Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-04-06
GAitur'H Gurrf5punnrarf.
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AG
Licensed SIaughterhouses.

1
In whatever light we may view grogshops,
we can hardly regard them as anything less
than a nuisance; and the influence whlch
they haveupon the "mind, body and estate,
as being far more pernicious than the "pestl-
lence that walketh by MONDAY" Whenever
an affection is sent by an All-wise providence
upon n community, such dispensations are
always accompanied by mercies, which,
while the one softens and humbles, the 9TH
err purifes and ~elevates the human heart
But those Affections to the mind and shocks
to the feelings, which are caused by the ne
farious operations of man, always make dull
and stupid the intellect, hard and unteellng
the heart, and throw a cloud of melancholy
over the feelings Of a community, which in
terupt for a time even the raysof the Sun Of
Righteousness. In looking upon the men
engaged IN these nefarious eperations-the
liquor traffic, we experience mixed emotions,
which it would be difficult to analyse. We
feel pity for the man who, knowing no high
er incentive to action than sordid gain, for a
paltry sum relinquishes all the delights Of q
clear conscience, all the enrolling aspira-
tlons Of a well-directed ambition, and all the
honorable efforts by which he might exalt
himself by doing good to others. We feel
CONTEMPT for themau, who, for a few "pieces
OF silver" consents to become the panderer
to the lowest appetites-the habitual compan-
ION OF the most disgusting, unfeeling and
beastly of the human family. And our in
dlgnatlon is excited against the man who, for
the same few 4" pieces of silver" or for any
recompanse however great, becomes the vol
untary Instruments of such utter ruin to a fel.
low being, and the immediate cause of redu.
cling him from a state of hope, happiness anC
usefulness, to the lowest stages Of vice, mise
cry, worthlessness, despair and death. We
say our indignation is excited against the
man who, unmovcd, can witness these effects
Of his own acts, nor feel any horror of him
self nor any compunctious aspirations for
better lif: nor any determination to attain it
But then, as is sometimes the case, there art
brought to his attention the most disgusting
and appalling exhibitions Of the immediat,
/ victims of his combined cupidity and turpi
tude, and we see him turning from the seen
with apathy, or even a constrained indifer
cnce, our indignation gives place to horro
AID astonisment. Weseem to see sOmethin;
| before US bearing externally the shape ant
: having the linoaments and lOc0mOtion of
man, yet destitute of all those finer feeling
that distinguish the race.
> These reflections have been occasioned b,
> the untimely end of James Colston, who wa
/ last night stabbed in the region of the heart
by Robt. j. Bonnera as supposed, both ofwhou
were intoxicated. The coroner is now ho'
3 ding an inquest over the body ofthe deceased
Il and the universal expression is that of SUI
9 prise, that two such inoffensive persons shout
. have been the cause Of so melancholy an OF
currence. But every rejecting mind cannC
" but consider it Us the work of the demon A
cOhol and the question " where is thy brotI
q cr'-must come home, with peculiar fore
: to the breast ~ofevery feeling man, not eng
gel in the lnudable effort Of putting a stop
. this nefariou5 traffic. The citizens of tn
oPcounty are grooming under an exorbitant tn.
d and all the rejecting portion of them, are
ware, that these licensed liquor establish
- mcnts, ~notonly increase their taxes, but plac
i in jeopardy the character, property and we
v Of the people and it is not a little surprisir
" that every respectable citizen does not take
a stand agaist them! Where is our safety az
lie liberty, ifthere is to be a prjcileged class,
censed to domoralise, plumber and kill CT
liens of Hyde, awake! Your lives arein da
N ger, your property at stake and what is
far more Importance, the character Of yo1
IF county-tho happiness, the safety of yor
D. wives and children demand, that if you a
= ~freemon, you should assert and mainta
freemen's rights, and at the ballot box dri
this demon from your country
ID ARGUS.
Middleton. March 18th. 1852.