Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-10-20
For the Spirit of the Age.
LAW

Mr.. EDEToR. As have ian iron in the
lire, /" just now, 1 propose hammering it a lit |
tie, according toyour directions, lest it should
burn. There is no country on the earth that
has not some scrt of a system of laws. All
christian nations have laws, said to be foun-I
ded on the Bible-the rock of eternal truth
and justice. This is particularly true with
regard to the United States and their eoui-
tableness is our beast and pride, as we'll as
protection. We p~anegyrize our laws and
regulations, asapProaching very near, if not
quiteato perfection.
grant that these ~panegyries are well
founded in many cases, but are BY no means
SO I'D every particular. Here. we have laws
to which rewards and punishments are an
nexed, and these rewards and ~punishments
are amply sufficient to restrain vice. promote
virtue, and secure the administration of ius-
tlce to all sober-minded offenders against the
laws of the land. "But there is an evil
which have seen under the SUM- viz that
our Lawmakers, in almost every State, at
tend diligently to the passage of those meas
ures only, which appertain to their individu-
al interests, while the interests and welfare
OF the major part of their constituents are
LETT altogether unattended ID. But there are
some men who do not want their business
interfered with by the Law. The liquor-sel-
Ter is especially of this class, and also the
Weuid-be law-maker who hopes to reach a seat
in the Legislature by the appliance of the
whiskey bottle. And what is. more shame
full still, it is almost impossible for a man to
be elected, who is in favor of a law interior
ing with these precious rights.
IL is not at an improbable that # it were
lett to the vote of these people, in many parts
OF our great and christian nation, to say
whether they would dispense with the Bible
or ardent spirits, and they were compelled t.
choose between the two, they would reiec
the former, and establish the latter upon
throne of absolute Ioweri
otlll our Legislators continue to legalize thu
liquor traffic, and throw protection around it
winch they deny 20 any other business !
But they tell US that the people do not de
sire the abolition and sale Of ardent shirts
How do they know this ? They have no
tested it! We have again and again aske,
our Legislatures to give us an opportunity G
ascertaining the will of the majority on thi
SUBJECT, but they have always refused to d
it. But allowing that it is so, we might re
ply-nelther do they desire the impositio
of high taxes but legislators disregard thei
wishes altogether in this respect because tb
honor and welfare of the State REQUIRES it
Will not the honor and welfare of the Stat
be equally promoted, yea, more SO, by a pr,
hibitory law ? It is the duty Of every legi
lator to provide for the real happiness an
welfare of his constituents whether they wi
it or not.
The Bible denounces the sale and use Off
toxlcating drink, as much as any other vice
and can a legislator be wise who l~egalizes /
and still Furnishes persons with imprisor
ment and death, who commit crimes und
It's baneful influence ? Ipause for a reply.
Gully, S. G. A. B.. G.