The Ohio organ, of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, [Ohio]) 1853-1854, 1853-06-10
Thoughts of Rum.

II it'itis wrong. There can be no me-
dium; haIf-right, half-wrong. If it
H be right, it should be as free to man
as any other business. If it be wrong
H it should be prohibited.
H That it is not profitable, except to
those who produce or traffic in it, all
4 admit. That it is most injurious to
many who use it, none will deny
/ They who traffic, and those who use
/ it moderately, claim: "It is not the
use, but rather the abuse which makes
it obnoxious !" it follows as the Sc
quence, that if there was no use,
there could be no abuse.
They do not deny that if the sale
and manufacture were prohibited by
the strong arm of the law, mankind
would be gamers thereby. No, it is
pure patriotism, the love Of liberty,
that induce objections to such laws.
What say they, in this land of lib
erty, in this model republic, enact
laws that will deprive man Of his
natural rights the liberty to drink;
the right to get drunk most horrid !
it would be worse than despotism
/ Let us see what Washington said
upon the subject of rights. In his
letter to the President Of Congress no
submitting to that body the Constitu-
ton Of the United States for their ap-
proval, he says:
Individuals entering into society,
must give up a share of liberty to
preserve the rest. The magnitude of
the sacrifice must depend as we'll on
situation and circumstances, as on the
objects to be attained"
Oh! that every one who desires
liberty-true republican liberty, wi ich
secures the greatest good to the larg-
est number, which protects the inno-
cent and the helpless from tn acts of
the wrong-doer-had engraved on his
mind these sayings of " ashington.
Man in natural rights, possesses the
unbridled liberty of his tongue; yet,
on "entering into society" he sur
\ renders its licentious use for the secu-
rity Of his fellows.
n The Constitution of the State of
New York, Art. lst, Sec. 10, says:
"Nor shall any lottery hereafter be
authorized, or sale of lottery tickets
be allowed in this State" Under the
provisions of this section, lotteries
have ceased to exist. 1t was for the
public good. Were lotteries more per-
nicious in their effects than the traffic
in Rum -? The occasional ticket was
not productive of serious evil. When
the abolition of lotteries was first
agitated, dealers proclaimed it an out
: rage upon their invested rights. Who
at this day would ask for their res to-
; ration?
> Again, Sec. IA of same article in
the Constitution reads mo lease or
grant of agricultural lands for a longer
: period than twelve years, hereafter
made, in which shall be reserv any
rent of service of any kind, shall be
valid" Farmers, why were you re-
quired to "give up" the liberty of
leasing farms or garden plots for
e twenty-one years, privilege so long
enjoyed, to be restricted to twelve. 1t
t has been done. We hear no COM
a plants from you, of being required to
: surrender share Of your liberty.
The farmers have ever been foremost
: to "give up share to secure" that
liberty which will best promote public
happiness and domestic comforts.
Gentlemen who traffic in the pOis-
oned cup! Ye who take the Occa-
sional social glass Ye moderate
drinkers Will you not "give up a
share Of liberty" when the object to
be obtained is the "public good 9"-
r.se. IN. Y. Observer.