The true Democrat., 1854-12-27

est intemperance, all along its border, and ever within its limits, if one or more adjoining town ships should give the license D. And unde such circumstances, what controversies. anC what scenes of violence and disorder, would be liable and likely too, to arise and, superadded to the existing evils of intemperance, still fur. ther afflict the country Is there any one to insist that law which would permit and en- courage the evils thus pointed out, is founded in any principle of wise legislation |? Can it, in any degree, sustain or advance the good cause of temperance Or can any Legislature, sensible of their duties and responsibilities give to it the sanction of their approval or support ? In preceding part of this report the com mittee expressed the belief, that the legislation asked for, by the petitioners, would not be in accordance with the views and wishes of the people of the State This was not done in the spirit or with the purpose of the demagogue This belief, carefully made up, is honestly en- tertained by the committee, who think further, that upon consideration, the Legislature will concur with them in it. And should they do so, then 1t would undoubtedly be wisdom, on their part to conform their legislation, in this respect, to the popular will for it should always be borne in mind, and respected as an important truth, that whenever the legislation ot country, on this or any other su bect, falls at all behind, or runs much before, the popular will, or conviction of its necessity and proprietv 1t can answer no useful purpose but either re- mains us a dead letter upon the statute book, or what Is far worse, by familarizing the public mind with disregard and violation of one or more laws, engenders more or less of general disrespect for the whole body of the law That the legislation, in this case proposed by the pe- titioners, is of this character, the committee are entirely convinced and without undertaking to determine whether it falls behind, or goes far in advance, of the popular sentiment, they are quite sure that 1t is not at all in accordance with 1t.
 But the committee have said that, although opposed to all compulsory legislation they nevertheless deprecate the use and sale of ar dent spirits, as the prolific source of misfortune crime and suffering, and would earnestly CO., operate in any legitimate and practicable plan for their suppression. In this they are perfectly sincere And if asked for such plan, they re- cur to the contrast they have drawn between physical force'' and "moral suasion," and propose resort to the latter in any or all of its varied and benehcient uses. Without going into detail, they would suggest, that powerful force, organized as temperance societies, is al- ready ln the field, under this noble banner that this force has already achieved much il the good cause, and is daily extending the scope of its usefulness. In addition to this may bt counted, as numerous, powerful and effectiv, co-laborers the several religious associations O the State, the fraternal societies of Masons anC Odd-Fellows, the printing press, many private persons of high character and position, acting singly; and last, though not least, but greates in all good works, the whole female sex Le these, convinced as they are of the evils of in temperance and pledged to its Encouragement and with them, all others who deprecate thos evils, De duly reminded of their duty, and uni ted in their efforts And the good work, sus tained by means and instrumentalities con genial with its own noble purpose, and worth, of its high character, will be pushed forwart and elevated to point of success, beyond th need and above the reach of physical force o coercion.
 From the foregoing considerations, the com mittee are of opinion that the requests of tn petitioners, for the enactment of compusor laws, as means of suppressing the evils 0 incompetence, ought not to be granted
 WOOD,
 NORSWORTHY,
 JONES, of Hot Spring,
 BRUTON.