Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-03-13
The Temperance Question. Again.

eminent economy spawned from and enun-
ciated by the diseased brain of Nortl ern
Philanthropyt All the radicalisms, Of
which the nineteenth century hes been
most prolific, embellished and adorned by
the scintillations Of those angelic "der cra-
tures," Fanny White, Lucy Stone, Antoi-
nette Brown, Harriet Beecher Stowe, The
odore Parker, ct id omne genus, have: as il
BY magic sprung into vigorous vitality, be-
meath the miasmatie yapors of Northern
sky. And if we were to extend our re-
searches further than fippaut notice of
passing events, into an earlier period, we
might pick from among the rubbish Of some
New England hamlet, the veritable instru-
ment with which the Pilgrim Fathers were
wont to scar the flesh of the wretch who
was SO unfortunate as to be possessed Of a
devil, or to have that diyinely vondrou 8
and damning Observation-Disclosures
ferred upon him by the ruler and pre-
slider over the affairs of the birthstone re-
gion-his Satanic majesty. From the We
ry origin of our republic-aye, from the
very moment the suspicious winds waited
:he "May flower" into Plymouth Harbour,
we can date the ridiculous fantasies which
dance and jump like blue devils before the
| Imagination, and which have So long mys-
tilted and deluded the minds Of Northern
Philanthropists
The latest, and to our mind, the most
dangerous OF these fanafcal theories, is the
Maine, or Prohibitory Liquor Law-most
dangerous, because arrayed in the attrac-
tive attire OF great moral reform--which,
".l.e it prcrrvsesto drive drunkenness Fl ON
our land; misery and want from our hearth.
stones, and crime from society, is founded
upon principle so odious and tyrannical
that if once generally adopted, would re-
solve society into state OF degrading an
archy and turbulent, uncomfortable abso-
lutism. This is a strong expression, vet
we believe its use is justified, in contem-
plating that power claimed by the advo.
Gates Of the Prohibitory Law, to blot out
all those lines Of distinction and demarcs-
ton which nature and usage, as we'll as the
spirit Of our government, have drawn be-
tween social and individual rights-the
powers entrusted to government and those
retained by the individual. We deny, as
this prohibitory law proposes, that a nu-
merical majority of the people of Virginia,
have right TO say what citizen shall sell,
and what he shall not sell.-what shall con.
slitute his diet or his drink; or in what par
ticu!ar manner his appetite is to be indulg
ed. 1t is useless to attempt to conceal the
true character Of this movement, by assert
ing that il is not the Maine Ldw. 1t mat.
tiers not-the principle is the same, and al
though it may be soft-soaped and varnisbet
over, the essence-the essential, practica
operation Of the law, would be thorough
endorsation OF very unwise, demoralizinl
and tyrannical tenet in government. I'm
wise, because it cannot promote temper
ance; demorallzing because it is followed
by the enactment of a statute, which vii
be openly and unblushinsly violated by I
great part of the people and tyrannical. be
cause it imposes restraints upon community
Incompatible with natural freedom, without
being justified by public necessity. 1t is q
sumptuary law, that must be executed b,
the prcstration and destruction Of all reser
we'd rights-an end which all the engine.
and minions of men and devils cannot &C
complish.
To understand what the legitimate func
lions OF government are, we must first as
certain for what object government ha
been created. This knowledge can onl!
be attained by an examination into the IA
ture Of man, to supply and perfect who's
wants, is its ultimate design. II we ar
convinced, on revolving this subject il
our minds, that all Of man appstites, at
fections, thoughts, acts. and rights are swa:
I lowed up and absorbed by government. w
may then logically conclude that he has nj
retained or absolute powers distinct ant
separate therefrom, and that he has be
come but a modification of that machine
moving alone IN it and by it, aud possessed
Of no volition Of his own whatever. But
if on the other hand, we end that there ar,
certain inherent rights, which, from on
nature, no power can command-no au
, thority control out Of mans being, ant
. which neither policy nor justice demand
shall be the object of government, othe
than SELF we must then regard this Main
Law as most odious and dangerous. becaus
it proposes to establish the first principl
here alluded to-an unrestricted tyrann,
over the moral, physical and intellectual
being.
Two facts or principles Of mans consti
tuition stand out prominently and boldly Il
the view Of all; which must be properl,
respected and harmonized in order that
truly Legitimate government may be estab
lished-the principle Of socialism and tina