Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-11-22
NOVEMBER % 1854.
Wrttsa for sas Spirit ef tie Aae.
Or Letters 70 q Member Of tie Leqislat,sre. Of


or Letters to q Member Of tie Legislature Of
NOrs5 Carolina.
DEAR SIR :--In my last letter I direc-
ted your attention very briefly to the evil
tendency of inaulging IN intoxicating Il
quors as beverage. now propose, as
briefly, to direct your attention to the most
effectual remedy forzthe arrest of this evil.
T am fully aware Of Che fact, that it is easier
to expose an evil than to correct il but
still there is a remedy. What remedy is
the most efectual is aquestion which has
received various answers: nevertheless, the
whole matter may be resolved into two.
points -naoraE ss0a and legal suasioss.
There are ma urge the doctrine that
moral suasion is she only eHectdaI remedy;
that it has already accomplished much,
and that no difficulty, in the future, can
arise, of greater magnitude than many of
those which have been overcome. That
the same agency which has begun and car
ried on the work so successfully, is full
competent to finish all that is yet to be
done. Now, sir, let us look this matter
over, and if the above sentiments be true,
we will press the thing no more for your
consideration, in the capacity of legisla-
tor. Moral suasion has done much and
will do more, but it cannot do all for there
are many beyond the reach Of moral suasion.
Do you not know that there are hundreds
and thousands who would not hear SER
mon or lecture, or read book, pamphlet
or paper on the subject, not to save your
head from the sheriff's halter A man
that will steal his wife's shoes and sell them
for dram, will never be reached by moral
suasion-a man that will steal his daugh-
ter's only frock and sell it for dram, is
in the same condition. And the dram
seller who would purchase those things and
obstinately refuse to give them back to
their owners, without full remuneration, is
in the same category. have known such
things to occur, and kindred acts are seen
and read of all men. Now let me ask, do
you in honesty believe that such persons
can ever be affected by moral suasion? I
know you do not. Then what shall be
done ? fThe word is nigh thee, even in
thy mouth, use legal suasion. But here
the question comes again; to what extent
should legal suasion be carried, not to in
fringe upon our constitutional rights and
privileges? Answer, to full prohibition
of intoxicating liquors as beverage. On
this point perhaps, we shall break lance
But let us try the matter in the form of a
sylogism.
That which opposes the objects of gov
ernment should be prohibited by law The
liquor traffic opposes the objects Of gov
Therefore, the liquor traffic should b,
prohibited by law.
The first of these propositions you vii
concede to be correct, therefore to the sec
ond shall direct your attention briefly
Now the objects of government may b
shortly stated to be, first, to preserve life
second, to multiply and perpetuate th'
means of happiness.
That the liquor traffic is opposed to th,
first object of government-to preserve life
will be readily seen by reference to my las
letter, the statements of which are draw
from sources of the very highest authority
From that you will discover that scarcel,
a minute passes over our head, but carrie
with it the body of some poor victim o
Alcohol to the grave. Disease and dealt
are inseparable from inebriety. That tn
liquor traffic opposes the multiplicity ant
perpetuity of the means of happiness, i
readily seen from the fact that it robs tn
world of seUe,a hundred and fifty million
of dollars annually You very well know
that there is scarcely family in the civil
lied world, that has not felt the weight o
this curse, bearing upon some member 0
its family connection, in the shape of dis
ease, poverty or death. If the tax that
now paid to support pauperism arising fror
drunkenness, could be turned over to oschool
and internal improvements, all our college
would be endowed in one year, and all ou
projected schemes of Rail Roads and Plan
Roads would be accomplished as soon a
workmen could be employed to complet
the operation. Yet there are many valus
BILE schemes that will never be carried int
effect, because one all-absorbing curse ha
drained the Nations wealth, and consume
the peoples capital. I would willingl
copy such statistical matter as would verif
all have said, to the dissipation of ever
doubt; but know your intelligence, an
that it is only necessary to remind you
what you know to exist. Should not tt
liquor traffic then be prohibited by law
Many other evils of less magnitude are 70
hidden, and the penalty attached is sever
Why should this sin be tolerated longer
Under its baneful influence fortunes a
wasting, health declining, morals are &C
rupted, governments decay, religion d
clines, souls are lost, and yet our tin
serving politicians tell us there is no VI
to shake off the serpent but to let him .
of his own accord. But it may be said th
the present law regulating the traffic is 81
fcient if properly enforced. And that
, the present law cannot be sustained, o
5 more stringent would be nulity. Th
} then will lead us to consider the varic
: features of the present license system, viii
, will be reserved for the next letter.
Yours truly, CLINTON.
fro BE CONTINUED.