Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-08-16

nave seen the eagle Wn0So wings ne upnelQ
here too he could have seen the lion, whose
head he pressed down. They are both plain
ly here, emblematic of what we have realized,
and may they grow deeper and deeper in the
rock, till firmly fixed, they will remain while
the arch itself stands.
RANDOM RANGER.
From the North Carolina Star.
Mr.. DoUB: In one of the last issues of the
Star, | took the liberty of referring in gene
raj terms to an article on the subject of
'prohibitory Laws which recently appeared
in the columns of the Raleigh Register. l
took occasion then merely TO axamine the
face of that libellous publication, which there
was some cause to suspect had been adopted
and set up by the enemies of reform in this
quarter, as an exposition and defence of their
principles. l now, however, propose to re-
view more in detail some of it's arguments
and assumed positions.
The article referred to, commences thus
All laws regulating what we shall drink, or
what we shall eat, or what we shall wear,
are obnoxious and odious to the common
sense of mankind!' Now this assertion is
boldly launched forth with a flourish Of trum-
pets, as though it were ali axiom from which
there is no appeal, and as a fundamental truth
upon which there is a desperate attemp to build
an argument against all 'Prohibitory Laws
and therefore think may be regarded as the
platform on which the opponents of reform
stand at this time.
Let us see if their position is a defensible
one. Have we not good wholesome laws. re-
gulating our public markets everywhere p
Is it reasonable to suppose that a western
drover would be permitted to pack for market
Gin open d~ay-light) his hogs that had died Of
~quinsey? (merely for the want of breath y or
will it be commended that a free and indepen-
dent butcher has the inalienable right to sell
diseased meat to his countrymen-or perhaps
sausages of decided canine or feline p~roclivi-
ties? | should think not, and yet, we are
gravely told by the friends of anti reform that
all laws regulating what we shall eat, drink
or wear, are obnoxious and odious to common
sense! l wonder if these gentlemen will not
contend with the same mOdicum of consisten-
cy and candor that these wholesome laws that
regulate our markets are equally obnoxious
and odious to the common tastes as to the
common sense of mankind!
And again, have we no I0Us prohibiting
apothecaries and others from vending over
doses of laudanum and other deadly poisons to
persons Of suspicious character, where there may
be Just grounds to believe they either mediate
their own destruction, or that of another?-
And would not the druggist who had thus
been the means of sacrificing human life, be
held responsible to the laws ofhis country as
a party to the crime? But I suppose we will
be told also that these laws are obnoxious
and odious to common sense
But let us take amore extended view of the
subject and apply the tests of analogical rea.
soning still closer. It is well known tina
opium, though a most valuable medicine. il
nevertheless, an exceedingly fascinating anC
dangerous drug, and that in allcOuntries where
it is excessively used, its victims abandon
themselves to habits of Incidence and mora
degradation, and eventually become ravins
maniacs.
Now suppose, by way of illustration, tina
the people Of the United States had becom
so much addicted to this depraved habit tina
a half million Of our inhabitants were annual,
destroyed by it. Is it not likely that goot
citizens in every part of the country woul
petition Congress to enact a law prohibiting
this narcotic being brought into our ports
and would not Congress be apt to pass sucl
a law? by all means (that is to say if tn
opium eaters did not happen to have a major
it. in both houses. But could such a law b
passed constitutionally 2 No one would doub
this | presume, unless he happened to be on
of his head from the excessive use Of opiuI
or some other maddening stimulus. But SUI
pose Congress should refuse to pass any sue
law, would not the true friends Of humanit
and of reform repudiate such representatives
would they not take the matter into their ow
hands, and return only such members to Con
gress as would be apt to represent their wisht
faithfully on this point? But perhaps it wouI
be said by some politicians that the questic
of reform could not be considered a par
mount one, Chat is to say that the lives
our citizens are of less Importance than Il
temporary triumph of wing ordemocratic pri
ciples, and if necessary to the success of sui
principles they are ready and willing to off
up on the altar of party politics a half millic
of souls as an annual~s sacrifice or peace offe
ing to the demon of party. Let all such poll
icalhucksters and temporisers take heed in tim
lest in their zeal to secure mere party succe
and their own personal aggrandizement. tn
do not, like Samson of old, over-turn the p
lars of our temple of!iberty, and be themselv
crushed by the mighty fall, or perhaps me
| like wicked priests ministering at the altar
; liberty, be themselves consumed by the sacr
3 cial fires kindIed by their own hands.
. The subject to be resumed and discuss
:, with CANDOR.
III