Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-08-28
About Customs South.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. II, 1861

hALAOELLhlA EAuS. IL lOUl-
Editor W. r. Chronicle When Gen.
Siekles issued his order closing the distille-
rles IN his. Department, he done an excel
lent thing for a foolish people, though
some who knew not the situation, thought
he was interfering too much with indiVid-
ual rights. If every department comman-
der would issue an order and see that it
was executed, shutting up every whiskey
or brandy distillery in the Southern States
under their control, they would confer q
greater blessing upon the poor and desti-
tute people, than they could possibly do
IN any other manner Had it not been
for those poverty-making, crime-genera-
ting "stilLs, {" there would have been far less
call for, and actual need of, aid from the
North and West this spring and winter
past, to keep the people from starvation.
1t is the aim and practice Of the proprie-
tors of those internal concerns to lay in
as large a stock in the fall, Immediately
after harvest. as they possibly can with
money or credit, especially on credit,
which they can generally do. when other
people cannot. The immense amount Of
grain worked up in this manner, must
have q fearfully disastrous effect on 8 short
crop, and bad enough on any crop. A
great proportion of the population are al
most entirely unused to laying up or pro-
viding anything for a month ahead ; the
present day is all they care for, or have
been accustomed to consider. They are
the merest children in this respect. This
is easily accounted for, from the fact that
they have always been accustomed to look
- A. ,la1kar- narahapfc so ~ surnlv
their wants of provisions and clothing, at
any time when they were short, for labor
or anything they could pick up for the
market. The slaves, of course, got some
kind of a living from their masters, and
were not required to look out so much for
a day Of need. People who have not
Travelled South, and observed the people
and their habits, can have no just eoncep-
ton of their utter shiftlessness. 1t is
painful, exceedingly so, to witness their
manner of living. Under a different or
der of things, certain responsibilities will
he unnecessarily thrown unpon all classes
which must excite new energies and am
billions, resulting eventually in q very diff
ferent state of things; but for some time
yet they will need u strong government,
administered with a kind, but firm hand
a government which shall act as a balance,
8 regulator, as It were, between all parties
and elements, until those elements become
equaEsed, fitted, adjusted and polished, in
all their parts, so as to work and run well
together-that each may be prepared and
able to fill their proper relation and place
in the body polite.
There can be no government so etfectu-
al for accomplishing this desirable purposs,
as the Military, in the hands of good
Generals, who are keenly alive to the true
situation and greatest necessities of all
classes-never giving q special favor to
me over the other, of equal loyalty,-but
always protecting the weak from the ag-
gressions of the strong and selfish. Thus
tie present commandants who are believed
BY all loyal men 10 be ardently devoted TO
the best interests of that people and the
government, car DO much good-good al
most beyond estimate, by drawing 3 strong
rein over the distilleries. until the people
so much reduced, can get fairly started,
and beyond danger of suffering, and per-
haps actual famine, as during the past
year. 1t is entirely different there from
what it is with Us, land especially on the
Reserve) they all drink, almost to = nan
and woman, say nothing of those who
'tlip." The s.fltbV tgeed" Is used to excess
also, by nearly all, both great and small
and there is no question but what it has a
very bad effect on both BODY and mind OF