Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-05-11
FOR TIE ADVERTISER.
LEGISLATIVE RESTRICTIONS ON THE LIQUOR
TRAFFIC

AMONGST the many subjects that are now attract
ing the attention of thepeopte of this great country
in this great age Of progress that of governmental
science holds prominent place. This is as 1t Should
be. A nation of freemen" should understand the
principles upon which are based its institutions, ana
so be prepared 10 maintain them in their application
to the various cases that grow out of It's social and
political compact. 1t is, however, much more d'f-
cult to do this, than superficial glance at The SUP
jcct would lead one to suppose. Indeed 1t may DC
doubted whether any science presents cases more
difficult Of solution than does the science ol govern
ment. 1t is subject which the wisest OF men have
been studying for hundreds Of years, and while 1t
is admitted that some advancement has been made,
there are still many questions oil great moment 10
be decided before the knowledge Of government can
be said to be perfect, and the writer will be excused
It is hoped for expressing doubt whether there
ever will be law or system OF laws made that IN
their operation will be capable of meeting and satis
fying every exgency. Nevertheless, 1t is right ana
proper to strive after Perfection though lui! per-
suaded tha, it cannot be reached. The preacher
exhorts his hearersto this, and very properly thouSh
conscious at the time G its absence IN his own per-
son, and knowing that deprared nature and extra
neous influences combine to prevent IT'S attainment
The physician strives 10 be perfect IN his Pro'e's'On
though the history of thousands Of years and the
dailv occurrences Of the present time, convince him
that the healing art cannot cfectualy and complete
" relieve pain, nor stay the decree OF nlans dlsso-
luton The rationale Of chemical atiinlt'cs ana re-
pulson will badly never be understood, but tha'
docs not and ',a not repress the ardor oil those
engaged in H.. study Of chemistry. Progress, not
perfection, is mans earthly destiny This is said oil
course. with reference 10 the present constitution oi
things How far the Creator may vouchsale 10 man
an excellence in wisdom and happiness before the
closing scene in the drama of this worlds existence
presume not to say. When the angel Of the apoca-
lypc vision shull descend with great chain IN ms
hand, and bind the great enemy OF man, and with
the kew of the bottomless pit, shall lock hmup from
all communication with the earth, there then may
be perfection among mankind but speaking after
the manner of men, and with reference to man
present constitution and being, repeat that FRO
rrcss, not perfection is mans earthly destiny In
regard then to government, the problem to be solved
is How far can the restrictions Of law be allowed
without an Infringement upon the mutual rights
those subjected to h2 How far can its power eS
tend for the protection Of the rights OF one man
without doing violence to the rights OF another man
This regard as the essence Of government 'h's u
the design Of law, to mete out evenhanded justice
TO all, and the proper application of this principle l.
the perfection of human government. And wNis
there cannot be absolute perfection i'll this: there
can be perfect standard, and the nearer VIC ap
proach it, the more nearly do we reach the consu'n
nation of government, viz: equal rights and eqn'
inmunitics.
With these premises before us, VIC propose 10 pre-
sent for the consideration Of the people oi this STAT
some thoughts in relation to the law known as 'h
; I" Maine Law or rather the princ les emood'eh Il
it MS set forth in The newspapers, Tor the III" 'se
we have never seen. This is measure that has 10
two years past excited no little attention IN d'iiercn
parts of the Union, and forms the basis OF the sever
al l.me enacted hv nrnhnr &c Status h""'"e ''