Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-11-14
For the Standard.
DIsTILIATIoN OF GRAIN.

OSCILLATION OF GRAIN. ,.
. Mr. EDIroR AS the time for the meeting of our
Legislature is near at hand, it might not be amiss
to suggest to our legislators few thoughtss The
Convention of North Carolina passed an ordinance
prohibiting the distlatiou of ardent spirits tout of
gran) from the 18th of April to the LIST of January,
1868, leaving further action in the matter discre-
tionary with the Legislature. The necessity for
such an ordinance was apparentto the minds Of
thinking men, and their only regret was it did not
take effect soon enough. The question arises in
the minds of men anxious for the welfare of the
country, what will our legislators do? Will they
supinely shrink from their duty, and let Oite mon
sters basely throttle the very bread out of the
Threats of the widows and orphans Of the land, to
convert into whiskey to fill their Golfers, or will
they promptly perform it as wise legislators ought
to do? -.'
To thoughtful casual observer, unacquainted
with Che deep depravity of the human heart apy
action on the subject might seem UNNECESSARY
But weinformed, thinking men view the matte.
in quite different light They know and deeply
feel true patriots ought to feel, that this is nc
time to be dallying with internal externa foes.
The exigence sof the times calls for vigorous and
determinate action, and the man that skulks re-
spOnsibility deserves not the name OF true patriot
and is unfit to be trusted in the councils of the
ton l am not writing an essay on temperance,
nor shall say whether a man ought or ought not
TO drink whiskey. Such is not my intention, nor
would it be to the point The question simply is,
ought the Legislature Of North Carolina to permit
dstllers who have kept out of the service by hiring
substtutes,) to convert the grain of the country
into whiskey to sell at exorbitant prices, leaving
the wives and children Of those in service destitute
of food i'm starving condition? 1t seems to me-
if true and loyal citizens required to leave their
homes aud enter the service, for the defence and
perpetuity Of civil and religious institutions
the Legislature ought TO manifest its appreciation
of their services by protecting their families from
The vile clutches of the ruthless wolves of the land
Distillers in ordinary times, are not the most
patriotic and pious portion Of community. But
perhaps ought to stop, for fear might become as
indignant as the old lady was, when she exclaimed,
~ by, they are as mean as dogsY" With all due
Difference to the kind old sisters opinion, must
enter my protest against such invidious COMPARE
sons. What have mastiffs done to eutitle them to
such unenvia5le notoriety? A soldiers faithful
dog will guard his owners premises with vigilance
during his masters absence on duty, and give his
wife timely notice where night providers are intru
ding. But am not quite sure all dstillers would
be found too conscientious to buy the soldiers
grain of his negro, during his absence, even while
the faithful watchdog would be raising his voice,
hodrsely, against such ungratefu conduct.
But suppose distlllers would be, and ever have
BEEN as fair as the moon and clear as the sum-
what argument would that be why the Legislature
ought not to watch, with vigilance, the best inter-
ssts of the country at time when the high prices
and scarcity Of grain dictates prudent economy ?
The question would be, which Of the two evils
would put a State TO the most inconvenience, the
lack Of whiSkey or the lack of bread?
trust, Mr. Editor, our Legislature will prohibit
the distillaon of grain and not feel as the old
felt when he said "he hated to puch corn
wasted in bread-it made whiskey so high"
TYRO.