Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-11-30
Unconstitutional"

We are conscientious in the belief that all
the modern asses have not long ears, as they i
had in the days of Balaam, for there are a set t
of ignorammuses, to say the least, in these /
United States, and not a few in old North {
Carolina, who preach the doctrine from the
doorsteps of groggeries, that every thing is
IN constitutional that clashes with their NOR
bid wishes or contravenes their sovereign
wills.
If the government plants a telegraph post
on the spot where one of these modern Solo
mons wish to build a dog kennel, its uncon-
stitutional-Ae has no use for the lightning !
If the Engineer of a rail- road runs a line
through his pig-sty, he gets as mad as a hor-
net stung niger, and swears it's unconstl-
tutional-he has no use for railroads has
q fore-feythers hauld corn on truck wheels
and carts''-besides the Engine will kill his
nics! IF he wants to shoot n deer at n GER
tain season of the year, and the law says he
shall not, it's unconstitutional-he has not
time to hunt deer in the proper season! 1t
he wants to shoot certain birds while on the
nest, and the law forbids him, it's unconsti-
tutional-he never could shoot flying! If he
erects a mill dam and overfows his neigh
bors' lands, or in any wise creates a nsisance
and the law seeks to remove the same-its
unconstitutional-his interests are involved
in this nuisance! therefore the removal must
not-positiyely-be thought of!
Now, if the law can plant a telegraph pos
in yolr yard and you dare not modest it
can't it run up a temperance flag and nail i
to the pole above the Capitol? If State law
are permitted to run a railroad through you
garden for the convenience of the public, can
it lemolish distilleries and cave in tn
heads of brandy casks for the sam purpose
If law can dare you to kill deer and bird
with shot, except special cases, can't it fol
bid you to kill your fellowman with whiskc
under all circumstances? If the law ca
tear away mill dams when it is proved the
are nuisances, can't it blow up grog-dens
Who arc the expounders of this profoun
doctrine that teaches us it is unconstitution
: to prohibit the traffic in this body-blightin;
: soul-damning beverage? They are your swe
led head asses who read in the papers whel
i, the best Port Wine and Old Rye can be o
: tanned, but never the Supreme Court r
| ports-men who can more lucidly expour
: the constitution of a brandy cocktail, a h
q punch and mint sling, than they can the Co
l s~titution of old North Carolina. They a
: the b~riefess, bloated, slavering, %swaggerin
= three-cent-bit grog-shop lawyers, who no
e forth their oracles in some foul rum ho
b three nights in the week, get wonderous wi
t as they sit and spew on the head of an EN-
e ty whiskev barrel, and hiccup and expoul
d the mysteries Of the law to their fellow 50
n IlIustrious expounders Immaculate Of
J. cles! Profound logicians! Valiant pl
tectorates of our blessed Constitution, W
reel through the streets at midnight on tn
le homeward march, whip the drowsy negro'
b. smash the china, terrify the cats, curse t
Is children in the little cot and kick their wiz
al Out OF the house, or, VIM nUIctoiI uhonaoeI-
w on the despatched floor of the grog-shop,
ter the revel has sunk into its stupidity, a
of sing in a dolorous chant, "I-wont-wC
If, go hum till mornin',-'till, till daylight d,
in ~ap-appear!" The opinion of all such I
lie MES deserves no higher fee than a Leaf
he medal-and such they richly merit.