Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-06

NOW DuG lOE IulS 1upIcSclOu1 81
IS to defy even the most minute search (the
hief was hidden between the bed and the
Vall) the gentleman would probably have
been murdered, the knife left by bis friend
been identified, the circumstance of his
unusual stay till after twelve, when his
habits were universally known, been con-
sidered sufficient proofs of guilty, and he,
. most estimable man and citizen, would
IN his innocence have expiated his evident
crime by most violent and disgraceful
death. nj. A. ID.
The. .follo,cing IS the 4th Of a series Of Tracts,
issued under the auspices Of the Grand
Diuision of the Sons Of Temperance Of South
Carolina.
The Right of Commonwealth to Sup
press the Liquor Traffic.
The idea of prohibiting person from
going and coming at pleasure, or buying
and selling what he pleases, is something
at which the Anglo-Saxon freeman sponta-
neously revolts and which he is ready and
willing to resist. Such an impulse is the
legitimate offspring of our free institutions;
and laudable principle when curbed by
the dictates of reason and judgment. But
absolute individual liberty is totally incom-
patible with anything like wholesome civil
government. Experience has proved be-
yond question, that to secure peace and
happiness to man in his collective capacity,
the State must interfere with the traffic in
many articles productive Of vast deal of
harm to society. Laws against the coming
Of money-against unqualified persons en-
gaging in the practice of medicines against
gaming and counterfeiting examples
IN which the State has assumed the right
of depriying man of his individual liber-
ty-of prohibiting him from doing certain
things, that thereby the good of society
may be secured. -,Salus popuH suprema
ler.
The question then, whether people
have the right to suppress the traffic in in
toxicating liquors, turns upon its bearing
upon the public veal, And trade, en-
) ployment, or use of property detrimental
to the life, order, or health of the people is,
; in the eye of the law, nuisance, and
: should be abolished. If this traffic affects
, the sources of prosperity and happiness if
P it disturbs the peace, order, and strength of
: a community, it becomes the peculiar pre-
: rogative of commonN ealth to check or
suppress it. 1t would be work of super
j erogation to dwell here upon tha baneful
! effects of.spirituous liquors, in moral, So
: cial, and political point of view. The rapid
n dissemination of vice and immortality, the
: vast destruction of property, and the spec
g dy fastening of death, caused by this in
y stitution (for such it has become), are too
d manifest to every one, to call for comment.
: The Traffic IS a social evil-a civil crime;
o antangonistic to the first principles of socie-
ty and government. There is nothing SO
It much to be dreaded-nothing so prejudi.
e cial to the we'll being of society-nothing
IS which sooner breaks down morality and
'e justice, and nothing which aims SO fatal a
y blow at the very foundation of social po
i litical prosperity.
le If business which disseminates the
d seeds of corruption, poisons the peace of +;
y people, and consumes their substance, b.
an evil certainly humanity never groanet
N under one so appalling as this. Itpervade'
to every ramifcation of society; the howell
OF of poverty and abodes of affluence, bein,
r. alike victims of its deadly sting.
as Yet those who advocate the prohibition
as of traffic SO comprehensive in its ruinou
lie effects are continually asked - Why vii
be you infringe upon our rights by forbiddinj
ly that which is lawful?' This argument W
a consider weak and easily refuted. Th
as sanction and protection of law has been S
long given to this trade, that to many
NJ seems to be not only legally right, but eve
ed morally right; and hence the question abov'
he But its being lawful by no means makes
om morally right-law being not absolut
ut but in many instances only relative, an
he often grossly perverted.
And why is the Liquor Traffic lawful
1at Simply because it is protected By IaaO. TIE
away this impenetrable shield which b
ent been cast around it by deluded, infatu
wo ted people, and it stands out in bold reli
the social and political evil; crime in t
on sight of law, both human and Divine.
of Had it been left to meet its fate as t
arp moral sentiment of the people has be
the gradually corrected and re-educated, in
ge, probability it would have been rank
i'm among those nuisances subject to the sew
had ity Of the law. But the protection of /
has stood forth the strongest tower up
ian. that mighty castle within which this d;
t OF gerous structure of ruin and misery
to been enclosed, and through which the p
I've. derous engines of moral suasion have
ton and cannot make breach. But admit
'ght that it being protected by law heretofore
ked no valid reason why it still should be;
end opponents of a prohibitory law take
the stronger ground, and absolutely deny so
ty the right to legislate upon the subj
at upon the ground that such would be an
far tolerable invasion of personal liberty
But that it would be depriving the freeb
bed, citizen of his natural right. Say tn
ed to E-We are free American citizens; and
| up, State has no right to interfere with
rt of private pleasures, or hinder from deal
sible and drinking as we please. Personal
k, as erty, we admit, is a sacred thing-a b
'ered from. God of which We ought to be jealt
very Much in this life depends upon it.
floor safety and happiness of the family fires
when as we'll as the glory of nation, rest upc
at he as corner stone. But our idea of it II
help. mot be perverted. The assumption