The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1854-02-15
Far The. h'depende'st.
Philosophical Laws of Rights.

Mr.. EDITOR I'm previous co,nmunica-
ton we confined ourselves to the examination
of such means as were best calculated in their
nature, to arrest the great evil Of intemper-
ance and by your permission, we design at
present to examine the philo ophical laws OF
some Of the rights Of men. I'VE hold these
truths to he self evident, that all men are
created equal; and that they are endowed
with certain inaIienable rights; that among
them arc the possession Of life" and the f;lcnl-
ty ofreason. That man has right to life, is a
fact that few, if any have denied in plain
terms. Yet every advocate for the liquor
traffic, in a philosophical point of view, de-
MES such a right to themselves and their fel-
low creatures. Every individual who is en-
gagged in the selling or using of Intoxicating
liquors, as a beverage, is aware of its destruc.
tive properties to, human life. And with
this fact before them, we cannot but view
them as an aid to the party of LIES destroy
ers, and consequently he who is engaged in
the above traffic or use. is an invader of that
right which every individual has the exclu-
sivc privilege to possess until demanded by
that Power who gave it. Again, every per
son who is engaged in this traffic lays him
self liable to become victim to the poisonous
draught; and thus he is invading the right
of life in himself, a principle he has the right
to possess, but not to take or surrender
We are aware that many will object to the
premises in this case, for we have met with
many that considered such case no liability
on their part at all.
But, alas for such persons, we have seen
them soonest fall. They do not philosophi-
caly examine the whole matter, but merely
look at the first and plainest presenlment Of
the case. They hold that the powers of
selfpossession are SO great with them that
there is nothing to be feared, without once
considering that it is in this stronghold that
the warfare is to take place. And that if
they have strange powers Of self-denial, they
have others of corresponding strength, for
sclf-indulgence, and that once these powers
get the ascendency, the s:r;ng hold is surren-
dered, the citadel taken, and the individual
ruined by intemperance. =
Some, again, will argue that they have a
right to take or surrender their own lives at
option. To such, we, would say, we would
like to know from what authority this right
was obtained. 1t cannot be from the organic
law Of nature, for the whole inner and outer
man recoils at such an idea. and the senses
are utterly astounded, at the contemplation
Of such an act. Neither can it be from the
law Of God, for in this VIC rcMi, Thor shalt
NOT EHI, evidently ncahing ourselves a. well
rs our fellows. Thus, every individual WHO
is engaged in the buying or selling Of intox-
icating liquors as a beverage, is an invader
Of the inalienable right Of life.
The possession Of the principle of reason
or the faculty which distinguishes man from
the brute creation, is another inal;enable
right that all have right to enjoy, but none
to abuse, take, or surrender. This is right
that man possesses by divine appointment
from his Creator, and for the abuse Of wl,icl,
he vii! undoubtedly hold him accountable
and responsible. Now, If the use Of intoxi-
eating liquors as beverage. is not the abus-
ing and invading Of this right, we cannot tell
what is. Consequently all who are engaged
in the traffic or use OF the drunkard's bane
will be held accountable for the abuse ard
distraction Of one of Gods chiefest blessings
and gifts to the children of men.
Again, every individual engaged in the
above traffic or use, assumes to himself the
Of God. The all wise creator has
given man the faculty Of reason for wise and
noble purposes, and he who detl,roncs this
faculty by spiriiuous liquor or otherwise, is
saying, in fact, that Col has given this fac
ulty for naught. Thus man assumes to him
self, and by bis act declares that be posse sscs
even greater knowledge than Cod
Also, by dethroning this faculty which
God has set up, he assumes the authority and
power Of God. Thus we see that every per-
ION engaged IN the raffc OF nsc Of liquor rs + |
beverage. is an invader If the rights Of free
people, and they should be guarded by the
strong arm Of law. Rights 40 disrcgarded
IS these, moral, personal, and religious, should
DC protected and guarded by Prohibitory
aw. TEMPERANCE.
The PAIRS ExHiBIrIox or i055.-The |