Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1856-02-14
Tbs Late antI-Liqusr Demonstration
MEssRs, EDIToRs:


MSssRs. EDIToRs:
During two or three weeks past,
much has been said in this community, and IN
deed throughout the county, about the occur
rence,Which took place in this Borough on
Tuesday, January 99nd, in the destruction .Ol
some LIQUOR. Some are in favor Of the move
ment and regard it as justified by the. circum-
stances of the csse. While others, and in
this class are included those who sell ardent
spirits, most Of them who drink them, and
many others, condemn the movement in the
strongest terms. have not noticed as yet
any elaborate opinion on the right or wrong
of this procedure.
propose, with your permission, 10 take
somewhat ex tended view Of this subject. And
will preface what intend to say in reference
to the transaction itself by some remarks about
the nature Of civil society. Civil society ex-
lists By the appointment of God. Men on en-
terng such society. are bound not only by
the relations and obligations thatnthey sustain
To each other; but by the will and authority
OF God, to do all they are able to do for the
bqst good,-the Improvement and happiness
of such society. When person becomes a
me mber OF civil society, he surrenders the
right Of self.defence which is one Of his natu-
raj rights, also the right of redresslng his own
grievances, when he suffers such. III men
were disposed perfectly to obey the laws Of
reciprocity, there would be no need for crimi'
nal legislation, as there would be no grievances
to be redressed. But human nature is fallen
and sinful" Ills fact must und'rlie all hu.
man government And any proposed reform
of society that overlOoks this fact must in the
very nature of the case be radically defective.
In consequence OF the depravity that belongs
10 man they are often found disposed to dsre-
gard the rights of their fellow men and per-
petrate such outrages that the lives or proper
ty, health or happiness Of tdeir fellow men are
thereby endangered. Hence arises the neces'
sity for laws to be enacted, expouuded and ex-
ecuted by properly constituted authority for
the punishment Of evil doers.' and the protec-
ton Of those who do we'll. When an ndivid-
ual or individuals labor under grievances, they
are not to take the work Of self defence and
self redress into their own hands: but they
are to look to the civil society with which
they are associated for redress, and that in
the way in which the law provides This
is the theory Of civil society And it mus
be confessed that it is, as G. neral rule
altogether best that those who are guilty o
misdemeanors. and offences against the we'll be
ing of society, shall be dealt with by regula
process OF law. But question arises here
Are there no cases in which individuals MAJ
fall back on their original rights, and take th
work Of self defence and Of redressing thei
grievances into their own hands? There
only Que answer can be given 10 this question
viz: That such cases do occur. In the naiur
of things il must be so. And all sound writer
on Moral and Political Philosophy are so Q
greed. Il would not be difficult to quote fror
Wayland. and Paley, and others, to that efiec
II The midnight robber attacks your house, er
dangers your own life. the life Of the member
!, Of yfur family and your property, you ma
defend yourself In the circumstances, sOciet
can not defssd you. llS poweri is not availl
bic. You may resist the transgressOr as f.
IS is necessary to defend yourself and thoI
Who are dependent on you--and in the eyes
God and man you will be held innocent. A
gain, you are met in your journey by an assa
sin. Tie is resolved on murder and robbery
Here sgain is case in which the original rigl
Of self defence recurs. You may disarm you
antagoalst-yOu disable him,-yOu may eve