The Ohio organ, of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, [Ohio]) 1853-1854, 1853-03-25

salntary lesson of the advantages bf
sobtietY. This might do in Athens.
OF perhaps u might do any where,
where the indulgence Of the vice was
confed to slaves, but it is to be
feared that ffeemen may initiate rath- Z
.er than cohtemn the vices Of freemen,
and thereby fall prey to the inhu-
ence Of example.
Vice, we are told BY the great poet
Of nature, ''shalI sooner convert vir-
tee from what she is to bawd, than
virtue can reform vice to her own like.
ness" The best mode, however, Of
preventing all those evils, which to be
thought Of are to be condemed, is the
actual prohibition Of their sale. II is
no answer to say they may be OBJ
tanned Somewkere. if their sale be uni-
versally forbidden, they, at all events,
win not be obtained eUerysOhere, as is
pretty much the case at present, and
will be of difficult attainment any
where. Let the Legislature do their
duty and the ministerial officers theirs,
and the great work of reform will
soon be accomplished; but vice of
this sort can never be checked by par
tial modification. Whoever heard Of
a partial check C larceny; as for in
stance, no man shall steal with impu.
nifty any sum over five dollars, or forge
more than five promissory notes.
Where is the surgeon who, to eradi-
cate a deeply seated and wide spread
cancer, will direct and confne his skill
and his knife to some superficial fibre
Of the deyouring and destructive dis
ease.
But it is said that the Constitution
Of the United States forbids any legis-
lation, such as has been proposed
upon this subject. This Constitution
IS very convenient scare.crow, and
s resorted to upon all occasions when
al other delenses fail; and yet, as /
understand it, it has no more to do
With the State remedy proposed for
he evils Of ofintemperance, than it has
. do with the Copernican System.
set as see what portion oft they refer
3 ii their zeal; though, ID passing to
!, we must not fail to observe, that q |
asst deal Of the opposition to the pro-
osed Legislation, is not confined to
lere patriotism, but seems to be di- |
ected to supposed pecuniary adyan-
age to individuals, as springing from
he contamination and distinction oil
he masses Of the community. By |
be 9th section Of the Constitution Of |
he United States, Congress is sem
lowered to lay and collect taxes, du-
les, imposts and excises, and to regu-
ate commerce with foreign nations
md among the several States" And
his is the clause upon which it is
that the provisions of the
Maine Law, and of course, similar
in other States, are or
would be, unconstitutional. And in
support Of this doctrine in obedience
o the fashion Of the times, the adver-
'aries of Temperance rely upon the ar
gument Of Mr.. Webster in his profes
iional opposition to law of similar
IMPORT, adopted by the State Of Massa-
;husetts some ten years ago. The
substance Of his argument is this, so
ar as it relates to the present inquiry
First, F." No State can prohibit the
iale of imported merchandise, either
~ wholesale or RETAIL" This deny.
second, "When there is a collision
a State law and law of the
United States, the State law must
yield." This admit, but the answer
o it is, that there is no collision. "TfI
Congress have power to regulate
subject matter, a State cannot inter.
ere"--true, l grant, but they fail to
how that the State has interfsred with |
my right possessed by Congress.
: The power Of Congressin regard to
eYenue, does not terminate at the
.o,,,, dor;oc of n Stotn L.4 o..4.