Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-02-25
HousE-Feb. is.

3AoSoL = we 3es
Mr.. Garnet presented two petitions
of King and Queen county, praying the
passage of u law prohibiting the traffic
in intoxicating liquors, with certain cou.
ditions and provisions.
Inpresen,ing these petitions Mr.. Gar
net said -
Nj. PREslDEsT-I present two petitions
for the prohibition Of the sale, or barter, and
for the destruction Of all intoxicating liquors.
One is the printed form, OF which we have
seen so many, and is signed by 4S citizens
Of King aud Queen; the other wholly in
writing, is signed by II, also citizens Oh the
same county. The ouly evidence in my
possession that any Of my constituents have
really signed these petitions, or that they
wish me to present them, is u printed clrcu-
lar, signed Lucian Minor, Chairman Of the
Executive Committee Of the State Temper.
ance Convention, asking me TO lay them
before the House. But do not affect TO
doubt that the signatures are genuine, and |
know the names Of the signers 10 be those
Of highly respectable gentlemen. / only
call attention to the very irregular manner
in which these petitions reach US. ltwould
seem that this Executive Committee fancies
tina, it is unsafe and improper for the con-
s,i,usnt 10 communicate directly with the
delegate its intention is, | presume, one
OF the modern improvements on the. prac:
tice Of representative government. twas
this interference with the confidential aud
immediate relations between the people
and their chosen representatives, which |
characterized as impsriinent, in my remarks
on former occasion-remarks which have
been misrepresented, i hope, unin,en,ional:
". have been reported as saying what |
never said, and part Of what did say has
been omitted. did not speak Of the peti-
TONERS as hircling airrntarcrs, but said
tina, these petitions were frequently gotten
up by hired agcnts-at least the Maine Ii.
quor Law Convention oflast summer passed
resolution 10 hire such agents. And, in
this connection, pointed out the tendency
OF such movements, which substitute them.
selves both for Church and State; which
undertake that control Of conscience that
belongs TO religion, and would usurp the
aw.making power to enforce its peculiar
doctrines. pointed out, say, the tend
ency Of such movements 10 become mere
trades, and money.making machines for
lecuring agi!ators.
Nor did ! ever apply the term insolent to
the sisners Of any petition; nor did speak
disrespectfully Of the friends Of temperance
throughout the country. On the contrary,
many Of them ore amongst my most valued
friends, and admire the motives which
have generally guided them, and thank them
for the healthIul change in public opinion
on the subject Of exec ssive drinking, which
they have aided in accomplishing. /, is on
ly the the extravaganza Of The present move
ment that | object to-the idea that il is one
Of the legitimate functions Of government
TO regulate the eating and drinking Of the
people. | think the notion altogether wong
and dangerous. Such sumptuary laws would
be lyrannical, and opposed to the first prin.
ciples Of republican liberty; they would be
Intellectual in their operation, and their III.
innate tendency would DO to increase the
very evils they were meant to cure. Many,
who favor them. are doubtless actnated By
pure zeal for good but they originated in
that hnt.bed Of Northern fana,icism, which
has beao,ten AbOlitionism, Socialism, and
all the other isms that propose for Govern.
menl to interfere with all the relations OF
domestic life, and to undertake the coatiol
Of every mans conscience. .....
To all such measures come whence they
may, am utterly and forever opposed.