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

ling law, he thought the people Of the State
would require 10 further legislation npon the
subject. He proposed TO take up his bill by sec
tions, and show that it was not prohibitory law,
as had been charged by the gentleman from
Lawrence, (Alr Nixon,) but that it was such
law as the Legislature should pass. and was
such as the people desired. Mr.. Brien then
took up and explained each section.
He would be in favor of any stringent laws 10
regulate the liquor traffic, If be had bis own way
He was in favor of prohibition, but would not
vote for prohibitory law because he believed
a large majority Of the people of the State were
opposed to the enactment Of such law.
As whole, he thought his bill was about as
perfect as il could be made under the cosurariety
OF opinion existing among the members Of this
House. Each section was dependent upon the
other, and IL would materially affect its good
qualities to strike out any of its provisions.
There was another bill before the House which
he thought ought TO pass. 1t wasthe bill intro
duced by the gentleman from Overton, tsfr. Col
quet,) which made provision for the Inspection
of all liquor offered for sale in this State, and
prohibited the sale of adulterated liquors of any
kind; in other words that none hut q good IL
quor should be sold. His bill did not prohibit
the sale of fiquor, and he thought the Legislature
ought to interdict the sale of all that was not
pure. The wants of the people would require
them to purchase some, and they ought to be
able to get the genuine article.
lie again referred to the district law, and in his
opinion the Legislature had no right to pass such
a law. lie read from the constitution and from
the decisions Of the Supreme Court to show tlas
The district Law would be unconstitutional, because
'it would not be equal in its operations throughout
the State. He then proceeded 10 show how its
operation would be unequal and that, in its effects
it would not come up to the wishes in regulating or
restraining the sale of spirituous liquors. a
he contended that bis was a liberal bill--a com
"a
the friends Of the various measures before the
House looking TO reform Of the liquor traffic,
could consistently meet, and, as such, he hoped it
would meet with cordial support and be adopted.
Mr. Mex said be did not now propose to discuss
the merits of any particular bill. There had been
upwards OF forty bills introduced and referred to
the Committee on Tipping, and he was opposed to
considering only one or two of these bills. Those
who had introduced bills had done so to meet the
wishes ol their constituents, and be was in favor
of taking up aud acting upon ell the bills, and Sc
lectirg the best one of the batch. He was not op-
posed TO the bill of the gentleman from De KAlb,
(MF. Brien, but he wished 10 see whether any bet
ter bill had been proposed. lie had introduced a
bin in which he proposed to submit the matter to
the people for their ratification or rejection, and
he wished that bill considered. He preferred his
own BILL but if be could not get IT, he would take
the next best measure proposed, and it was for the
tions. that he desired to have all the bills before
the committee of the whole.
Mr. RUNNELs said:
Mr. CHAIRMAN: regret that this subject
has come up under such unfavorabe circu instances
when the ears of gentlemen have become so
strangely closed against discussion. But, sir feel.
ing that the time has come when il is necessary
that something should be said on this question, |
shall proceed, though suffering under some physical
disability, TO give my views upon il. The time
has fully come, Mr. Chairman as you well know,
when we must do something beyond what has
been doEe, in order that our country may be freed
from one OF the most blighting evils that has
been inflicted on the race of man.
| acknowledge, sir, that much has already been
done by worthy pioneers in the temperance
cause. Those worthy men, with their he arts
burning with the love of mankind, the fell
monster seize the farmer in his field the mechanic
in his shop, the lawyer at the bar, the merchant at
his desk. the Judge on the bench and last, but not
le,ss, the preacher in the pulTit- they saw that
something had to be done for the destruction Of
iutemperauce, or the Bind OF Jove, so long presi
ding over this prosperous Republic, would soon
have TO fold his wings and IRON Vernon's sacred
top weep over a nation OF drupkards.
If | am REGARDED as an ultraist, be il so. A ne
cessity Is laid upon me. must declare myself, so
lIng the blush Of shame continues to be brcrght
upon the cheek Of my countrymen by the irclsrl.
tion aud the conviction, that We are the uos; ia.
temperate people On earth that ia the Uni.ed
States the proportion Of drunkards TO the pOpula-
ton greater than in any other country, enhght>
ened, civilized, or half civilized on the globe.
The men who began to resist intemperance in
this country were determined men,. They resolved
on the establishment OF the principle Of total alb
stinence, aud reared that banner in Tennessee and
various parts Of the nation. They determined to
meet the enemy in his own land, Notwithstanding
the monster stood in threatening attitude with his
gaiments-sGtU1afed with hanGn gore and shaking
N his lnhOig eieeh de seGiPs Of slaEghtered mil
lions.
But, sir, they met with their difficulties. Almost
before their eloquent appeals had ceased to echo Ia
the ears OF those whom they had induced to tally
under their banner, we find that many Of them
went back, being led away BY the many tempta-
tons presented by the innumcIuble doggeri,s and
dIinkng shops, under the patronage Of the State.
Darkness again brooded over the nation. The
heart OF humanity began to sink--it seemed that
the funeral knrll Of the nation would be ioled-
the law Of action and reaction seemed determined
to assert It's own truth, when, lol new era dawns
The Sons Of Temperance, led on, 10 my opinion,
by Him who never permits reioFmations to 90 back
wards, were next heard calling long and loud on
their countrymen to rally again against the mann.
moth evil, to seccor aud 10 save the widow, the
orphan and the youth Of the country from wreck
aud ruin
You know, Mr.. Chairman, that much has been
said about the Sens OF Temperance. When they
trst unfurIed their banner and gave the eond
lions OF membership, men said 10 me, "you are in
advance Of the times-the people are not pre-
pared 10 60 50 far; Il you had just remained
washingtonians We would be with you. You are
trauspng upon the rights OF the people-go back
aud We are with you"
do not stand here, cir, 10 advocate the cause
Of the Sons Of Temperance. / am not member
OF that order nor OF any temperance society, snd
therefore am not called upon 70 defend them, only
so far as sm bound to Aefend sVery one who la~
bors for the elevation Of mankind. Let she works
Of the Sons Of Temperance speak fer themselveA
Their praise is in living light Let the Fejoiced
heart Of the once disconscase mother speak 10 day
whaf the Sons Of Temperance have done. Let
the once ragged and elnsciated orphans speak.--
Let separated wives and husbands, brought back
aud now rejoicing in holy wsdock, speak aud tell
what the sons OF Temperance have done. The
point that / am at cir, Is to show that every step
in moral reformation Is met by opposition. IL has
bern so in every age Of the world But for this
historical truth We would be astonished lhas any
oue should oppose this gFeat measure. But Il
Zwngle, " Switzerland, aud Luther. in Germany,
aud even ihe son Of God himself met zi.h bEler
opposition. we be surprised that the friends Of
pIohl0iooi should meei WIN strong oppoSiuohf
rhey say 20 us, i you bad just stayed where the
Soas Of Temperance began. Ne would be Hith you;
they hays done much COOL, bat they viii lose Is
all ia asking loo mach The OF jecfs you desire are
70 be accomplished by moral sessions Legislation
i oat Of the question" ask gentlemen. on the
.ame parity ~ reasoning, would they not oppose
awrlier. gsssbiing biga1y. the exhibition of %
.rslse Iiciarea the sale Of inszsornl b0oks Ger
lainIs the panshmsnt 6f murder involves moral
4 qa'siou.
Moral suasion Is the resort Aye. Mt Chairman.
but there are many who eannog be Ecsched hy NOR
I Al .nnsion l do rot eag that mach good has n0g