Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-10-13
GOVERNOR SEYMOUR AID THE
MAINE LAW.
An Admirable Exposition.
OF the Evils OF Radical
Coercive Lcgisla-
Extract from q speech by
Gov. Seymour, 12
Years Ago.

eiit m"ineut. but We WhAe e"is p1"uN"
ton at the present time more particularly
" for tho purpose Of giving our readers .
view Of the mind and heart OF him who is
now our candidate for tho presidency,
evinced at time and en- an occssion when
lie could have no inducement t. practice
deception in matters Of this nat ire. The
vein OF Christian philanthropy and Gu
lightcned statesmanship which iuns
throughout the entire speech, Gnds fair
expression in that portion which we now
reproduce, and shows its auhor TO he
verify Of the position to which he is about
to DO elevated. No intelligent, mind, IN
perverted by bigo,ry, can Use from tn, pc
rusal Of this paper without feeling a glow
Of admiration f,r the sentiments il breathes
and the principles of government il incul-
Gates. The devo,ccs Of Main, law philosophy
and puritanicai intolerance will nnd in i
abundant subjects of reprehsnsion, - it is
in direct antsgsnism with their unw'ss no
tisns Of universal governmental restraints.
But with every every ingenious and en-
lighted mind, who loves liberty and con-
dennis ali needless ani banclul statutory
intsrmeddling vita oar private concerns, il
will be hailed as this promise Of those prn.
cples Of government, whose advent 1t the
federal capital wo soon expect to witness ::
l will present for your consideration the
different phases Of this spirit Of political
in,srfsrencs. We have forced upon US in
many Of the States q coercivs temperance
aw, which is claimed by its advocates TO
be new and certain remedy for most Of the
evils which affect society, but which 10 40
oft-repeated and always futile effort to ex-
tend III Jurisdiction of statutory laws be-
ysnd their proper bounds.
Tho objections 10 this measure are two
| fold. 1t violates constitutional laws, and
| 1t will increase tho evils il claims TO abol-
lsh. At this time many speak lightly OF
constitutional law. They are impatient
that their peculiar views are checked by
;ts barriers, not bearing in mind that il 10
| their only safeguard against unjust and
hasty legislation, affecting their lives, their
liberties and their rights Of conscience. -
| We arc made free by written constitutions
restraining na.oiites aud protecting min
ositiys, aud lotOloding tho legislators from
touching single iglt OF hingle citizen.
1 IL these day ol legislative encroachmen.
and legislative corruption. Il IS the day OF
every citlzea t. Uphold constitutional law
Ii is strange that those who demand re-
spsct for c0ercive temperance laws should
show c, ntempt Tor tho more sacred obliea-
| ttnua al hat tbnsn vrt
TOR submission to legislative cnactments
dsnouncc ard reslle tho higher decision of
judicial tribunals. The objections to this
legislation are Of the graves, kind. II is
no merely against drinking, but against
thinking. It's we'll described by an emi.
nent Clergyman as lazy philanthropy
which tries to get rid Of the duties Of life
by declaring tho evils are abolished BY &C,
OF legislature"
Its first and great mischief is the demon
allzaton and disorganizston Of tomperancs
efforts, No cause can receive q blow more
deadly than that which dcgradss the pas
sions and motives Of its advocates. The
efforts Of those engaged IN promoting tenn
psrancs by reason and persuasion, were
twice blessed" They enlarge their own
intellect, and improve their own charac-
,ers, while they influenced and benefited
others. But when the law gives them
power over their fellow men, poor human
| nature shows its wontcd weakness Pride
and passion are aroused, and provoke re
sstance vhere persuasion has heretofore
prevailed. do not mean TO urge against
this measure that IT has unworthy advo-
Gates or indi~cfoet friends, but that its
tendency is to arouse bad passions in the
breasts oil men who have heretofore been
humane ami charitabe-lha, tho power
winch IT gives them over the conscieucss
and aclions OF others, creates vindictiyc
spi,It on tho one hsnd aud calls forth re-
sstance on the other
| What are the effects on the minds of bad
men when excited by the idea OF coercion
They become iniiamod with passion, and
nduee IN reckless assertions against char
actsr-foll impuiations against motive
AMI iiippant denunciations o. judicial decis-
ions. These passions have bson exhibited
even in the pnlp't, and teachers Of . meek
aud charitable religion, adopt the very Ian
gusgs Of the enemies Of its author, whom
dsnsuneing men - wins-bibbers and
frisnds OF publcans and sinners. Ii 10
hard to believe when listening to their in
vsctivss, that they are servants Of Him who
was thus rsvilsd because He proposed 10 do
away with the laws whics restrained the
actions Of men, and to introduce in their
place the principles which purify the hearts.
But we must not stop with depicting
these evils in closing and exciting terms.
The great question 10 this: Is coercion an
sifsc,usl remedy? This question is usually
! ovsrlsaped in oder 10 reach tho denuncia-
tory exercises. The remedy is either new
| enc, or one which has heretofore failed
Il. either event, its advocates are hasty in
vil1ying those whe doubt ito efficacy. The
arguments upon which 10 founded have
c,used most OF the political, socialism re-
gious evils which oppress mankind. Those
~ho hold or usurp power, are won't to cay
that they deem heresy, or in6deliiy, or dan.
g-rous habits Of thinking freely, are evils.
and that 1t the duty Of state to remevs
| evils, and therefore thsy may punish Fl cs-
dom Of thinking, 20 well 20 freedom Of
drinking. In oil these cases the real ouss-
ton is overlooked. What are the right
remedies.
The bad effects Of this law upon its advo.
Gates have been seen. Another obiec,ion
-, that is creates u spirit Of yesiatance
which increases the evil it claim 10 root
out. This fact is shown by the experience
# different periods in the worlds history.
The use of particular narcotics amongst
most atoms, has b, en- coufiI m ed by effo.,s
TO suppress their consumption by force.
The cause Of temperance was irre,stih,c
n the State Of Maine, while it wa. uphsli
by reason and persuasion. Il was broken
down by legislation. The authors of the
oill, IN the nsrrownsss Of thor intellect,
could not see that truth was stronger than
statutes. We are advised by commercial
msn. and by the missionary journals of
| ch'na, the attempt to pat down the use of
| opium by iotc,, has been followed by the
greatest social, moral and political evils.
| .he'e,a here, dad Law is like . dead
limb upon living man; i, mus, be cut of.
or it Will carry decay and corruption into
eve.y part OF the system. The mi.chiefs
shich We begin to feel. are there developed
to their full extent, and he Who will trsc.
them there in all their influences. will h.
startled to And how great are IN. vrongs
which grow out Of mistaken pr,ucinl.s Of
legislation, although prompted by rood mo.
tives. eeN NV
| Ths.con:ealed currents Of vice. like una.,
currents Of water, are most insidiou. and
| destructive. At this tina ~. N.;..