The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-04

in Brooklyn on Wednesday evening. 1t is seldom
We arc called upon 20 record an event freezingly
terrible. The stretched individual who committed
this shocking deed was undoubtedly the victim Of
that awful, yet to the minds Of many, uupardon-
able species OF insanity, superiDduced by strong
drink.
The Recent Awful rrsgedies-The Maine Law
Advocates.
The three awful tragedies which we recorded
in our paper of yesterday will no doubt furnish
fresh themes tor the sophistries Of the Maine
law advocates. Unfortunately, however, for
the moral which they may seek to draw from
these examples, in two out Of three Of them the
most stringent provisions of the severest mear
sure of legislation that has as yet been framed
on the subject would not have averted the ca
lamitous results by which they were attended.
They fall precisely within those exceptions
which even the most fanatical supporters Of the
law are compelled to admit as inevitable. In
stead, therefore, of proving the value Of any
general legislation on the subject, they only
serve to still further demonstrate it's absur-
dity.
restrictions on the sale and use OF liquor have
gone the wrong way about eitecting a reform.
The masses of mankind will never concur in
the justice OF sumptuary code which strikes
at the indulgences Of the poor man, and leaves
the excuses Of the rich man untouched. What
sort Of legislation is that which would shut mp
the grogshop and leave to hotels and drug
hibited articles? Is it because the education,
the refinement OF the superior morality of the
privileged classes who can afford to frequent
the latter, render the sale Of liquor in those
places innocnous? The fearful occurrences to
which we allude are in themselves sufficient to
negative this assumption.
Here are murders committed under the in
fuence Of intoxication, by two men of educa-
ton and intelligence, and from whom, under
the provisions of the Maine law, it would have
been impossible to withhold the means of self
indulgence. Let us take the average of out
RACES Of similar character committed through
out the different States Of the Union and we will
find that large proportion Of the authors of
them are men belonging to the better classes of
society. What do these facts prove? Not that
the use Of wine or spirits is in itself bad or de-
moralizing when it is kept within its proper
limits, but that we have yet to arrive at that
high degree of refinement and civilization
appetite for sensual iadulgeneas, and preserves
us from forgetting what we owe to society as
we'll as to ourselves.
Instead, therefore, Of coniMencing our reforms
with those who are not as well educated aud
instructed as ourselves, and who are conse.
quently not supposed to weigh with the same
nicely the results Of their actions, we should
begin with the offenders who have no such ex-
cuse to plead, and who, We are sorry to say,
comprise large proportion Of the better classes
Of our society. In no other country in the
world is the practice Of tipping, as a daily
habit, carried to such extremes as in this. In
no other country are the professional man, the
merchant, and the merchants clerk, to be seen
drinking, as general practice, before dinner
in the bar rooms Of hotels, and uniting them
selves for that cool and patient attention to
their business which is essential to sue
cess. With such examples before him, how
Can 1t be expected that the poor man
will exercise strict control over his own in
clinations or pay any respect to a legislation
which ignores the indulgences of the one whilst
1t seeks to repress and punish those of the
other7 Let US begin the work Of reformation.
then, by discountenancing and frowning down
this unbecoming and demoralizing practice; and
by showing to the masses that there is a moral
penalty attached to it in the estimation of all
prudent and well conducted men we will be
likely to do more in the way of prevention than
the most severe laws can effect. By the force
o public opinion alone can this growing evil
and its fearful results be abated and it is there
fore the duty of every man to contribute the
weight Of his own example to it,
THE SARATOGA CONVENTION A LouD CALL
The following call, with the signatures attach
ed--free soil Wigs, tree soil democrats, and
free sellers and abolitionists proper-has been
laid upon our table,
MASS COUNTY CONVENTION.
The undersigned respectfully invite the electors of the
county of New York. without DISTINCT Of party. who
disapprove the repeal OF the Missouri Compromise, to
assemble in mass meeting, in the Park the 9Th day
of August instant at O'Clock p NJ FOR the purpose Of
appointing five delegates from each OF their Assembly
Districts TO represent the county In tha great State Con
yent,n to DO held at the village OF Saratoga Springs
Wednesday, the leth day of August Instant aud for
the purpose OF expressing their views In relation
growing aegressions and assumptions Of the slave power
ABRAHAM VAN NEST,
Chairman Of the Anti Nebra ska ten. Con'te.
SHEPHERD KNAPP,
,IosgpH y. SIMPSON, Vice Chatrmen.
EHnARr RICHTER,
JAMS NJ Boyp, Secretary.
GENERAL COMMITTEE.
III. H. 6rinneii h, N. Ravens, James McCfave
1heo. McNamee, Jose Avezzani, Alfred Pel,
Wn. c. Bryant, 5ieismd kaufman.C ". Blunt,
John A. King, ". Tompkins, r Bruce
John Jay, J. McMullep, y Whiting,
G. Flsgy VIM. V. Brady, aigbee,
Isaac Seymour, Daniel Lord Charles King,
John Paine, A. J. Shultz, Cyrus Curtiss,
B Sst'ctthwaite D. n. T. Marshall wn. WhitocS, Jr,
Edmund NJ Young, John Eadic, Fl. Ward Bee .aer,
e G. Tucker, John T. williams, Thos. NcFIre'h,
Geo N, Titus, G. X. Miller, G. T. Whitehead
chm /. Everett, NJ r. Bryant, Nathan Bangs
John McKesson Joseph Blunt, A. G. Phelps,
Edward Primo Henry u Ia wson fvtas " Marybau