Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-02-07

But the question is directly before US, " Shall
we set aside the course Of former legislation. of
afiOrding the protection of government TO the
traffic in vinOus or spirituops liquors" as beye-
rage, which had tendency to encourage intem-
perance, vice and crime; and adopt Legislation
which does not afford the protection of govern
ment to traffic in ardent spirits as a beverage,
and which will tend TO encourage temperance
and, il the Legislators who passed these laws
had at the time they were passed our experience
and observation, they would not have acted diff
ferentlyg And If the question was to-day for
the first time brought before the Legislature of
Tennessee, Shall we afford the protection of
Government to the traffic in ardent splits as
beverageT' feel satisfied ia my own mind that
there is not man upon this floor who would fail
TO vote against the protection Of Government to
its sale as beptT0ge; and I know there are
men who are still inclined to adhere to the old
Licence Law" (Which we have in this House
voted 10 repeal sticking to the motto that il H.
better - suffer the evils that exist in old forms
Of governments, than to make any change
This is often best; but there are times when we
must make exceptions to all general rules This
is time when forbearance ceases 10 be virtne,
as did the forheaEanee Of the American people
with the legislation Of their mother country:v
and bad the American people ialtered when it
became evident that the mother country was
pursuing course of legislation destructive to
the great interest of the then existing Colonies
and failed to take that great step of revolution,
IT ls'fOr MS alone to conjecture what would this
day be the condition Of this now glorious Union.
] am persuaded that we may we'll adhere to the
oldstyle Of legislation so long as we can see
some good coming out Of the labors of legisla-
tion. But since | am fully satisfied by all the
Information ] am able to gather, that from past
Legislation in Tennessee many evils have fallen
upon our population; and further, since the peo-
pie have indirectly expressed their anxiety to be
10 hor~a u, - IL -
so far as eXpedient or practicabe-I am, sir, for
a change in Legislation upon the subject of tip
ling and tipling houses"
And | now propose 20 state briefly a few of the
reasons which have led me TO this concluson-
First: am for the motto, that upon all subjects
Of legislation, we legislate to encourage that
which vii! do the greatest amount of good to
the largest number of persons and not ae CON-
mOdate few to the injury Of the many.
] shall not take extreme ground on this oucs-
tiOn. | shall rather endeavor TO steer for me-
dium course, having in view the accomplishment
Of some good by a change of legislation upon
the subject of the traffic in ardent spirits as a
beverage; and upon this subject there has sprung
up within the last year or two land that not
hastily a change in the public mind. ard It seems
10 me there IS but one opinion in regard to the
Statutes Of Tennessee upon this subject. and that
IS that they ought 70 be repealed; and we find
that the opinion Of the people is reflected upon
this HOor for, upon enqniry. | have found a large
majority in favor OF repeating the Act of 1876.
as well as the Act of 1887; but yeu can find but
few who Will suggest any bill they wish to pass
in its stead.
Now, / take the position that without any
other evidence Of evil arising out of the opera
tions Of the Act of 1910 than the fact that the
people are against the law, is sufficient evidence
that these laws Onght TO be repealed. there are
other reasons. One Of the most potent reasons
u.s. they affect us as nation; and ] will make a
suggestion relative TO the question in a national
view. The license law requires the legislature
to protect the seller at the expenseOf society
When he sells under the law. Won cannot
hold him responsible for the paupers he makes,
the crimes he produces the lives which he
destroys. This would be too high a price for
license. He cannot give back to the widow and
orphan children who are poor and in want. the
husband who fell by his hands, and upon whose
labor they did depend for their daily bread He
could not restore to the path of honesty. virtue
and truth, the young men whom he has led of,
and who has become murderer and over whose
fall an aged father and and mother now mourn
the loss OF him who was the sunshine of their
life, and in whose destiny their own seemed in
evitably interviewer. This responsibility is too
great license, is granted to him to do his busi-
ness, the result of which we know well to destroy
human life. You must protect him if You Ii.
ic in spirituOus liquors as a beverage makes
panpers, produces crime, and destroys human
life; hence, you cannot hold the seller respon-
sible for these Injuries, society must suffer all
these evils, that one man, or a set of men, nav
feed and grow fat upon the miseries of the many;
therefore it is self evident that you punih society
by authority the traffic as a beverage. Hence
this proves the license system, or the authority
10 traffic in u as a beverage, to be against the
motto" Eegslate 10 do The largest fumbcr of
persons the most good Now prohibition differs
from license in this respect and upon This prin-
ciple-that the private seller must desist for
public good, private interest must yield to pub
lie good.
In order that we may fully see how prohibi
ton differs from DEMONSTRATING given a brief
definition OF license, or permission 10 traffic in
liquor as beverage--I will briefly state what
prohibition is. / am for prohibition, and when
! say am for prohibition. do not mean that We
leglslatc to take all the liquor out of the coua-
try-eerf0iNly nOf-and it an important fea-
ture in this discussion, AMI one which has been
greatly misunderstood what is prohibition -
The making Of liquor is not prohibited. A man
may dstl his apples, peaches, or bis grain, and
no law which has vet been passed or proposed TO
be passed. would interfere with him. The drink
ing of'lqu0r is not prohibited. A man may
drink OF the liquor he makes excessively or
moderatcly-he may give TO his family or friends
10 drnk-and no law Will interfere with him
de may drink so excessively as TO kill himself
aud no law will interfere with him. The only
thing prohibited is the traffic as a beverage A
man may sell for all other purposes but as a bev-
erage, and believe we ought to put a stop to
this traffic as a beverage. II is destructive 20
the youth OF the country, and could / speak in
tones OF seven-fold thunder, would say 10 the
youth Of this cauntry-" Steer clear of grog-
shops-of all things in life they are most to be
dreaded. Steer clear of them il you wish To be
good man and live long and Of all things
in this lite most desired seems to be to live long,
and secondly, TO be good man and thereby
make your goodness useful to yeur fellow-mau.'
Ii is sometimes asked, why prohibit its sale as a
beverages | answer because il creates vice,
produces and increases crime aud DESTROYS the
health of the community.
Whether a man drinks strong drink or not
shall not here inquire that Is a matter with him
and his conscience. But whether the State will
authorize license, or snthOrize ''the traffic as a
beverage whereby thefew keep il for sale to in
toxicate the many. |, as a legislator, come to
inquire and to give my idea Of such things with
out restraint / know that many men ara slow
10 take a position upon this question. and when
called upon TO say what they are for, prefer
leay ng II 20 the people 10 settle aud no opinion
OF their own. As for my single seif have an
opinion of my own and / an willing 90 express
it-at the same time duly appreciate the voice
Of the people which never srpsot 40 disobey. |
know, sir, that all power Ia this Government
emauates from the people, and that ! owe TO
large. intelligent and highly respectable County
an obligation for choosing me their representa-.
tive, aud know they do not expect me 10 be
mum or silent upon question OF 80 vital impor-
tanee 10 the people Of Tennessee. They expect
me to-say what am for and to give my reasons
Tor coming 20 such CONCLUSION. They expect me
10 reflect their views upon this hoor upon this
great question, and that shall try 20 do faith
fully fairly. honestly and fearlessly. knowing
that was a young legislator ! fclt Inclined 10
De silent upon question Of 70 vital Importance.
bat since sm here and IL Is expected Of me,