Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-03-01
From the BGlN Boz.
We must not Legislate on Mral Cues
tinna

From the BGlt Boz.
We must not Legislate on Mral Cues
tions.
Indeed Why? Where was tBt doctrine
learned? Is not drunkenness quie as much
moral question as runa-selLing 4 And yet
you have legislated against drum Eenness.-
Is not adultery, is not counte Feiting, is
not gambling, is not theft, is MOI murder, a
moral question All Legislation upon any
of these is consequently wrong The very
observance of the Sabbath is lekislated for.
No! No! No intelligent man believes
word Of this fudge that we should not leg
islate against rum-selling because it is a
moral question. Who objects 70 the abo-
lition of lotteries Whera is there a man
to be found who VIII riss . and declare
that thousand lotteries in Nbrth Carolina
would do as much harm as the liquor sell
ing in each county Of the State is annually
producing? 1t is political trick to speak
thus of the present movement in North
Carolina. Very true this is moral ques-
ton of trarscendant import, but it is also a
political question of transcendant import.
AU the questions Submitted to the people by
Whigs and Democrats by all the parties in
all the State, since the Revolution, in their
bearing upon our happiness and progress in
civilization, do not sustain, in a political
point of view, comparison with this.
Admitting that it is merely question
of morals and that no legislation should be
had upon moral questions, how does it come
that the whole authority and dignity Of the
legislative branch of our government is
thrown around the traffic in ardent spirits
Here are two moral questions involved
l. Shall we legislate on this subject or not?
p. If we legislate, shall it be for the profit
of few, or the Pe5rzs3fs tL2 5zz1Aele2 If
we resolve not to legislate, it must be be-
cause there is some popularity in the rum
traffic which clearly distinguishes it from
all the other employments in which the
citizens Of our State are engaged, for all
those other employments are acknowledged
to be subject to police management. Now
who will show what that remarkable pecu-
culiarity is d! Until this be done it must
fall into the category of those businesses in
which capital may be invested or actively
engaged. If so, we must legislate upon it.
If we may legislate upon it, we may restrict
it; and it is apparent to common sense and
consistent with the decision of the Supreme
Exponent of the law in this land, that what
ever may be restricted may be abolished.
The question then comes up, should we
abolish it It is admitted to be heavy
addition to the tax levied upon every tax
4 IL no~1-o,lAL e
self is not sufficient for its abolition as there
are several branches of the public service
which increase the taxes of the people be-
cause they are not self-sustaining. But of
those non self-sustaining departments it is
generally, if not universally, admitted that
they are essential to the maintenance, the
happiness, and the progress of the nation.
But of the Rum traffic it is generally, if
, not universally admitted, that it retards
the progress, diminishes the happiness, and
; threatens the existence of the nation. II
follows that all legislation which sustains
{ this traffic perpetuates tax which is not
simply useless, but absolutely injurious
t Now, the theory in all legitimate taxation
3 is, that he who pays receives at least an
: equivalent and beneficial return. A use
4 less imposition of tax, therefore, is wrong
: and the inhiction of tax which is to be used
! to leopard the prosperity. epdanger the
!, peace, and peril the lives Of those who are
taxed, is most monstrous tyranny. The
legislation of North Carolina, therefore, il
o tyrannical. 1t oppresses the whole for the
= pecuniary benefit of the few. tits right t.
resist tyranny. It is not only not wrong
> but it is absolutely the indispensable duty
:, of all who have the power, to abolish ty
0 ranny. The voters of North Carolina, b,
IS instructing their representatives, may b,
Legislative act, abrogate tyranny which i
IT more degrading than any yoke Great Brit
:, ain ever placed upon the nccks of their an
IL IL cestors. And they may do it without tn
y, toll, cost, sacrifice of money, blood, an
% life, which the noble souls of '76 SO cheer
sr fully expended. VIII they do it2 How
d in the sight of the sublime example set b
l. their ancestors, will they dare refuse?
p p- Our fathers fought for oar right
'e @ the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit
20 q happiness. The Statute Book places the,
to an the hands Of the Rum Aristocraey.-
I'D Shall 1t stag here9 AnsOer, *. *. sons
m Revolutionary sires! And ansaoer 1t, ~
ly aoith the sacord, but aOith the BalLot-Bor.