Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-03-27
The Temperance Question--Again.

There has been4an effort, on the part Of
some, to create the impression, that our OPP.
position to the Maine Law, is intended to
initiate against the order OF the Sons Of
Temperance. We cannot say whether
this course has been Influenced by mushy
brain, or mean, black heart. Suffice it,
: ~ the misrepresentation is SO buld-face,
and apparent to !. person OF 'h'mO'e full
of brains, that II Is useless for us to :. -" Wv
distinction between the legitimate anu
praiseworthy means avowed to be employ
ed by the Sons Of Temperance to accom-
plish an abatement Of the evil of intemper-
ance and the arbitrary, tyrarnical and un-
constitutional machinery Of the Maine Law
men. The one proposes moral suasion-
the other brute force. This is the differ
ence. Let rational men choose whom they
will serve.
Another error'is assumed in supposing
that the principle Of Legislat,ng on the
subject Of temperance. is the same of that
for the suppression Of Bygamy, Polygamy,
Gambling, whoredom, &c. There is a
distinction to be drawn here, winch is
readily psrceivable by all who desire hon.
estly to arrive at the true merits of the
proposed Temperance reform. 1t seems 10
US, that in attempting to accomplish
christian end, the means employed for that
purpose, should, at least, be marked BY
fairness and honesty. But, whether from
ignorance or mean ness, we will not say,
the friends Of the Maine Law accuse all
those persons, who oppose their measure,
by legitimate deduction. with favoring the
vices to which allusion is made above, be-
cause they place all Of them in the same
category. But the argument is fallacious,
aud unsubstantial, and is directly condemns
ed by their own admission and propos,.
ton. License and traffic in liquor are recog-
nIzed by law, because, apart from its abuse
ito which all laws are subjected more or
Less it stands an acknowledged and indis-
pensable benefit to society. The advocates
Of the Maine Law admit this, and as if to
acknowledge the unreasonableness of their
radical scheme, they propose that the
State shall employ an agent, whose duty,
and whose alone, it shall be TO sell liquors,
at certain per cent. This feature Of
itself, involves as great an evil, although
Oh less extended scale, as the one pro-
posed to be crushed out--a monopoly
would be established by law, which, would
be contrary 10 reason, and incompatible
with the terms of the social compact. 1t
would lead 20 corruption, and deception
and vice, Of almost every hue. Mo-
ney is the "root Of all evil" No one
would accept the agency without guara,-
tee of sufficient compensation, and tbs
very love OF money would lead into sys-
tenn Of trickery and deceit comm .nsurate
with the capacity Of hurian nature to
practice them. The Law would be evaded
aud huge cess-pool OF corruption and
vice established b, legislative edct and pro.
lection. But this very proposition con-
tradlets the main idea upon which they
base their movement, and is palpable SUBJ
scrlptlon to the right and expediency Of
the legislative power to License the sale
anG manufacture OF ardent spirits, and to
;he virtue Of liquor. To deny this latter,
would be to charge every christian pro-
fessor, Of wontonIy INDUCING in rite, al.
though religious, which embraces the same
grade OF immortality that is involved in
poly gamy, adultery, obscene literature, sc.
But the atfic in liquors Is placed on a
different test Of expectancy. The consti.
tuition Of the United States in ferentially
grants and sustains il, and it is therefore.
according to a conservative construction.
in conflict with, and violation OF the pro-
visions Of that sacred instrument, for the
States to pass any law interfering with it.
The I'd clause Of the 9th section and LIST
article Of the Constitution Of the United
States. provides, that Congress shall have
power to regulate commerce with foreign
nations. and among the State" What is
implied in this grants Congress has the
power to import into this country sach ar.
ticles as the public necessities require, and
to regulate the trade in such importations
among the States. This is plainly an ex-
press grant in no way qualified. 1t is
therefore. hey ond the power Of the reserved
rights Of the States to enact laws conflicting
with this provision, and assuming to take
from the federal head its granted power of
regulating commerce between the States.
If this be defect, the only mode possible
TO reach it, is to change the Constitution
Of the United States. There is the foun-
tain head whence this evil tlows-if evil il
be.
In the amendments to the Constitutions
we read that "the powers not delegated
to the United States by the Constitution,
nor prohibited by it to the States, are re :
served to the States respectively, OR to the
people," The power to regulate COM
n, a.no hat.yaa,, FL. Ctata, bar., =.