Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-01-19
'.Eirrnnl Vigilance il the Prize OF Liberty -


The necessity for lcssening and cqualizing The bar.
thcns q! federal taxation. Is too apparent tn need ar
rrmcnt. But, il seems 10 me, that there is equal
necessity for recurring the fundamental principles
on which the puwers of federal taxation rest. II is
10 be found IN that clause IN the Constitutions giving
Congress the right .io lay and collect taXc mposts
and excuses, TO provide Tor the defence and
promote the genera! welfare of the United States
We may scoilai the Maine liquor law, and the many
other fruits of will ianatcisu, wir! in
places nf our cpnn,ry.in rul" ima~ScS. We may
riculr .lv Sons oi Temperance, and dcprcca" Their
Interference with governmental matters. hut let us
beware, while we do sn, lcsl We tnmciy trucklc &"
their dominion, not only III our Stnte, but III "ur Ma
tional politics.
The general government not invested bv the
States which framed II, with !!Ic rgh; dictate what
the people should cat, what they should drink, or
whercw!thal they should b" clad. Yet perceive
in the action % that government, and the expressed
opinions vi some Of is fuHctionrics, ycIiin- /"
some ii the iana;cui notions "t The times and dis
position Ia pcrvcrt the power of taXntiun in order {"
make fair weather with the vcmicrs of po.suI"Gs
domestic drinks, a!l IL the time with tie ultra
udvucH;,s oi temperance.
The wines an" hran,lios Of Franco. the gin nf IIol-
land, and III" rum OF The Wet Indies, receive III
exchange tor "r wheat, tobacco, cn:;"n and u,hr:
exports. Whatever, tEeu, tends 10 throw barriers
against this interchange N; commodities, uippi">
commerce, and Is at war with the rights both of lil-
portcrs and exporters; NJ war with the principles ~
free trade y" purI,anral religion, II" Difference I"
popular cn;lu,ii>ii sanctliy such Federal u>ur-
putiun. The public press, our public men, uu- lit 10
Sc: their faces against itand lead tiI- people int"
right notions nbOut the distinction that exists betwc.
federation Of opinions by government, aud attempt.
ing by governmental power I" torcc our religious and
political opinions up"m Others.
The Temperance cause Is GOOD cause, long a.
il is upheld and inCulgH:cd by righteous prmcipr~
hut the moment il seeks TIE cocrcivc power Of gov
crnmcn instead Of ilc precep, ui religion and tn"
convictions of conscience, il leaps beyond IL bounds
I =,
! own tcvnees.
What srisc, what common can!or i there, IN tGN'
ng pure wine. brandy, nnI gin, At the rae Of one
hundred per cont, ;t the SAME time t!ll! you admit
free FROM ,aXa;i0n the lu.wo"d, red saunders. and
"ihcr c""ring dru-.. I" give port wine color ai!d
asi;IE:cuc!; aIi /" a'iU!tcrac an impure article ann
MAKE It sell To these WHO are not judges OF II, and ar,
lr"c!nded by Federal power from comparing !; with
PUr" wine.
Evcn the most rig.d Son ui Temperance /, con.
-:ca!ncd l. admit, that alcoholic drinks >"nic'
incs necessary I" hcalt!-and wien 90, "G-hi I" be
tolerated by L> fraternity. Why. then, should "iil
Legislature adopt .uc! Inc o poicy H. inevitably
Imp"ScS upon our people, mean liquors al hGh rs!.fs
and ycnLcL by ;huSc who have care hut lot 'i'
| cxorhrnt profits which hcy realize Ii Is matter
ni fact, that in t!a-" communities wncrc me tempe
rance enthusiasm has run (" the extreme "i c"crcinh
the clandesnc and unluwiGl dealer, III arden; srit'
most prrSprrnUS.
|. I would hv ~ nc ans. throw a stumbling block ::
the way n any son .: Temperance :" !unG as he no
STAINS from coercion 10y i!Ic.tnatc authority. Bu
!c: tho aiN"Cnt-- JrT .'ht iir i
M gi,.!i. !hcy swallow c:McIS' Trm?rrimc" l. =
virtue ncu!rI.cI auL "JAIuaGIrd iy ctr holy fr
zion. liu; it seems. that n"wa-iay,, many a." i'"
wiling I" trust IL" Almighty /" .XrcUtc Judgment
np"n an! -iv" law to his cIcHGTS--hut mus! take
time by tho ogrlock, aud give lIcl! upon Earth
AGnnSt >,ch >acrlrsiou- power, AN proud 10 b,
| considered q rebel.
Let purtanical Statesmen, who 20 for hi-
taxes upon wines and !'q""rs, look Il; the enormous
taxes cN@ccd by England upon l.rr people wh" con
! snnic our tobacco. They havrrc>u.t"I in ir.a!a!n-
smuggling end maxim. II honorable. The BrisiIpc9.
! pie wN have our tobacco. PEI. iD> an n.io,.
| Let lis no longer complain ni their restrictions up
OH tobacco, while WE ourselves guilty ui worst
sin in restrictive duties upon Wines aul oher Ii
! quors. -iNIl-FANAilC.