Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-01-14
G.inperance Matttr.
PECUNIARY QUESTION.

Those who would apologize for the exis-
tence and continuation of the liquor traffic,
are cternally prating about its being "mere
question ofmora1s," and that the wise states
man will avoid legislating about morals
This stale nonsense has been repeated so
often that many regard it self-evdent pro-
position, an axiom upon which solid argu-
ments against prohibitory Legislation may be
based. While we would by no means admit
that government may not properly legislate on
"mere question of morals" we are not drl-
ven to the necessity of maintaining that prop
osition in order to demonstrate both the right
and duty of government to outlaw the traffic
in intoxicatingli liquors. Questions involving
finance, taxation, revenue, &C., are certainly
proper topics for legislating upon.
We do not hesitate to affirm that in the
mere matter of dollars and cents, this is OF
more magnitude and Importance to the peo-
pie of this country, than all the Tariff, Bank
and Sub-Treasury schemes which have en-
gagged the attention and enlisted the talent
of our statesmen and stump orators, from the
organization of the Federal Government, to
the present hour.
The amount of money worse than wasted
upon the affairs of this inhuman and bloody
traffic, can scarcely be estimated. In the
single State of Ohio the treasures squandered
in single year for, worthless liquors, would
build school-house in every school district,
supply the scholars with teachers and books,
pay the salaries of all the ministers of the
Gospel, and pay all the benevolent contribu'
tions made to all the charitable enterprises
of the age, and leave very large margin for
contingencies.
It may be said that those who have squan-
dercd their money for intoxicating drinks,
had a right to do as they pleased with their
own This is true only in qualified sense.
Why are lotteries forbidden? Has not man
RIG ght to invest his moneyin lottery tickets,
if he plerses to do So? May not a man stake
his o,rn money on game Of cards, horse
race or an election?
The rule on this subject is that no man has
right to use his property in any way that
will result in the injury Of society, and that
none may be tempted to do so, lotteries and
gambling are prohibited. The waste Of
money for liquors result in pauperism and
crime, and hence the right Of society to ex-
terminate grog-shops. A very large proper
ton of the taxes annually levied upon per-
sonal and real estate; is made necessary be-
cause the liquor traffic exists A perfectarmy
of judges, grand and petit jurors, sheriffs,
constables and watchmen are made necessary
and kept employed by the panderers to vice,
tax payers must foot the bill. Ourpoorhouses,
asylums and houses of correction are filled,
but not supported, by liquor-sellers.
If theft, robbery and murder are proper
subjects oflegislation, surely the prolific cause
of theseinvasions upon property and life, may
and should command the attention of legisla-
tors. If paupers must be provided for, those
who make provision for them may legiti,
mately control the manufactures of mendi.
cants. Taxation is one of the functions of
government, and those who are taxed have a
right, anditis their duty, to enquire for ochat
purposes taxes are levied That very large
proportion of the annual levy upon the per-
sonal and real estate of the country is made
necessary by the existence Of the liquor
traffic, will not the few be prohibited from
imposing these burdens upon the many?