Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1856-01-24
Social Liberty.

AmeIlC0usS ~ tOtlI VAIN UOoSNsW6S W
our political freedom, are too prone to for.
get that political life is not the only de-.
partment of human activity where the en-.
ergies Of man need to be unchecked in
order to attain their full development.
That portion Of mans existence which is
connected with the organization Of the
State. is certainly Of great moment to his
happiness and welfare, but there are other
elements in his constitution, and facts il
his life, which are by no means to be
overlooked, and if his wants and aspira-
tons in other directions are cramped or
thwarted, he must fail to attain the dignity
Of true manhood and secure all the sourcee
of happiness with which he is endowed
BY his manifold nature. The distinctive pc.
culiarity Of man, when compared with
other living creatures, is his natural free
dom Of will and spontanity Of action.
Every system Of government, and all
states Of society which tend to obliterate
this sovereign arbitrament Of self, is mimi.
cal to the expansion Of his better quail.
ties, and finally destructive Of the very
essence Of his individuality. Under the
prete1t Of cultivating the citizens better
qualities, and eradicating the pernicious
tendencies with which they are so fire.
qusntly blended, the American govern.
ment have from the very beginning, while
proclaiming mans civil and religious free
dom, been bent upon restraining his So
cial liberty by multifarious legal enact.
ments which have reproduced in our days
tho, sumptuary laws Of less enlightened
ages. The northern portion Of our Union
has been chiefly remarkable for this ten.
dency, which is but relic Of the ancient
ianaticism and approximation Of their Pu.
risanical ancestors. The south, and espe.
cially Louisiana, have to a certain extent
been exempted from these Legislative
trammels on, individual liberty, but even
hero our Legislation is somewhat tainted
with tho narrow.minded spirit that die.
lated the Maine Liquor Law. Strenuous
efforts have been repeatedly made TO erect
the legislature into an arbiter Of private
morals, and to make the constabulary the
legitimate guardians and overseers Of the
peoples virtue But such efforts must
always tail il accomplishing their intended
effect. Men will either disobey and defy
laws Of such odious character, or they
will, ~ in the New England States, affect
conformity, become drunken hypocrits, and
pious rum makers. Those who expect to
inculcate morality through the leaves Of
the statute book, would do we'll to mediate
that texs Of scripture which bids Us
render unto Cesar the things that are
Cesar's, and unto God the things that
are Gods, thus pointing out the merely
political relation Of man to the state. A
mistaken view Of the functions OF civil
government has been the source Of count.
less follies and absurdities, but in no res.
spect has it, pernicious effects been more
ludicrously exhibited than in those laws
which have been made to control private
habits and tastes. Let government cease
from meddling in our private affairs, and
leteus hear no moro the cry Of !" No Ii.
cense," fIr the law 10 evaded, defied and
spit upon.
iEisli} 1e s0a-.1--.>>{ ~ /
SENATOR REsrGNrD.-7'he Hon. vii.
liam T. Palfrey, the Senator from the par.
ish Of St. Mary, has, resigned his seat.
He was, We believe, tho only wing left in
that body, his companions having ab.n.
doned him for the new attractions offered
BY ACCOMPLISHMENTS. ,.'.t $, -.
9l..as Estate Of Hubert Bellange.r
GTATE OF LOUIsIANA-rifh Judi.
~ eaal District court, -Parish Of Terrebsnne :
81 WneasAA WILLIAM y. MERQE1 Of shk .Pali.h Of
Css' ayas = zAsisixsss H II .ai ID
Tss.eo. .pe-.oe. i. h...sy warned and no.in.d to
A1nsfh