Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-08-10
Gov. GiImsr's Letter.

and Statesman who penned ii, Ex-Goy GEO.
R. GIIMER
LExINeToN, june 1s, 1853.
10 the Rev. DIP Jones
Dear Scr 81 have received your very
courteous request, % make an address to the
Temperance Convention which IS 10 meet q
week or two hence in the city of Atlanta
The time Of meeting, and my present en-
ployment, will prevent my making the ne
cessary preparation for doing what you and
other friends desire. i have never been a
member of any temperance society and am
not therefore, we'll informed of the precise
objects of the Association nor the means
proposed to be employed TO effect them.
must, therefore, decline your inVitation.-
But say most heartily, God speed to every
proper effort to limit the use of whiskey, and
and its kindred spirits. | have never been
drunk. but feel the force of what / say.
believe that iDtemperance is bringing more
disgrace upon our country, greater disturb
ance to society, more distress to families. and
ruin 70 individuals, that any cause whatever,
indeed than all other causes together.
Retailing spirits in small quantities in
public places, is the form in which this great
evil works its worst and most extended mis-
chief The dram shopis the Augean stable
of our times, and the cleansing of it the
Herculean task, at which all patriots and
good men must lend helping hand.
The obstruction to progress is found to be
the notion which has got into the noddIes
OF the would-be public men, that the party
which aids in doing the good, will 90 to the
wall. Discerning men have seen for some
time that politics was stuck in the mire, and
that nothing would be done in moving for
ward until the spirit of patriotism should
direct, instead of noisy partyism. The people
are beginning to open their eyes upon the
truth, that public men are of no value, who
are afraid TO sustain the interest of society
against the habits Of the vicious ;and society
IS preparing to- act upon it so soon as the
conduct Of candidates shall make the truth
evident. The question is now being put to
each seeker for Office Are you for God and
the country? or for the devil and dram-shops?
The contest IS begun. Each party is hoist
ing its banner, citizens are joining one STAN
dar2 or the other.
Putting down the evils Of drunkenness is
the glorious result aimed at by good men,
and they will struggle hard to arrive at it.
The timid will dodge at the noisy halloo-
balioo Of the tip.ers and retailers, and scatter
in, the ranks. 1t would be better for such to
keep out of the scuffle. They will only
cause disturbance. Those who put them
selves in the place of patriots and seek the
honors and offices Of the country only to
crafty vanity, will find that the lowest places
are the safes: for those who start at straws
These winding about candidates are seeking
to find out through the legislature, what is
thought of putting down half-pints. The
Constitution confers upon the Legislature
the power to prescribe what acts are crimi-
naEy injurious to the public interest, and how
they shall be prevented That power cannot
be transferred by the Legislature to districts
or counties, nor its proper exercise be made
to depend upon the opinions of the majority
of particular districts or counties, as has been
proposed. Each member Of the legislature
is k kfffa9 eellfeaae oath to vote for such laws
ty of the State. If he believes in his con-
science, that keeping grog shops and selling
halfpints publicly, is for the interest and
prosperity of the State, then he must vote
against the bill which will be introduced
into the Legislature to put them down if
evils then he must support it. He cannot
avoid doing what his oath requires, by asking
the voters Of this place or that, whether
they are for OF against the continuance of
the nuisance. No candidate is expected to
to be so ignorant Of the necessities for pas
! c;r To hot cl0
7 where halfpints are sod and drank publicly,
d are public evils. And yet the retailers and
. tiplers are preparing to raise great hue and
! cry against any candidate who may say so
o and are already ckmmoring in expectancy
!, about violated privileges. Their notions about
e their privileges, are very much ike those of
o the Lincoln countyman, whom the Grand
e Jury presented for living with his negro
q woman in the way of wife, who got drunk
went into the crowd of citizens about TIE
: court house and cried out at the top Of hi:
l. voice, our liberties are gone, what did the
, old Revolutioners fight for, if one cannot do
d what he pleases with his own
s The retailers and their customers, seen
ID to be ignorant of the truth, that every man
y must use his OVID, SO as not to injurt
anothers. No body is asking the govern
Id ment to prevent any tipler from drinking
j. as much whiskey as he pleases in his owl
e. house, or by himself elsewhere. Sucl
ct would, indeed, be exercising most oppres
re siye and inquisitorial power. But it doe
g, not follow that any one who entices or in
I + duces others to join him in the guilt, can
ho not, and ought not to be punished. 1t
ly the right of every body to 60 to the dew
or in his own way, provided he does nothin
de to drag others after him. The power
ia, punish acts which are confined in the doin
!, ~ and their effects to the individual, belong
he exclusively to the power above US. b,
an whilst it would be usurpation to enquil
nd into, and punish acts Of individuals uncol
Up nected with others in the doing or the
= consequences the government should punis
up all immoral public acts, SO as to deter otl
~ ~ ers from like practices, and secure tt
III people from the effects of bad examples
len Every State, whose territory is on the s,
rou coast, exercises the right of restraining a