Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-03-27
Correspondence.
Look mt Ifl


Indiana to have anything to say in the
banking business, and thereby give conf
denco to the bill holder Of the responsible
ity of the institution, and thus insure
good sound circulating medium instead Of
the one horse concerns now in operation.
But it is entirely constitutional and right
for the State to become partner in the
doggery business, and all its indescribable
misery and crime belonging to the traffic,
as is indicated by the passage Of "license
law" in the lower house Of the present
legislature.
1t requires no great amount Of sagacity
in any one to see at once, that ''therc is
something rotten in Denmark" And who
is to blame? In our form of government,
we are told the sovereignty is in the peo-
pie, and who are the pePlef Reader, you
are one of them. But you say you cannot
correct the evil. That is true. But your
neighbor over the way there, is another
one of the people. Now, sir, is this thing
rigMP If you think not "lift up your
voice, cry aloud and spare not" reason
with that neighbor, and so with all your
neighbors. Think awhile Of the evils Of
intemperance-I mean some Of those evils
with which you are conversant, for as to
the number, or the extent, none living in
this world can have anything like just
conception; the thing, in magnitude, is
transcendantly beyond the ken or imagi-
nation of man-but reflect on it as you
knop IL erists; refer to such statistics as
you may confidently rely upon. Look at
those of our own penitentiary, for instance,
rendered by those not in favor Of a whole
some "prohibitory law fashioned after
the one manner Of the one we had which,
for five memorable months OF quictudo
and rest compared with the present, and
learn that Of three hundred and four con-
victs, all, save fifty-eight, found their way
there through the influence Of grog-shops.
And this indeed is but a single drop in the
ocean!
Do you say this articlcIis out Of time
that this is not the time to ngitatc this
matter? II is never out Of time to do
right. lam aware that tho public. mind
Is not especially agitated upon this ques-
ton now. when, at such times. there Is
moro interest taken in discussing such
matters-and that Is tho very reason why
this Is n proptious time to work with the
power OF reason; when polities--hoi blood
cd, rcd-eyed. doep-notod party politics
takes hold upon the people, and fairly dcs-
troys reason, crushcs out humanity, and
stiles conscience. II Is no time to prevail
upon mon TO do right with reason or ar
gumcnt. Then, they are too frequently
whipped in by their party masters, and
mus. do as thoy are blddcn, right or wrong,
But now. tho mind 10 In better condition
10 reason sobcrly, and reflect upon argu-
monts upon this subject.
Friends Of Temperance and Humanity,
bs strong. and think not for moment to
yield tho contest. Though our enemies
now have possession Of garrison. and We
arc suffering from their broad-sides. Ye,
there IL hope. Think Of Col. Miller's rc-
ply to tho intorcgatory Of tho command.
Ing officer at tho battlo of Lundy's Lane
-"f will try I" Think Of the result oI
that trial. Think Of tho declaration ol
Henry Clay-"Truth Is omnipotent and
must prcvail!" But especially think Of the
promise Of Him who says to those. who
do right In all things--"So, l am with you
always"
Tho principles Of prohibition arc not
dead, nor will they die, whlo tho light ol
revelation shall gloam athwart this lower
world. But drunkenness is wrong, and
cvcry. y.man-thc people should look we'll to
this mattor-how they act, what they say
and for who and what they vote. Reader
will you do II? Arc you willing to advo'
cate measure that Is unpopular, and
brave the storms Of phrcnzIed wrath, and
filth, and slime, that Is sure to be forth
coming from tho liquor-mongers aud theil
allies. "who have bargaIncd with deatl
and covcnanted with hell" aud mono have
bargained on harder terms. An eminent
jurist and statesman has said, and tho doc
trine has never boon questioned, save
only whom II intcrlcres with tho liquor
traffic, that 'tho States have the power
implicitly reserved to them, Of passing al
such laws Us may be necessary for tho pres
ervation, within tho States. Of health, or
der, and wcll-being Of society"
Now, II this principle Is not in our con
stitution, let's 90 10 work and put II there
NAvILLuS.
Chiffon, Ind, March o.