest or abiding
place.
Woman's Rights Conventions, wherever held
have been unable to persuade western woman
that she has any part or lot in that matter !;
a he of
Madame BLooMER and her disciples, nor the
Rochester Knockings have had power to prose
lyte the western people. The notable Anti
Slavery movement, whilst it has agitated Con-
gress and troubled the channels of political ac-
ton here, yet negroes have been returned under
the fugitive slave provisions of the so called
law, aud in this State no candidate has been
seriously supported for Governor who would not
advocate the srictest enforcement of that law.
In this Congressional District-the capital dis
trict OF Ohio, the lofiiest character and most
Important service was insufficient TO Withstand
the suspicion of taint upon this subject, and with
GALLOWAY, went down the hopes Of Abolition,
to an endless perdition, we trust, forever and
ever
All these devices, tricks, schemes, projects
or pIans--call them by what name you will-of
moral reform, have been urged upon The country
bofsterous piety, which savors far more of that
evil spirit which from the top Of an high noun
tain, pointed out a II the Kingdoms of the earth,
and said call this will give to thee, if thou wilt
.all down and worship me-" than Of that meek
and lowly piety which finds in the teaching of
the gospel occupation enough, and in its laws
restrictions enough to remedy all the evils that
flesh is heir to. We cannot help looking upon
all such movements pernicious in their ten
1aur o11xvvr @c -
the appreciation of the christian secs, it appears
to US their condemnation should be rather ex-
cited, for ifthey are not antiscriptural, they are
certainly extra scriptural, and therefore to be
discarded
Amongst the most reprehensible Of all these
movements, is the effort to invoke the power of
the law to enforce rule Of morality, and a pre-
cept Of religion. Nor does it come with any
more authenticity indeed it is not the less re-
preh-nsible. because Maine and some other
Yankee States have given it the sanction of their
Legislatures 1t is proved, even there, by ex-
perience to be impolitic and Intellectual If tenn
perance is to be enforced by law, why not clean.
illness and industry? Why not piety and pray
er? Suppose the estimate Of treasure spent and
death incurred from the use Of ardent spirits be
correct, what are these compared to the enor-
nous treasures annually wasted in idleness and
vain show, in gilded equipages and plate, in
Jewels and costly entertainments, which many
think lead to snfullness and often result in ruiz
what TO countless multitudes who every day die
in their sins and go down to eternal perdition
You wish to snatch by law five hundred vicfims
annually from drunkard's grave; Why not q
hundred thousand souls from the gates of hell
If the law may forbid, it has right also to com
mand and why not issue warrant to con-
stable commanding him to make domicilary
| So To 4,
them the word of God, and try upon their unre
generate hearts the efficacious power Of prayer
Why not require Mayor Humphrey, instead o
sending brawling disturber of the peace to the
dungeon, on bread and water, remanding
ceunterfeiter back to prison, to retire with then
to some seque stored spot, and try the purifyin!
influence of practical piety, as plainly set fort
in awell digesled supplement to the New Code
When the law begins once to travel beyond ii
customary course and intringes upon liberty o
conscience, or when from an overweeping soici
,ude for public morals it trenches upon the con
ceded province Of religion, there can be n
bounds set to fanatcsnl and there can be n
security whatever for public liberty. The para
mount object in view, the great benefits, real @
ideal, to arise from the proposed action of th
law, constitute no Justification whatever for th
overthrow of that great principle which assert
that moral obligations are not to be enforced b
law, but must be left 10 the control of that wlic
is stronger than any law-the force of publ
opinion. When this proves inadequate to &C
complish reform, or to effect great objec
rational men should rather examine The wisdoI
of their own views than question the adequac
Of the means to accomplish them.
No reform Of modern time has appealed S
powerfully to the sympathies Of man as that :
temperance, and the success of the movemer
, shows how great public opinion has been enl
led in lis favor. II sdeePly to be regretted th'
{ the means heretelare so efficacious should
abandoned and the friends Of temperance rei' ru
instead of adherng to reaty and pursuason
should resort to threatening and menace. Mott
ing can be m"re certain than the final and Il
umphant victory which awaits the movement
, 1t is followed legitimately, and raises up in j
, path no other enemy but the demon Of drum
eness, with which it should only engage. IL
. SIMPLY question of time, and we cannot 81
II the wisdom Of fendangering by impotence, su
). cess which few revolving years will be cer,a
TO secure. Licking (O) Herald
e "1HE COUNTRY GROWS. Under this he