Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-10-11
Manufacture of LIQUORS.

It is a creditable, as well IS encouraging
fact, that in North Carolina nothing like as
great a quantity Of alcoholic drinks are made
in former years. Our farmers have found
that they can realize more money by the
sale Of the raw material, out of which spirit
uous liquors are made, and nave discontinued,
in a great degree, a business the immoral
and depraving effects of which were but too
visible all around them. 1t is also doubtless
true that many have discontinued their dis
~tilleries from a higher sense of duty, and are
heartily engaged in doing what they can to
counteract the baleful influences Of intemper.
ance. In ignorance or thoughtlessness they
were engaged in a business that was destruc-
tive to themselves and the community in
which they liycd-but having seen the error
Of their way, they are nobly trying to make
amends for past wrongs. Honor to all such.
But, while we may have less of the domestic
article among us, it BY no means follows that
there is really II reduction ofthe stuff offered
for sale. As a general thing, that of home
manufacture was not so drugged and adul-
terated as the nefarious stuff that is brought
from the north, where the system of poison
ing liquors is reduced to a science-where a
barrel Of whiskey or brandy ispade from q
pecklof corn or annles and a gau4n of atESsh
nine, c~oculus, indicus, &c. Hence the sui
cidal, infuriate influence it exerts upon thos'
who drink it.
Another rie,U ofde m0tter.-Our laws re
quire a heavy tax upon all pedlars vendin;
wares and merchandise manufactured out Q
the State-and if a man comes along offerin
any such for sale, however useful and valua
BILE, he is called on by the officer of the la,
in every county he Offers them for sale, an
made to pay the tax. But every WORTHLESS
fellow that chooses, may take his barrel, rur
let or jug Of yankee rum or northern viii
key. and peddle it out by the quart, from OF
end of the county to the other, and yet new
a word is said 30 him about the tax which Il
law requires. Is this rights it just?
is peddling a foreign article that is seattle
ing disease and death wherever his stuff
sold, but he is allowed 20 go free of taxatio
while the man who is disposing of some real
useful and beneficial commodity to comm
nifty, is bounced down on and made to p
the peddler's tax. We believe this discrir
nation in favor Of the liquor seller is not or
unjust, but it is unlaarful, and if these VIII
key and rum peddlers were prosecuted
The tax, it could be recovered in any of q
) Courts. We hope it will be tested, and Il
: may we get radiance of one ofthe worst nj
, ances in the State.
But to return. The vast amounts of mol
d expended for northern liquors, is one of
e greatest money-drains from which the Sol
0 is now suffering. Millions of dollars are S
off to enrich the abolition north, which,
b stead OF adding wealth and benefit to
r South, is impoyerishing and degrading
10 more than all else beside. Ifhalf the amo
Y thus sent from North Carolina during e
Y year, were placed in our State Golfers,
should have a fund sufficient to build all
contemplated works of Internal Impreveml
--~vHv~rH Is uUrar, resOrtIng TO
u alton, or appealing to individual enterp
7 and public spirit. And yet we never /
! any patriotic lamentations made by our :
. t%icians or others, over this deplorable stat
Is things-but, on the contrary, they send,
II purchase, and drink, and sell, and give a
the northern poison, as though it were
p vored with the best Southern rights mgr
OF ents in the land. Verify, there is any amt
Vi Of inconsistency in this world.