Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-11-01
Legislation.

The reader of the synopsis of the proceed
ings of the late session of the Grand Divis-
ion, given in our last, doubtless noticed the
passage of the following Resolution by that
body
ResotUed, That there be appointed a Committee
of seven to memorabilia the next session of the Leg
~islature of North Carolina, to enact a law, giving
the privilege to the voters in each School or other
District, to say whether intoxicating liquors shall
be sold, in any quantities, in said District.
The object of thus memorializing the Leg
~islature is to conform to the generally express
ed opinion, that such a law would be sane
toned by a decided majority of the people
of the State, and also to give this official and
public declaration 70 the principle always a
vowed, but SO generally misrepresented, that
the friends of Temperance desire no legisla-
ton on the subject other than what popular
sentiment calls for and will sustain. Many
members elected to thenext Legislature have
declared before the people that they were
willing to vote for such a law, and are there
fore committed to its support. 1t is free from
all charge of ultraism, or 'fanaticism,' which
so many have harped upon, and with which
the Reform movement has so often had to
contend. 1t is asking for a North Carolina
laao-a law peculiar to our own people and
is based upon the good old Republican prin-
ciple that the majority should rule. 1t can
not therefore be objected to upon the grounds
of tyranny, ultraism or any thing of the
kind.
1t is generally conceded that our laws con-
corning the liquor traffic greatly need amend
ment-they are too loose and lack that exec
utive power necessary to ensure their execu-
ton. By this law, it is proposed t, let the
People in each District determine for them
selves whether they will nave the traffic per.
petuated in their respective communities
If a majority vote for its continuance ant
liberation, let it be so and if a majority de
sire its removal, let the power be placed il
their hands to carry out this wish. 1t is
plain, unequiyocal proposition-one tina
must commend itself to the good iudgmen
Of every right thinking mind.
The argument that the rights Of minorttie
should be respected, applies with as mucl
force to one side Of this question as the 9th
er. If a minority in a district vote for hay
ing the traffic removed from their midst
they are overruled by the majority and tn
traffic is allowed, however violent and dete,
mined the opposition of the minority. So i
the event off majority being in favor of its r.
moval-the will of the majority governs-s
there are no hardships in the one case nor
than the other nor is there any departur
from the common usage and acouiescence
our people in all other matters. No man ca
therefore object to such a law, it seems to u
unless he admits that the MAJORITY of Il
people desire the removal of the traffic. an
he IS ~n'0iu'ng that the majority should rul
as in all other matters of legislation, and go
eminent generally
The appointment of a Committee from II
Grand Division of the Sons of Temperance
to memorabilia the Legislature for the ma
sage of so Republican a law, was deeme
altogether proper and right. inasmuch as tn
body OF men are known and recognized
the special friends of the Reform movemer
1t is composed of citizen voters from eve,
portion of the State, and therefore capable
understanding aad rejecting the wishes
the friends of Reform in their respecti
: communities. And they come before the
Representatives in the Legislature and a
them to give them a law by which they m,
: protect themselves from SO g~rievous an az
1t is therefore manifestly proper that the Re
resentative body of the Temperance m
should apply to the Representatives of !
People Tor interference in this matter, and
trust the Committee appointed to memoir;
; ize the General Assembly may be able
: present them with such an array of facts .
!, arguments as viii result in the equitable a
; just enactment sought for at their hands