Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1857-09-05
PIcEENs COURT HOUSE, G. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER $,

here in South Carolina stringent liquor laws
already" and seem to adducc this fact as
proof against the necessity Of cocrcivo law.
This, sir, is a strange mode of reasoning, in
deed Why, sir, this is to our mind demon
Si,0EOH ITSELF that nothing short Of law
which shall be strong enough in its nature to
clear the board, will ever cure the evil. A5
well might the farmer attempt to destroy a
large and luxuriant growth of weeds in his
field by hacking off their tops with case
knife as for the legislature to attempt to dos
troy the evils of intcmpcrNnco by their "li-
censc Ian" or by their "onc quart law" or
by their three gallon law" or by all COM
bined. The farmer to destroy the woods must
pluck them mp by the roots. The legislature
to destroy intcmpcrance must pluck itup by
/ the roots; to destroy tho evil of drunkenness,
| they must eradicate the root-to save the
drnukard they must destroy the drmkard's
drink. The observation and experience of
centuries have demonstrated this fact as clear
| ly and uncquivocally as any problem in muth
ematicS can be dcmonstratcd
But again you intimate that "example does
not follow precept." Granted. And who are
the nconSistent-surcly not the legal coor-
cionists; for they are about all that are will
ing to make example correspond with precept.
They would fain have it $50 that it would be
| impossible for example to conflict with pre-
ccpt, but you "cannot sec the necessity" for
this. Why then find fault of the inconsistent
cy of examples not following prccept when
you cannot see the necessity for it, on what
amounts to the same thing, the necessity for
cocrcivo law which is the only practicable
mode under heaven of making example fol-
low precept. For most certainly as long as
| thc5Iegislature continues to lcgalizc this frnf
fc to any extent mon will continue to drink,
and as long as they continue to drink there
will DO some who will, by the interchangeable,
| inhcXiblo and inevitable laws of their nature
become drunkards, and who will wish after
the habit has become confirmed, that they
were freed from the fetters of perverted ap-
| petite, and who will from time to time resolve
to burst them asundcr by pledging themselves
| to drink no moro ofthe enchanting poison
But, alas; here comes up the irresistible temp
tation legalized and commissioned by legtsla-
tive authority. Now comes the tug of war
with the reformed drunkard. He is tormcn-
ted and goaded by perverted craving and
irresistible appetite. 1t cannot Withstand the
odoriterous cnticcment. The man staggcrs
reels and falls before the nlluring temptation
He partakes of the enchanting poison All
his resolves become anuihilated. He is re-
enrolled upon tho list of the DRUNKEN Pos
sE," and those State commissioned officers
take command of him and marshal him un.
dor Z" TuE Doc SKIN BANNER," notwitlIstaud-
ing Inc has boen guilty ofviolat'ng precept by
example.
In regard to your remarks respecting can,
ddates, treating to obtain votes We would re-
m"rk that they. are good, so far as they 80.
But why should we depend upon public opin-
ions correcting an evil when we have sure
and Constitutional remedy at hand to prevent
them from treating with whiskcy to obtain
votes, by placing it beyond their reach Let
us apply this remedy and then we will have
a sober constituency, a sober intelligent pure
and honest legislature.
May God speed the happy day (Which is
| as certain to come as truth and right are Ger
tain to triumph over error and wrong) when
our legislature shall pass a cocrcivclaw which
shall Danish all alcoholic beverages from
our State, and may all the people respond
with a loud and emphatic-1ment
VINDEX.