Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-01-11

al suasion and indigenous cultivation, may
flourish like green bay tree but we blush
for our State when we find paid and wan
derins lecturers, everywhere impertlnentiy
meddling with matters that strictly pertain
| to Virgnians. Clever, respectable, educa-
ted .Virginians, like Mr.. Lucian Minor, Ma
ior John Preston, and many other prom'..
nent Sons of Temperance, are cltizens OF
our State they are flesh of our flesh and
bone of oul bone their interests are iden-
tical with our own, and if they wish to per-
suade the Legislature to pass prohloitory
law, like that of Maine, although we shah
oppose them most bitterly with satire, rall' :
lery and argument, we shall never inten.
tionally wound their feelings by an unkInd
word. They are disinterested, although
we think misguided, advocates OF their
cause, but they have rights, as cltIzens'
which we saall always respect. They la
Dor to accomplish what they consider
great and necessary reform-but the ltIne'
rant, lectures and works for money. Moth
ing iniures the cause of Temperance more
than the lecturers from other States, who
are annually imported into Virginia, like
New England half-breed Shanghai cocks.
to annoy us with their din and clatter.
The famous P. S. White, not New Eng.
land man, and IN eloquence, educational
responsibility, undoubtedly superior to the
band Of fnercehaty itinerants, of which ne
is leader, against whose credibility We know
nothing, except his vocation, stated few
nights since, as we understand, a valuable
fact in illustration of the Maine Law. 1t
illustrates the inevitable effects of such
laws; in first violating the rights OF proper
ty and afterwards the more sacred rights
Of person. He informed his audience, as
very excellent thing, that in Vermont or
Connecticut, If man was found drunk, and
although doing no harm, molestiDg no ono
neither violating the peace nor rendering
himself nulsance---he was summarily"ar
rested, thrown in prison, and there kept
until he confessed who sold him the liquor!'
This violation of the sacred rights OF per-
son may appear incredible, but such a law
have the friends of the Maine Liquor Law,
enacted in Vermont. 1t is the old plan Of
the inquisition, modified to suit the present
condition of society. A man was once tor
tured to force from him a confessioE-hIs
limbs were stretched upon the rack until he
died or told all he knew. But this was on
ly the case where the crown or church had
preferred charge. and formally arraign-
ed the prisoner. Now, by refinement OF
cruelty and oppression, a man is arrested
Upon the suspicion that some one has sold
him liquor. and kept in prison until he con-
fesses. All of this internal oppression is
done in the name of mild, sweet temper.
ance. God forbid that Virginia Legisla.
ture should ever forget the rights of free
men so far as to enact such law. The
statement, which we suppose to be true, lets
IN timely CLEAN Of light for the benefit OF
all of the people of Virginia respecting the
revival of the inquisition by the friends Of
the Maine Liquor Law. We shall make
the statement text for future articles, and
if it is not denied, we shall consider the
truth Of 1t beyond question. This article II
the mere initial letter in our opposition to
the introduction Of the Blue Laws into VIZ
ginia.