Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-02-02
For the Banner.
On q ProhibitoYg Law.

For the Banner.
On q ProhibitOry Law.
Mr.. EDlToR:-By prohi ibitory law
do not mean the Maine Law particular
ly, but law prohibiting the sale Of in
toxicating liquors as beverage. To sd-
vocate law of this kind. is my purpose
on the present occasion.
SO long as Intoxicating liquors are sold
and used. (as above mentioned) SO long
drunkaris will be manufactured. Our
success in promoting the cause Of tenn
perance. will depend upon our success in
Inducing mankind to give up the sale and
use Of intoxicating drinks. What are
the most effectua! means for securing
this object? Moral suasion has done
much. Moral suasion undoubtedly, may
be made to do much in the future. am
in favor Of carrying moral suasion as far
as it can be carried. Still. moral suasion
alone. will never put an entire stop to
drunkenness.
/. Moral suasion alone will never induce
all to give up the liquor affic. In many
places this traffic is profitab BILE. Under
these circumstances some will follow il.
even if they know that their employment
is running promising youth. beggsring
families. and involving neighborhoods in
misery. Moral suasion may be used as
feelingly. and eloquently. and zealously.
and pcrseveringly. as i; can De used: still
il is plainly obvious that some will sell
liquor. SO long as the law allows them to
do it.
2. Moral suasion alone. will not al
ways be successful in the reformation of
the drunkard. Here is an individual
who has sunk deeply iE habits Of inebri-
ETY.. He breaks off from The intoxicating
cup; signs the pldge; and friends indulge
the hope. chat his reforma ;ion is perma-
nent. For while. he maintains habits
ago is sold in his neighborhood. The
temptation is held out TO him daily. He
yields at length. and falls back into his
former habits. At times he makes des-
perate efforts TO break that chain. which
intemperance has thrown around him.
but as often he fails. and finally drunk
ards death closes the scene
We know persons of good talents. and
Of naturally noble traits of character, who
in all probability will be drunkards so
long as they can obtain what will intox-
icate.
But i: may be said that law prohib-
iting the sale Of intoxicating liquors
would be unconstitutional. What clause
Of the constitution, ask, would be vio-
lated bv law of this kind? When this
is pointed out, the argument. will receive
attention..
again; a law like the above, comes
within the scope aud designs of all law
lst. Law is designed to protect the prop
esty. and persons. and rights of iniivid-
uals Well. here is the family of the
drunkard. The rum seller has taken their
property; he has reduced them to dis
tressing want: he has ruined the husband
and father. and rendered home place of
misery. De they not need the prorec-
tion OF the law? Can they not justly
claim this protection? Is ii not the real
design Of law to remedy such grievances:
10 shield suffering families from rhe raw
ages of rumsellers? IL ii not reasonable
and right that individuals should be pro-
hibited from pursuing an employment
which involves families in such misery.
and which SO deeply conflicts with the
welfare of society? 2d. Law is design
ed to suppress vice. Well. who can
doubt that drunkenness is a fruitful source
of vice? An examination Of the history
of convicts in our penitentiaries and 9th
er places of conine ment. will reveal the
startling fact. thata large portion Of these
have been brough: to their present degra
ded condition. through the influence of
inebriety. That drunkenness does pro-
duce vice and crime. aud a vast amount
of it too. is 100 plain matter to require
proof. A law then is called for, which
will strike at the root of the evil, by
suppressing the liquor traffic.
3. The late liquor law passed by our
legislature. involves to all in,ents aud
purposes. the right to pass = law that is
completely prohibitory. If our legisla.
tors have tho power to enact. that liquor
shall not be sold by less quantity than
gallon. without license. they have the
power to enact that still larger quant.
ty shall net be sold without license
They can even enact. that no quantity
whatever. shall be sold without license.
Again: they can determine to wha, ex.
tent this lcens. shall be carried. They
can limit the license, less or more. or
withhold it. and declare that the LIQUOR
ira ffic shall cease.
4th. We have other laws in force which |
involves the same principle that the law
dnes for which am contending. The |
law against gambling; and the law
agains, the printing. vending. or cirt ula-
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