Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-02-23
$50. OLD SERIES, VOL. 16. NO 22

may do to the contrary.
Although ] voted for the law OF last ses-
sion, ] am now ready to vote for its repeal,
but at no time and under no circumstances
for its unconditional repeal. In coming to
this conclusion have not founded my cal
culations upon the dollars and cents which,
the owners of taverns, makers Of whiskey ana
sellers of grog may gain or lose. There are
considerations paramount to these, which
claim my thought and command my sympa-
Observation-Disclosures that involve more vital
lnterests-the degradation of men, the sor-
rows OF women, and the tears of little children.
And trust in God may never be brought
to disregard these, for the sake Of the gold
that may be wrung from human misery.
will Tote for this repeal, not that tavern
keepers may make more money, but that oar
great cause may not be injured by forcing pub
| lie opinion. The popular voice has condemned
this law, and / am sorry that il is so. The
popular voice is just os camorous for q whole
some and vigorous substitute, and am glad
! that ii is so. In 10 quarter Of the State IL
anything else expected or demanded. Since
tho l4th Of April, 1855, the very trafickers
! themselves have ceased their indscriminate
howlings at everything in the form OF restric-
tions, and whimpered as gently as sucking
| doves for any change we may be pleased to
| give them. This is one good result that has
| grown out Of the enactment which Senators
on this floor in the enthusiasm of their grdti-
tude TO the combination that sent them here,
have spoken of so contemptuously And l.
for one, sir, am anxious to take advantage OF
this salutary change iu the sentiments OF the
| advocates of whiskey. While it is unwise for
| lawmakers to get too far ahead Of public
opinion, it is senseless and uhpatriotic to fall
behind it. The legislator should not attempt
to steer his bark against both wind aud tidej
but like skilful pilot, should take advantage
of the current, guiding it carefully among
rocks and qucksands While he avoids the
! hurricane blasts, that only cease to blow
when they have destroyed their victims, he
should not dread the transitory storms OF
mobbish clamor; for they will pass harmlessly
away, and the sun will shine again. and the
more brightly for the darkness which his rays
were able to dspel. Let Justice, Courage
and Truth be stamped upon the flag that
floats above him, and when bis bark is safely
moored and its cargo brought to shore, they
who were fercest in their imprecatious, will
be foremost aad !ouAest in their praises. Let
us work upon this principle. and step by step
we shall gain upon the giant evil that for cen
turies has been desolatipg the world. and
scattering poverty, crime disease and death,
with all their concomtant and inserarabls
horrors around 1t.
Mr.. Speaker-tLe day is not very far off
when people will look back in astonishment
at the lime when traffic in ardent spirits was
| legalized or even tolerated among civilized
men. And although just now the law OF re-
action seems to require backward surge, the
great tide will ioll on, till the foulest and
most universal scourge that ever afflicted tho
| world shall be obiterited from IFS face. 1t
! is my hope and earnest belief that in ten
! years from to-day, a licensed groggery, or
! groggery of any sort will be unknown among
| the forty millions Of this republ,c and in
| other ten years. unknown among all the ma
tons of the earth.
There was time sir, when to assert that
the globe moved around the sun was punished
with imprisonment aud threatened with tor
ture, and now it is not only the creed OF
| learned philosophers. but Of boors aud school
boys. As sure as the Almighty has gifted
man with intellect to comprehend the Truth,
so sure will Truth ultimately prevail. 1t
needs only time. and its own inherent omnip-
otence, to insure its triumph and its grand
est triumph will to dethrOne Intemperance.
and blot out Rum from among the great
powers of the earth. When this triumph
comes, sir Beggary will be driven from the
land-Crme will no longer stalk abroad
prisons will be unpeopled--the gallows rob-
bed-aud Madness howl in vain for its vic
tins. That time will come, sir. Truth is so
mighty, that if single ray Of its light fall
among men, it will grow wider and deeper
and higher and brighter, till no vestige of
Error remains. An apple fell from tree in
sight Of man whom nature had endowed with
q massive bran and from that little circum-
stance o theory was deduced which explained
the physical harmony Of the Univese-the
motions of nnumerable worlds. That man,
by the extraordinary share Of Deity that he
possessed, was able TO comprehend that tho
same principle which brought the apple to
, the earth, held the earth in its orbit, and
guided the planets in their ilIimitable tracks.
So mighty is Truth, give it but foothold.
aud sooner or later il will subvert the errors
and superstitions Of COCO years Progress
is stamped upon everything that God has
made, and he is but dullard and sloth who
holds backward in the race.
But sir, this idea is to be taken in connex-
ion with another Under popular govern
mont, the will of the people from whom ema-
mates all political power, must not be disro-
garded or ld,rleSsneSs aiH be added 10 erils
already eTiSfing.-This consideration, and this
| alone, impels me to the course l intend to
pursue in voting for license law. do not
cringe TO popular clamcr for any effect it may
have upon myself or my political fortunes;
and although ! do not claim 10 be entirely
destitute of the sentiment which, the yener-
able Senator tells us. distinguishes man from
the crawling worm, | do not value those for
tunes highly enough TO sacrifice my manhood
upon their shrine. have never cast vote,
nor uttered word, in this chamber merely
to advance them, and SO help me God! !
never will. II it demands this sacrifice, nv
efforts must find another channel, and nv
ambition another career. While am here,
sir. bribes shall not swerve me, threats shall
not appal me, nor persecution drive me from
my course. "he sail is set, aud my hand is
upon the helm. ii am wrecked, the waters
that overwhelm mo shall be pure and stain.
less.-And when my political carcase is
dashed upon the shore. trust no man will
poiat to it ard say-behold the spots aud
hlotches OF corruption. Popularity is too
often the boon Of knaves and fools 10 bs
bought with the surrender of a freeman 5
pro%dest priyilcge--independon of thought
and action. lie who comes here 10 play the
donghtacs or the demogogue. may win the
transitory applause of thoughtless men, but
! he will lose that which he should hold much
more highly, his own self respect and the per,
manent regasd OF those whose regard is worth
the most
Mr.. Speaker two sorts Of petitions have