The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-06-20
Fbr the Candsn Josrna.
Law and Temperance.
NO. II,

In previens article. on this subject, we set
out with comparison between the Temperance
reformation Of the present eHy and that of the
Religious reformation in the sixteenth century.
But in doing so, we trust tiiat none will under
stand Us to mean that the men who are endea
voripg to bring about a change in the customs
of the present dsy will have to undergo any
of the physical tortures or pecunary forieltures
which the ancient christian martyrs endured
BY no means. But they will probably have to
submit to be spoken evil of, to have their mo-
tives impugned; they will doubt be termed
fanatics. This is natural consequence, as
eyery one well knows who has ever attempted
to reform any evil, social, neral or political
and such we pronounce the Liquor Traffic,
though some, by sophistry, endeavor to dis
guise their real sentiments, and defend their
animal propensities for strong drink, by ad
mttins that the traffic is a necessary evil.
We admit no such disguise or defence. we
say it is a great evil, an unnecessary and soul
destroying evil, and as such, should be exter-
minated by the law. For if there is in the law
power and the right to create an evil, we con-
tend that the same power and the same right
to abolish this evil also belongs to the law. -
THE constitulioaaHty of such a law IS not a
matter of argument ut alI-in fact, we may well
doubt the sanity ofany one who would pretend
to question it. This being an established fact,
the o:ly difficulty is to prove the exPedlency
of such law-the necessity, all must admit,
has existed for ages. If we were indulgns in
q vague and prospective dream that there
would be in few years hence, drunkenness,
riot and boodshed--that men would, at fu'
ture day, spend their money for strong drink,
and thereby deprive their families of the neces
saries of life, that crime would be more album
dant, such as was never known, we would be
right in listening to those who would say 10
us I" sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof"
wait till the evil appears before you enact laws
to suppress and put it down. This is not our
case-the evil is in our land, and the blood of
thousands who now fill drunkard's graves is
crying to heaven for law to suppress this ter
rible evil, tor they have brethren whom they
would save from joining them in their place OF
torment. These facts assure US of the necessi-
ty, and the necessity establishes the expedien-
cy. We admit that the appetites OF men have
much to do with the evils of the day, but there
is another fact not TO he lost sight of, which is,
that MS long as there are those who will sell,
so lorg will there be found those who will
drink ardent spirits. The traffic IS the great
primary cause. The effects would fill volumes;
they are known to all. Remove the cause and
the evil will no longer exist. But how is this
to be accomplished As we suggested before,
fix the price of license so high, that few or
none will be willing to pay for it in advance,)
and run the risk of making money byit; IN each
case require the erplict consent Of EVERY RESI-
DENT vithin halfa mile around endorsed on the
application, before ,he license can be granted,
or the bar" opened the same. like every 9th
er place of business, to be entirely closed on
Sunday, or subject the keeper to fine of one
hundred dollars and one months imprisonment
for the first offence, and double for the second,
and compelling the purchaser to be witness
for the State. While the traffic is sanctioned,
and protected by law, it will be carried on
while it is continued men will drink--whie
men andrink, crime will continue and increase.
and so long will innocent men be taxed for
the punishment of crime and the support Of
pauperism consequent upon drunkenness.-
Make the laws effective, or repeal them entire.
ly, and let those engaged in the traffic stand
upon their own responsibility, and not screen
themselves behind the law. More anon.
*.*