The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-22
Temperance nrovement IN south C.rol.na.

ADDRESS OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE TO THE PE0.
pLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
FELLow-CrTI2ESs-. .cs.... o".a.ms.ce APP
pointed by the convention Of citizens opposed to
the liquor traffic beg leave to address you and
most respectfully to ask your aid in carrying out
the purposes Of the convention.
We desire the entire suppression of the liquor
traffic. but vet we do not desire even this great and
beneficial reform against your will. We hope your
understandings either have been or will be con.
WINGED ofthe enormites of the traffic and the neces-
sity Of ending it.
Before entering on our main purpose we desire to
not wish to accomplish that By any violent or
injurious means, even to the dealers themselves.
Our proposition is to pass law declaring the re-
tail traffic in intoxicating drinks unlawful, and
forthwith to prohibit 1t by the most stringent pro.
visions. The manufacture Of the article we would
also prohibit in the same way. The sale Of intoxi
eating drinks, as o beverage, from and after some
reasonable time,swe would by law forever abolish
and prohibit. But these great reforms we do not
ask for until your will is ascertained. We ask for
the passage Of law whereby the freemen of the
State entitled to vote shall at the polls say whether
they desire the enactment of prohibtory law.
II cannot surely be necessary in detail to state the
evils Of the sale Of intoxicating drink. They have
been present to every man. woman, and child, in
this State, for the last thirty years. Every day now
they are as apparent as the light of noon-day s
sun can make objects. The sale of intoxicating
drink is the parent Of the bloody murders which
nave occurred, and which are even now 50 shame.
fully frequent. 1t has produced does produce, and
will produce, nine-tenths of all the crimes Of South
Carolina. is the parent of poverty; II causes the
loss of character It destroys activity, energy in
dustry, and hope and fills onr country with misera-
ble drunken loaters. 1t squanders the millions OF
wealth and income which otherwise might be appro-
priated to benevolence, education and Improvement.
The money spent in riotous living would build
all the railroads contemplated or desired in South
Carolina would endow and support colleges and
in evary mar Of yha -tafa o,,1
crown every section with the results of genius and
art. The sale of intoxicating drinks is the cause Of
the fearful increase Of insanity. Ii is the dread ty
rant which brushes all the affections Of the heart :
destroys oil the charms Of a home sweet home !"
breaks the ties Of wife and children and turns the
husband and father into the brutal tyrant hated and
feared. II ruins the slave! At the places where
intoxicating drink is sold, he learns to steal his
masters goods, to hate him, and finally to put him
to death.
An awful picture has thus been hastily sketched
Do you desire to hang 1t up in your homes and saw
this is thing to be loved? No. We are sure you
will say, take it away. Let the original no longer
be found in South Carolina.
How can IL be done! Prohibit the manufacture
and sale ass beverage? II can't be done, is the
demagogues objection. The same objection was
urged when your fathers Of &c were about breaking
their letters on the head OF their tyrant mother
Great Britain. Trusting in the Lord Of Hosts, the
patriots OF 76 entered OH the glorious trial, and
were rewarded with liberty-priceless liberty. We
propose to yon to DO SO likewise, and we promise
you liberty-sober liberty; freedom now and forever
from the reign Of the tyrant of the cup.
The constitution is in the way, is another objec-
ton. Read the constitution Of this State and the
United States, and You will find that the power to
legslate in this particular is left TO the Legislature
OF the State without restriction. The decisions Of
the courts Of this State and OF the United States
affirm this to be SO.
But il is restrictive Of the rights of property. is
another objection. The manufacturer-the dstil-
into money You turn the staff of life into the de-
struction Of Il for money. Are you heartess enough
to hold up the price OF blood, and say this is our
wealth. Judas sold his master, but did il profit
him. The answer is in his voluntary DEATH aud in
the potter's field. Oh, our countrymen fly from
such accursed ayarice There is no necessity for
yielding to II. You can sell your corn, rye, and
barley, Tor better and more certain reward. The
railroads have brought market TO your doors.
South Carolina does not raise enough OF the bread
stnns for the consumption of the people, and hence
there Is no necessity TO dst There Is no surplus.
Every bushel distilled takes that much bread from
the mouths Of the hungry, starving and poor.
The vendor has not even the poor pretence Of the
dister He makes money out Of the blood, tears,
misery, poverty, degradation, insanity and crimes
Of men, women, and children, and, Ncspasian-likc,
holding il up, he says, can you tell by its smell
whence il came The human sense may not be
able TO ascertain, but the eye of the everlasting
Avcnger has seen from the beginning whence Il
rame, and He is ready to say OF the dealer. :" cut
him down why cumbereth he the ground
That prohibition u no new thing, Ia shown by our
laws prohibiting the sale Of intoxic ating drinks in
quantities les than thee gallons, without lceasei