Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-02-28
Mr.. Waugh's Repd

In our last structures on TINS
Iment, we promised to continaa~
,ut as we are in no hurry to Dispose
entirely, we shall merely pick cut a few
gems by way of exhibiting their brilliancS.
The first in order is the following:
"A man may write. speak and publish his SEN
timents upon all subjects ~ith ~imPHnity; being
responsible for the aJuse of that right"
This is decidedly the funniest thing Of the
season-a Fdughism that puts to shame all
HibernicismS ever perpetrased. The idea of
a man hayingthe right 70 write, speak and
publish nth imp"nity.' and yet at the same
time be responsible for its 'abuse'-is in
deed rich. Our photographer gives us to un-
dcrstand that IMMUNITY means exemption
from punishment or penalty'-but Mr..
Waush's Report defines it as having a GER
tain responsibility that strips it of every
thing like impunity. \ great kga! docu-
ment, that.
This great ductrine being at once impreg-
nably established. the Report then astounds
the world with the following startling inter
rosatory:
"And why then attcn.t to Interfere with that
which a man may choose to cat and drink"
The demago.ueism of this sentence is APP
i parent to the most superficial reader, for eve
~ one knows the, Memoh-rsu"aeE
alton had no reference to what men sLouNAD
eat, drink or wear it was for the suppress
n ion of the safe of a poison, which the petit
le TONERS prayed. And so the writer under
v stood it; for towards the close Of the report
lie he says this effort, invoking the aid of the
III law to prevent the traffic 10 liquors. &c.
But see how he lays down his succeeding
i'll nervous doctrine:
ne "The right of eating and drinking whatever
the appetite Graves, is one every man holds dear,
and will never sure der it without 4 struggle
This sentence is so nearly akin to one we
shall have to notice hereafter, that we pass
on to the following:
NO. "Nothing is so detestable to a people, as a med
-. ding vernment- government that tells them
IN what to read and write, and what to eat, drink and
ich wear. Our fathers, within our own knowledge, could
! not tolerate it, and we now are not more patient
" than they"
Now, we do not know what sort of "a
people the writer of the Report refers to,
but we will admit that rogues, gamblers, and
onn outlaws generally, detest' a government that
NEEDLES with their nefarious designs and
t0 injuries upon community-so do the mlser-
J able liquor sellers deteSt' any 'meddIing'
with that by which they make their gains at
the expense of public peace and private vel
fare for it is we'll known that
"No rogue e'er felt the halter draw,
'ihS Who had good opinion of the law y
but the virtuous and respectable of society
NSG -.- L :4o.uod1Ior &C thu low "a pro
tect them from the encroachments and wrong
light u Il u,
Old n"0 '"ousN'i ""S y c- \.
law making power had been instituted. Nay
more-our 'meddling government does in
~terfere with what we shall read, write ant
curt, publlsh-and there are certain Things Q
retail that kind we cannot do with impunity."-
aUrou IL is unlaw1uf to publish and circulate inceI
Com diary and obscene writings matters caIcr
esen- lated to endanger the peace of society, or CO..
pres rupt and outrage public and private virtue
men Will Mr.. Waugh struggle against thes
pow- righteous and wholesome Iaws2
/, and The vile Abolitionists Of the North at OF
re ap- time were so flooding the Southern Stat,
If the with their incendiary publications, that
IS en- became imperative, for the safety of thei
e ille- citizens, to so far NEEDLE as to take the
'oard, from the post Offices and burn them! I'll
Iagis- safety of the people required it-withou
ppeal such 'meddling,' ere this blood would hay
and flown down our streets like water down GU
decis- rivers.
case. A peddler or publisher Of obscene prin
e mo- or books Is meddled' with, because the d
rye of rity and chastity of society is outraged |
so in their circulation. Is there any thing r
e that voting or even improper in these? NJ
re on Waugh intlmates that he, at least, cam
ot for tolerate or be patient under such me
other dlings.'
,trate, Again-our laws already interfere wit
with what men shall 'eat and drink We ha,
shing statutes prohibiting the Offering of unsoun
which meats in our markets, and certain kinds
want. flesh are interdicted altogether. 1t is III
vor of lawful, also, for an apothecary to sell a ma
}, and arsenic or other deadly drug, in certain cas-,
t evil, 1t matters not how strongly his 'appeti
! they may crave it,
i'll j AS to what our fathers in Mr.. Waugh
come 'oWn knowtedge,' could tolerate, we kno
nothing-it is a bit of private, personal il
IT will formation about which he does not choose
ponus condescend to enlighten others less favare,
is will but according to Mr.. Wheeler's History,
ession long ago as l776, our fathers had not Il
lie will : patience to tolerate eating or driukir
under when offered by an enemy of the country.
Y thew Gov. TryUn had prepared q whole cx to
,rr;va barbecued, and had several barrels Of be
heavy unheaoeu' lie invited the people 10 partak
when they rushed to the tables, overtime
the barrels and spilled the liquor on t
-, ha ground. and threw the OK into the river u
of the tasted This was what our fathers did {
,ortant when the honor and welfare of the count
demanded it So also, of our fathers a
f?y mothers, too, when they resolved to wear
Special clothes made by our country's enemies, y
hnston drink the teas sent over to our shores in t
os. ". enemy's vessels. There were patriots
49, those days, who knew something of sacr
Utley, ces for the common good. Bot the writer
J. NJ. this Report seems to be an entire strans