Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-05-03
REMARKS OF MIR. CATTELL, OF COLUMN
RAMA.


REMARKS OF MR.. CATTELL, OF C0LUM,
BIANA,
In Senate, March 81, 1856, on the amendments
10 The Temperance BIZ.
Mn. PRESIDENT: Though I am so unwell as
hardly to be able to attend to my ordinary duties
here, | do not feel quite satisfied to vote as | intend
to do, for the adoption of these amendments to the
present liquor law, without giving. as briefly rs |
car, some of my reasons for doing so; and also
some considerations in favor of the passage of what
| think would he a wiser and better law than this
contemplates. | have never felt much favor for
the present law. 1t is not such an one as was de-
manded by the public opinion of the State. While
it is in several respects more harsh and arbitrary
than a law need be, which honestly aims at prohib"
iting the whole traffic in Intoxicating liquors as a
drink, it allows and sanctions the almost unre-
strained use Of some kinds, and the selling and
drinking Of all other kinds, By the observance of
certain rules not at all difficult of comprehension.
Under this law, a man, if not known by the seller
to be a habitual d%runkard, may buy and carry
away, to be drank in another place, any kind and
any amount he may desire. And thus equipped,
with side Ian. ps like II stage coach, he may go forth
to carry on his drunken orgies at his own 6reside,
or that Of his equally deluded drinking compan-
ions, in the presence Of the broken-hearted wife
and her trembling and neglected children.
These are some Of the features OF the present
law that l do not admire; it is claimed, however,
Alut III OOiiO lliSO WV NV h"S NChS 6NN1 49, "
most parts of the State it has been a dead failure.
1t then becomes necessary, to secure anything like
protection against the ravages of intemperance,
either to pass a new and better law, or so amend
the existing one as to cure some OF Its worst de-
fects. The latter course has been thought by the
majority to be tho wiser course, and though it doe;
not appear exactly so to me, still | am not blind tC
the reasons urged in favor Of that view;the weight
lest of which is, in my opihion, that the preseh
law has been pronounced constitutional by tn
- > n oapr nuu nnulH nnf hta
under several years. Another consideration tina
weighs much with me is, that the Division of tn,
Sons of Temperance representing a large and val
liable part Of the temperance strength OF the state
have recommended amendments to the present law
rather the passage Of q new one, whose constitu
tionality would be disputed, inch by inch for year
10 come. The amendments proposed by this bill
will perhaps make the law as perfect as any cal
be made which is basod upon the principle of reg
%uiatiag a wicked traffic in intoxicating drinks.
shall therefore vote fer it, hoping rather than De
liering, that it will do much good.
But it has for many years appeared clear 70 m,
mind, that the sale Of Intoxicating liquors OF an.
kind as a drink to persons in health, is a CRIME
and ought to be dealt with as we deal with othe
crimcs-by honest efforts at determination, AM
not merely attempting to regulate and restrain !
within certain limits. And it appears equall
clear to me, that a law honestly aiming at prohlbl
tion. authorizing the seizure and conhscatlon OF a
liquors kept for illegal sale, would be moro easii
enforced, as we'll as infinitely more efficient than
law aiming only at regulating a crime against 81
ciety. First, because, instead of Selling the Sc
Ter and carrying him off to Jail "for not less tina
ten, nor more than thirty days, and timing him M
less than twenty, nor more thaR fifty dollars, an
the costs of prosecution" a punishment which, l
most cases. will fall more heavily Pn the innocer
family Of the offender than on himself, thus exc
ting the sympathy Of lockers on, and making
almost impossible to find any one willing to entt
complaint against an offender when such result
are likely to follow; leaving at the same time, tn
instrument of mischief in his position, to be use
for the same vile purpose in his absence by SON
agent, and by himself, on his return. only with
little more caution. Instead of all this, a was
prohibitory law would seize the liquor, the mlschte
Gus article ITSELF and destroy its power for mischi
which would excite no mans sympathy, lob l
wife of the society and protection Of her husban
no children of the means of support and educate
and leaving him to provide by honest means +
the wants Of his family, without disgrace and de
relation to them.
Second, because it rests on what I believe to
n correct principle, that it is morally ,crong to Sc
Intoxicating liquors as a bererdge at all, and cons
quently, 70 better to sell it by the quart, to
drank in q different place, than by a smaller qua
tity, to he drank where sold: with perhaps this e
ception, than in the latter case, social consider
tons may make it more attractive, and consequer
ly more dangerous.
1t il not easy to make men SEQ the justice
wisdom Of a law that provides a severe punis
ment for selling q man a glass of liquor to be dral
at his bar or in his house, whilst it holds him
noceut, if the buyer, with his knowledge and &C
~sent-perhaps request-will only carry it q II
rods of before drinking it. The absurdity and
bitrary nonsense of the distinction, gives hin
contempt for the whole law.
If the history and experience of the world ha
established any one fact more indisputable tn
another, it is that intoxicating liquors cannot
sold as a beverage without danger and loss to CO
munity Of the most destructive ahd deadly kind.
Nor is the evil, by any means, coRhned TO the U
of distilled liquors. To the young and u%ndeprav
taste, strong liquors are generally revolving.
is only after the throat and stomach have becor
partially tanned by the use of what gentlemen CT
harmless stimulants," that the acid and fe
liquors are sought or relishod. Every departu
from the use of tie drink provided by nature,
attended with danger. Its effect is to create
artificial want or appetite, which is more al
more difficult to satisfy or control. 1t also direc
the minds Of the young and the pleasure seekil
iu the low groveling channel Of appetite, instead
the more refined, noble, higher and safer path
knowledge.
1t has been ascertained that over four Mousal
human lives are every year sacrificed to the dem
OF the still. in this State alone. Over six for eve
day in the year, Of human sacrifices offered up
this "foal devil altar" What other business or q
gregatioR OF scoundrels in the State would be D,
United 10 live in peace for a single day, If .
iythe OF 40 many murders could be traced to tn,
d'orsf What ~benighted Pagaa-iand out rn
Chic in this horrid race? Aud then look ut