Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-04-11
CGrtItaaitatioms. O. 0 rt m
FOR 7HB SPIRIT or IHE AGE.
Letter No. g.


10 Messrs. Jesse a. Waugh and Others:
Ii is rule of law, as understand, not
to allow an objection to the form of action
adopted, without showing better form;
else there might be wrong without a rem
edy. Many Of you are of the legal profess
sion, and doubtless, it was In imitation of
that prudence, that after showing that the
plan of the menorialists would moi do, you
kindly inform them what will. Therefore
il your 18th paragraph you say !:
=" Your committee have therefore, come 10 the
conclusion that it must be by moral snasion alone
that the eyllcan be removed or eradiested"
And = e il is TO be observed that you
advise mikAl saasion, not as mere tenn
poraFy tpedi< Is 4 zSrr: means sf :
correcting public sentiment as pre-.
paration for something more eEectual here
after-but you advise it as the ONLY means
'now or hereafter See your 17th para
agraph.
And it is to be further observed, that
with all your recklessness, you do not dare
to deny that the evil must be removed or
eradicated-' You knew that No portion of
the community wonld bear the idea that
there was no escape from the evils of, in
temperance-that the country was doomed
to it. You knew that what now causes in
difference in the public mind, is that, they
live in hopes that it will be better by and
by. You shrewdly admit, therefore, that
the evil must be removed; and you make
difficulty only as to the means The me-
morialists pray for law. You object to
that form of action; and you say that you
give them better form in moral suasion.
The memorialists and yourselves agree that
intemperance is an evil producing imbe-
cility,' insanity 'beggary,' desolation,'
the untimely death of countless numbers
the ruin of society All agree the evil
must be removed. The only controversy
is as to the means.
The memorialists advise lar.
The committee advise moral Sudsion.
They are fairly at issue, and the country
is judge.
| think myself happy because 1 appear
before 50 great and just tribunal as the
country where error is certain of defeat
and trath is certain of triumph. And be-
fore discussing the great question submitted
to the country, upon the decision of which
the prosperity or ruin Of tcountless num-
bers' Of the human race depends, l beg
leave to say that | am little mortified
that you, not content with the advantages
of your position and of what you have said
being matured in the multitude of counsel,
not content to let your cause rest upon its
merit; have endeayored to prejudice the
public against the memorialists, by the
imputation that they are sreckless of re-
.ssF hjTSe .Ssaisssa Insane desires and
not to expect favor, but have much iced ti0S
fear justice at the hands of the public
When so grave a charge is preferred, it is
customary to offer proof. And it has al
ways been held sufficient that the accused
should Stand upon his supposed innocence
And as has nfamy follows his conviction,
so the infamy of his accusers follows his
acquittal might content myself therefore,
with the enquiry, where is the proof? And
none being offered, l might demand that
the aceusers should be put upon their trial.
But invite the seyerest scrutiny and allow
weight to the slightest grounds of suspi-
cion, if any insist, against the memorialists.
Where will they be found In their gen
eral characters? No, for without vanity
they may boast of these. They are not
strangers. Go into any section of the
country and enquire Who among you are
peaceable and orderly sThe memorial
lists Who among you are tender and
t kind p 'The memorialists.' Who feec
the poorP sThe memorialists' sWhC
are the widow and orphans friends 2 9Th,
memorialists.' Enquire for the best men
= Il cfo
f them as candles on the stand, and as cite
8 on the hills
J. Again: Can any charge Of recklessnes
!. or insanity against them be based upo
!, u their former course upon this great que.
!, ton? Will you remember the CLOWN
!. picture which you have drawn Of the goo
% effects of moral suasion? Who were I'll
moral suasionists ? None other than Il
nemorialists. Insane, were they? Pi
h. that you were not insane also For mar
MS a long year they have labored incessant
m to reform men by moral suasion. Al
e. many time when they thought full sure
,at their purpose was a ripening' there car
lie frost, killing frost, and nipt it in t
no root The Waughs of the country wou
nv persuade men to seat and drink what tht
appetites craved.'
But, gentlemen, when did you becor
,a moral suasionists When the memori
~ lists were moral suasionists why were I
" you among them? Then as now, they b
to encounter the same charges which y
!, prefer If they were open in their me
ings they were denounced as fanatics.
they were secret, they were plotting |
ruin of the country and we're afraid of [
light. should like to observe all the p
, a prieties of debate, but | cannot allow
the opportunity to pass of retorting upon y
,rs. that you are the fanatics, you are the T
red odore Parkers of North Carolina.
ood is the illustration Slavery is an inst
,us- ton by law. The fanatics-the aboliti
For lists, say that although that be so, yet, t
St. have no respect for the law, it interferes '
natural rights-and they encourage d
mas bedience to the law-turning every l
loose to do as he pleases, in spite of
even to the destruction of society.
g of how does this differ from your case?
say that although law should be pas
r is it would not be respected-it would il
one fere with natural rights; and the pc