Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-05-31
For the Louisiana Capitolian.
GOVERNMENT.

Political society indispensably com
plcates civil government. and govern
ment implies restraint. 1t IS necessary,
therefore, to inquire in how far our nat
ural freedom is renowned when we
enter into civil society. The opportuni-
ties which civil power can procure to a
community are partial only, as only q
part is included within the reach of
it's movements.
If it is an intelligent institution, then
is it such an one as wise men would
adopt to secure its benefits, and it must
be clear that no greater sacrifice Of Ma
tional rights is included than is strictly
requisite to the attainment of its OBJ
jects.
five inquire into the reasons of polit-
ical society, the answer is, to guard
against the injuries of others; for in the
absense of all injustice no protection or
government would be necessary.
/ The accomplishment of all the good
possible then is not the object of law,
but security against wrong. Civil res
traints imply nothing more than a sur
render Of our liberty, in some respects,
for the purpose of securing its exercise
in some other respects Of higher impor-
lance.
Thus, we surrender the liberty of
furnishing injuries received, only to Sc
cure the agency Of law in securing JUS
tice for us.
We perceive at once then that GOV
eminent has a specific end, as it implies
the giving up of so much national right
or freedom as is sufficient to recure its
object.
We all know that the power to exer-
else government is, by national right,
in the people; but, for the sake of con-
venicnce, is by mutual consent trans
ferred to their representatives; and the
only wise objects Of government so
exercised is the mutual protection and
consequent safety of society.
Special enactments, it is true, may
and ought to be granted by the law
making power for the benefit either Of
individuals or classes, provided that the
rights and interests of the whole shall
thereby be promoted, or, at least, not
unsettled by such cnactments and privi-
leges granted to a part; or the State
sufficiently compensated by the applying
party for privileges so secured.
But it is equally trne that no man ac-
quires the right to enact deleterious
laws by entering into civil society; and
it follows, of consequence, tliatono class
Of men acquire the same right by the
erection Of civil government. For, as
no man can possess the right in his indi-
vidual character to injure others, so no
man or men, acting solely with view
to the general good, obtain the right to
inurc those or even part of those for
whom they acts
The conclusion, hence, is inevitable
that the legislative power, acting with
in these limitations, can never justly and
by special enactment for that purpose,
confer upon few the privileges of mer-
chandise and trade i'll an article leopard
izing the pccuniary and moral interests
of all other parts of the community.
Now, if these principles be correct, as
statcd-and we all know and feci assrlr-
ed that they cannot be dcnied-thcn it
only remoins for us to show that the
License System is injurious to society in
order to prove that the lcgalized traffic
in ardent spirits is founded on Injustice
and wrong.
First. Our argument is sustained in
support of the proposition advanced up
on the fact that the retail of sEirituous
liquors decreases the national wealth.
We all have intuition that the wealth
of q nation consists in the wealth of it's
citizens.
Furthermore, we all know that it's
only resources are labor, land aid CAPT
tai. The last Of these is the pFoduct of
the two former; bnt, as it may ibe used
to increase their valuation, it il worthy
of consideration, as one of the, original
sources of wealth.
Capital is only capable of employ
ment in two ways-either to- produce
new capital or for the purpose of graft
fcatiOn. If consumed for the slater it
lie called expenditure, while thh first is
denominated capital.
Therefore these necessarily, bear an
inverse proportion to each other; and
if the first be small, the last Is CORES
pondingly large.
In other words, capital is ctpablo of
increase by decrease of expenditure, and
of decrease by increase of expenditure
Would to God that the advance of truth,
temperance, purity of motives, and per-
petual union reign triumphant to the
end of lifc's conflicts.
II