The Ohio organ, of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, [Ohio]) 1853-1854, 1853-09-02

language with regard % IT,
aThe absolute rights Of man, con-
sidered as a free agent, endowed with
discerument to know good from evil,
and with power Of choosing those
measures which appear 70 him to be
the most desirable, are usually
summed up ia one appellation, and
denominated tie natural liberty Of
mankind.
"This natural liberty consists prop
erly in power Of acting as one
thinks fit, without any restraint or
control, unless by the law of natures;
being right inherent in us by birth,
and one Of the gifts Of God to man
at his creation, when he endowed him
with the faculty Of free-will. But
every man, when he enters into soci-
ETY., gives up apart Of his natural lib
erIy, as the price Of SO valuable a
purchase; and in consideration of re-
ceiving the advantages Of mutual
commerce, obliges himself to con-
form to those laws which the commu-
nifty has thought proper to establish.
And this species Of legal obedience
and conformity is infinitely more de-
sirable than that wild and savage lib
erty which is sacrificed to obtain it.
For no man, that considers mo-
ment, would wish to retain the abso-
lutte and uncontrolled power Of doing
whatever he pleases: the consequence
Of which is, that every other man
would also have the same power; and
then there would be no security 10 in
dividuals in any Of the enjoyments Of
life. Political, therefore, or civil lib
erty, which is that of a member Of
society, is no other than natural lib
erty SO far restricted by human laws,
land no farther, as IS necessary ana
eTpedient for the general Advantage q
the public"
Now how far a prohibitory law
j would be for "the general advantage
: of the public" we will show in the
course of these papers.
: On the same subject Paley says;
, "Civil liberty is not being re
! strained by any law, but what con
!, duces in greater degree to the pub
lie welfare"
! The archbishop Of York, says:
o "Civil or legal liberty is that which
# consists in freedom from all restraint
? except such as established law impo
i ses for the good Of the community t
!, which the partial good Of each indiVid
4 W0l is obliged to give place."
!. Upon the very foundation Of liber
b ty, as set forth in these definitions, tn
whole fabric of our government
II based. In view Of this fact, is it NO
a passing strange, indeed, that the wis
h legislators of Ohio, with all the en-
d treaties that have gone before then
4 n can not find it lawful to put a stop
q Z, the liquor traffic, when common sens
N prescribes it not to be within the def
q! nitions just given, Of civil liberty?
g The liquor traffic is the only bus
ness which affects the public, to whic
the right Of prohibition is denied.
The right to abate public nuisance
has never been questioned. We haY
ne laws to protect sheep from the ravage
" Of dogs. Who questions the righ
it. enact such laws! Who denies the
it salutary influence? Are the lives
I'd sheep worth more than the lives an
p happiness and general welfare of maj
it kind9 30 but" says one, it is IL
nd sOOOI interest to which the law looks.
be Well, if the matter is to turn upon dc
Of lars and cents, regardless Of evel
re other interest that is near and dear
lat the hearts and hopes of mankind (ar
m which latter interest is above all 9th
is interests, we will take it upon evt
he that score, and show conclusivel
er that the liquor traffic is not for the i
'es terest, even in a pecuniary point
n I'M