Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-02-13
The Maine Liquor Law.

Muscoe X. II. Earnett, of Essex, one Of
the most gifted and talented men in the
State Of Virginia. true States Right
Democrat and an ,eble defender of the rep
.utation and interests of the South, delivered
the following well timed rebuke to the ven
doris Of Yankee notions, who infest the
State, and urge their revolutionary ideas at
every corner and by-path. We have no
patience with these itinerant fanatics and
stationary agitators, who hire themselves
out 20 disseminate the principles of aboli-
tionists, agrarians, socialists, ct id omne &C.
nus, under the prestige Of great moral re
form. Some good men have l!,een induc. :,
to sanction this wolff in sheer. .clotbino
Du' d great ma.o- -..y Of the prominent ad-
soea!~se ofthis abolition offspring, are men,
whose mental capacity is not equal to
their ambitious aspirations, ana who,
after they have failed to succeed in
other pursuits for distinction, from mental
imbecility and dwartish intelligence, -trad-
die this fanatical pony, and with the avow
ed purpose of accomplishing great moral
reformation, seek to ride into public favor.
Like the miscreant who set the blazing
torch to the Temple ut Ephesus, that pos
terity might know him, they strike at the
very stay Of our institutions, to attain per-
sonal notoriety. Who are these moral re-
formers' Do they practice the great moral
truths of the Bible, that they set themselves
up as moral teachers Are not many of
them the profaners Of their maker, who
spit upon his truths every day ?--men
whose slanderous tongues would blast a
neighbors reputation, and blacken his char
acter forever These are pretty moral re-
formers, indeed. How can good emanate
from such source2 You might as well
seek to extrac: virtue from hell ITSELF as to
try to legisla,e body Of corruption into IN
corruption. We waat no new tangled code
Of morals, which will permit a man to lie,
cheat, and swear, aud yet look upon him
as great moral reiormer, if he endorses
the Maine Liquor Law, and its kindred
spirits. This is progressing backwards in
morals rapidly, and If the people Of the
State countenance this shoot of faaatioism,
they need not be surprised to hear the ques-
ton mooted whether or not it is great
moral reform to bring to life the mother of
this bantlng, and place upon the statute
book of Virginia, the Blue Laws of New
England. .1t55f g
But we have detained our readers from
the perusal Of Dir. Garnett's remarks, de-
liyered III the House Of Delegates ON mo.
ton to refer the temperance petitions to a
special committee, longer than we had in
tended when we took up the subject. We
invite attention to them: 49, 49,,
MIR. Muscoe X. II. Garnet, Of Essex, coul,l
appreciate the deiieacy which caused his friend,
the Chairman OF The Committee oil Courts OF
Justice, 10 ADVOCATE the transfer Of these Maine
Law petitions to Select Committee. But, for
his lie, he could not understand why other
gentlemen should wish 10 give them that.direc-
lion. Was il possible to select a committee
which would I've more faithful in duty He
was sure no one would say that. Was it, then,
10 prevent due investigator, by sending the
papers 10 a packed committee, which would in
hot haste repor, bill, the discussion of winch
would consume time that ought to be devoted
To worlEier matters? For himself, he would
be party to no such procedure. There was
something suspicious in lie appearance of so
many oi these cold water petitions. Had ley
been received through HE intervention Of in
ermeddlers and 60 beiweens, between The mem
bers and heir constituents! Had any men,
Der received them direct from the people He
huew something of this thing OF getting mp pc
tlious. Ii was the easiest thing III the world.
4 petition could be gotten up TO support any
thing, however wild aud foolish i, might Be-
The Temperance Convention, which net last
August, appointed a committee 10 argue this
question at the bar Of the House but finding
that il wouldn't 90 down, they had cha.lged
their plan, an5 wanted logst letore commit
tee. He was opposed to anoiher OF those long
forensic debates aud elaiialory displays which
had been seen, and he hoped The fiouse would
not indulge il. Counsel should only be. heard
when private claims are TO be passed upon, aud
this was aquesllon affecting the public al large.
There was already business enough cut o,it Ia
occupy the Legislature, without introducing
this baniliug of Northern Yankees and Slavery
Agilators. No COOL could come nf-i,. Vngi-
MIA was not Maine. II the people want The
law, let them say scat the polls, !! these inn
i'aiors Of Yankees wantedihe law; lei them gel
a majority Of The pecple'lo elect men to give i,
10 ,hem' These petitions were no criterion
gotten up as They " ere by hireng adventures
who tusied themselves in stirring up agitation
among the people And all this show here is
but 10 keep up agitation, That is all these
men are after, and he was not disposed 10 allow
them TO succeed in their etfurl. Let these Pc
ttioIs 90 10 the Committee on Courts of JUS
tce where they would receive such considers.
ton as they deserved. 1t wouli be- seen
whether this offspring Of Nsrihein fanatics
and aboliionisls,. this insoleni iutermeJdllna
with priveter lights and privileges, would be com
tenanced by The people of the Old Dominion.
: He did notbelieye that it would, at leas, by any
considerable portion Of the intelligent voters y
A fey vacillating persons might be carried
away By this ianalcism, buthat was all.
Foreign News. e3.z NJ.
The news by the Arabia is confirmation
strong that genera, European war IS IN