Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1853-1853, 1853-09-03
For the Journal.
REPLY
assistance.
To tn. Editor, Of the Courier on "Foros Law"

tons, and prohibition Of that right does not
violate those Constitutions. Again, in coming
into society we must relnquiSh many rights
thus, the right to drive through our streets as
fast ss we please, and to sell in market what
we please and when we please; lastly, many
other rights are restricted by law; yet who
questions such restrictions, as unconstitutional!
There have been numerous decisions upon this
right by our Supreme Judges IN favor Of The lao,
but what has that to do with the prohibition Of
dram shops, any more than with faro tables and
bawd houses. This is an objection which can
not be divided. The argument has no partial
application. You must repeal at once oil your
hundred statutes against vices Of all descrip-
ton; or you must apply the principle to all. If
you do not prohibit the liquor seller, what q
gross injustice you are doing to these gamblers,
who you are furnishing with plenOry vengeance
from court to court. This argument has no
meaning unless you repeal all human laws.
They are all founded on the single idea of the
general welfare.
am persuaded the men, who make this obiec-
ton are not half so weak as they seem to be.
They are only initiating their brethren of the
other bar, in saying anything to the jury, which
they think may touch a soft spot. am thank
full to them, however, for making public ac-
acknowledgement Of the great doctrine OF total
depravity, which so many of them deny on all
other occasions. They are right. Human APP
pettes are so depraved that they cannot be bril-
died BY human law. What then? Can law do
nothing9 Why, then, have you enacted laws
against theft, and murder, and adultery? Why
do you visit the gambler and the bawd with the
terrors Of the Police Court9 Do you say, that
the man who sells drains to another, whom he
knows to be drunkard, or TO q young man
who he knows is becoming so, is not as guilty
as the gambler? Before state the ground of
the Temperance men, let me give you maxim
of the law, which any of the Law.Bar will
vOuch for on my behalf to the Liquor-B Bar. 1t
is this. The man who Injuries another, how
ever unintentiOnally, by doing mischief act, is
responsible for the injury done. Who excited the
gambler with liquor, till by losing his reason
he lost his money? Who heated the blood OF
the youth, now going from wine and punch &c
the bawd house? What heats the blood Of
thousands, who pass from the bells of Paris Tin
that temperate Uinc country to the death Of
paricidesP
A prohbitory law upon the sale of intOxi-
eating drinks. either imported or domestic, is
moi sought with the least idea that intemperancS
will be at once wholly destroyed, or that de.
PRAYED appetites can in that way be rooted out
The prOhibitory law rests upon the single prin.
ciple of fOrbidding men from putting the bottle
to their neighbours lips. The moral law hat
long since enacted this. Is there a greater
danger known among men, than TEMPTATION
Is there greater wrong than the putting tia
danger in their way?
1t was DR.. Arbuthnot, think, who said, tina
Of the petitions in the Lords Prayer, the mos
important was, Lead me not into temptation.
Go ask hundreds of men, in their sober DAYS
what they think of temptatiOn2 Hear their deeJ
and bitter curses upon the man who put tho
bottle to their lips; upon the companion WHIT
led them there and upon the laws and societ,
which permit this outrage upon humanity
Have you never read the story of George Barn
we'll? Have you heard how that young mar
who, the other day, gambled away four thOus
and dollars of his employers mOney-came {,
do il? Or have you never looked in on tn,
bright saloons, and seen some elegant young
Il