Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-07-02
For the Spirit of the Age.
The Sellers plea a blessing.

Ask him if he does not believe he Injuries
the community in a moral and social point
Of view, more by vending the article of Ii
quor, than himself is benefited in pecu
MARY sense, and he will not give you de-
finite answer. But he will evade the ques-
ton by saying liquor was given to man
for blessing-that it is mentioned in the
Bible, some of the dntle eluUianS drank
wine, a word translated and interpreted
in the language of the modern seller-bran-
dy, apple, peach, french, &c., &c. Hence,
the right to make, use, buy and sell, is an
inherent one and any interdicton to the
contrary would come in direct conflict with
the universal laws of nature. With this
view of the subject, the question very rea-
sonably proposes itself, does he use it as
blessing, when he measures out glass upon
glass to his fellow beings, taking in many
instances the very last dollar from the poor
inebriate that ought to be spent to the use
and sustenance Of his destitute wife and
children? Does he use it as blessing
when he deals out day after day, the intox-
icating cup to the ready recipient, till he =
drunk, and in fit of delirum is made, will
! ling to shed the blood, and in many instan-
ces to take the life of his fellow being 3
Does he use it as blessing when under
the retail system, he holds out the induce
mcnt to any to drink and get drink j; inAu-
encing the indiv idual to use all manner Of
profane and obscene language.
If these be fair illustration of some of
the effects produced by selling and consul
ming the article Of liquor, and the seller
claims the right under the head of bless
ing, and these are fair sample of some Of
those blessings, may heaven deliver US from
such blessings. Where is example? where
is precept? where is consistency Reason
= asks where Such a code of reason would
aunihilate the laws by which the whole
moral and social world is held and govern
ed. 1t would place man as nullity in the
nEkg Ekg certain tai
! possessing some remote affinity in nature,
: and not held responsible for any deed or
act IN life. Such reasoning is admirably
adapted to the doctrines of hard-shelism.
But when We view man as possessing affini-
ly with God. susceptible of the finer feel
lngs and sensibiities of his nature, destined
to perform great moral, social and reli-
gious duty, and held responsible as free
] agent for the faithful performance of such
: duty, it is absurd. But he will tell you
o the right Is inherent-that some will sell,
/ and If 1t is sold he had as we'll sell as any
body. Now, if selling the article of IL
h quor, and the fact of it being sold and
|, the fact also that some of the antedeluvians
L made and used the simple article of wine.
ii guarantees the right to sell in the present
e age OF refinement after it has taken on by
u dlstlIlatlon almost the virus of the Upas.
It might 1t not with about the same parity
/ of reasoning be urged, that since one man
% committed an act not criminal, from the
c tact nothing criminal grew out of it at the
n time, that after it had however by accession
:, and repetition become so criminal as to de.
D mand penal enactment, that he might then
e commit the same act without any criminal
u ity.
S. Now, if God has given MS the article Of
l. liquor as blessing, and endowed us with
10 mind, capable of SO disposing or abusing
W 1t is evident His immutabe laws will hold
ot US responsible in the latter case Hence
| If sell liquor, and the purchaser and con
ID sumner becomes the party injured in its
c. having an undue influence over his passions
- IN causing him to commit some depreda.
d tion upon the person of himself. bis fauli
e y or neighbor, upon whom rests the re
lr sponsibihty Am | not guilty in mora
10 point of view, and if morally, how much
es more in the eyes of Deity. To illustrate
Of if 4 seeks the life of B, and makes hi
Is design known to c, and becomes instru
d mental by the making Of composition
IS for A, by which the life of b is taken, doe
IS does not G become porticeps crimiais il
d the death of b, in the eyes of the law
IS How much more guilty must he be, tha
J. sells liquor that bane which gives the frs
$, impulse to nine-tenths of all the crime an
= misery in our world.
IS Where then is the argument to sustain
r. the position assumed by the seller, that th
K drinker is only guilty and responsible,
u being optional with him TO indulge or
d That the vender's skirts is not clear of