Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-05-25
ADDRESS OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE.
TO THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

ea W tne IquOT tTaiic, peg leaVe 10 auOress you,
and most respectfully to ask your aid in carry
ing out the purposes Of the Convention.
We desire the entire suppression of the liquor
traffic, but yet we do not desire even this great
and beneficial reform against your will. We
hope your understandings either have been or
will be convinced Of the eDormities of the traffic
and the necessity of ending it.
Before entering on our main purpose, We de-
sire TO say, that when We speak of ending the
traffic, we do not wish to accomplish that by
any violent or injurious means, even TO the dea-
ers themselves. Our proposition is to pass
law declaring the retail traffic in Intoxicating
drink unlawful, and forthwith to prohibit it by
the most stringent provisions. The manufac-
tnre OF the article We would also prohibit in the
same way. The sale OF Intoxicating drinks, as
beverage, from and after .omc reasonable time,
We would by law forever abolish and prohibit
But these great reforms we do not ask for until
your will is ascertancd. We ask for the pas.
sage OF q law whereby the freemen Of the State,
entitled to vote, shall, at the polls say whether
they desire the enactment Of u prohibitory law
1t cannot surely be necessary in detail to state
the evils of the sale Of Intoxicating drink. They
have been present 10 every man, woman, and
child, in this State for the last thirty years.
Every day noto they are as apparent as the light
of Il nuon-day's sun can Make objects. The
sale Of intoxicating drink is the paren, of the
bloody murders which have occurred, and which
are even now so shamesnlly frequent 1t has
produced, does produce, and will produce, nine
cnlhs Of all the crimes uf South Carolina. it
Is the parent of poverty; il causes the loss Of
character; II destroys activity, energy, industry,
and hope, and ILLS our country with miserable,
drunken loafers. IL squanders the millions OF
wealth and income which otherwise might be
appropriated to bencvolence, education, and i'm
proyement. The money spent = in riolons liz
ing would build all The railroads. contemplated
or desired IN South Carolina would enduw and
support colleges and academies in every part Of
| the Stale; and would crown every section with
| the results of genius and art. The sale of in
! tnXicaling drinks is The cause of the fearful in
crease Of insanity. 1t is the dread tyrani which
cru,hes all the affections Of he heart: DESTROYS
all the charms OF shame, street hon,e;" breaks
the Ties Of wife and children and turrs the hus-
band ;nd father into the brutal ,yrant, hated
and feared. IL r7lins the Stare! AT the places
where Intoxicating drink is sold he learns to
steal his masters goods, 10 hate him, and finally
to put him to death.
ed DO you desire TO hang it up in your homes,
and say this is a thing TO be loved! No Weuro
sure you will say take it away. Let the oriei-
nal no longer he found in South Carolina.
How can it be done? Prohibit the manufsc.
lure and sale rs a beverage! Ii can't be done,
is the denagoge's objection The same OBJ
jeclion was urged when your fathers Of rs were
about breaking their tvllers on the head of their
tyrant mother, Great Britain Trusting in the
Lord Of Hosts, the patriots of rs entered on tho
glorious trial, and were rewarded with liberty
pricele ss1iberty. We propose to you to do so
likewise, and we Promise you Iiberly-sober
liberty freedom now and forever from The reign
OF the tyrant Of The cup!
The constitution is in the way, is another
objection. Read the constitution of this State
and the Uni'cd States, and You will find that
the powe. TO cgislate in this particular is left 10
the Legislature Of the State without restriction.
The decisions of the courts Of this State and Of
the United States affirm this 10 be 30.
But il is restrictive of the rights Of property,
is another objection. The manufacturer-the
dister-says, thus turn my corn, rye, and
barley into money" You turn the staff Of life
into The destruction Of il for money! Are you
hearilcss enough to hold up the price of blood,
and say this Is our wealth. Judas'so his mas
his voluntary death, and in the potter's field.
On, our rountrynen, fly from such accursed
ararlce! There is no necessity for yielding oi..
You can sell your corn, rye, and barley. for
better and more certain reward. The railroad,
have brought \ market TO Your doors. South
caroina does not raise enough of the breadstuHs
Tor HE consumption Of the people, and hence
lS In 1;,,Itn
NnS. Every tlIShr distilled takes thnt znycb
're0l t'"m The mouths of The hungry Starring and
Moor
The vender has not even the poor pretence or
lie disIiIIer. Ele makes money out Of III. blnod
ears, misery, poverty, degradation, insanity and
iImGS OF men, women, and children, and Vespa-
lan-Ilke, holding it up, he says, can you tell by
Is smell whence it came The human sense NAV
ot be able TO ascertain, but the eve of the
vcrlastng Arenger has seen from the beginning
'heIlce Il came, and He is ready 10 say of the
caller, cut him down; why cumbercth he the
round" wv
That prohibition is no new thing is shown BY
ur laws prohibiting the sale Of intoxicating
rlnks IN quantities less than three gallons
Hh0m " license; prohibiting gaming; our quar-
ntne laws; the laws which prohibit idle gentle
zen from going at large, by CHASING them as
grants, and many other similar enaclmenta
lhal prohibition is necessary, is shown by the
CT that moral suasion las utterly failed. That
long as temptation is before the drinking man.
The sale of intoxicating drink sobriety can
ver be obtained. That the venders can oulv
reached by law. That it is by prohibition
one that the trattic with slaves can be cut Off
d destroyed.
olost Of You will say we admit all YOU sar:
W can you etfectuaily prohibit the sale. Dc.
ire by law that wherever intoxicating drink is
md 10 bekept fnr sale as II beverage, it shall
on the conviction Of the offender upon trial
The Court of General Sessions of The Peac,,
declared forfeited, and ordered to be DESTROY
and the whole thing is done.
Jlhtr States have made the experiment for us.
iound 1t to be easily done, and productive
lie ihnSi happy results. Our own Incorporated
inS-Edgetied, Anderson, Greenyille, Spar.
our g, Lallrens, Newberry and Sumtervile-
e SHOWN how easily the traffic is suppressed,
now happily peace and good order result
n II. Shall we hesitate To try! Our past
flnGs history answers no. Our homes our
cs, children, our slaves, and ourselves answer
'how yourselves to be freemen, worthy of,
mans heritage, by saying to your represent
yes, give us the opportunity to say at the poll.
hcr we wish prohibilory law or not. Do
and then when the privilege is granted, write
nbllion upon every ballot, and inscribe it
every homestead, so that your children and
iren,s children may regard it as equally TO
cherished with life, liberty and prosperitv.
JOHN BELTON O'NEALi,
Chairman nf t,u ront.,I ~