Year: 1861

0DDlAlaMNAGAllpVh

 Aea= We give place to the following defence of Mr. Mygatt for his vote on the repeal of the sec ton of the Liquor Bill in the Senate, in reply to the strictures of l6th District in the ENQU1R- FER of July 4th. Our readers in that district will now judge the question of course for themselves l

 We have also another communication on the same subject, too late for this week.

 Hon. A. B. Mygatt

 MR. EDITOR Fl observed with much surprise and regret communication in the Enquirer re- fecting in very ungenerous manner upon the Hon. A. B. Mygatt, the able Senator of the 18th District for his vote and speech upon the repeal of the 27th section of the liquor law. For his action in that matter, which has the sanction of some of the best and thoughtful minds in the State, he is said by your correspondent to be " arrayed on the side of the rumsellers''! | would respectfully ask if the temperance cause IS so strong in the State that it can thus afford to throw off in the already strong ranks of men who for unrestrained license in the sale of lio- uors' such men as MT. Mygatt, and the thou sands who agree with him, together with the large majority of the two Houses of the General Assembly. Has it come to this that no diffe- renee of opinion is to be tolerated amonp the friends of good morals in the state-and that T law of thirty sections must be regarded as in- falllble, so that whoever shall dare propose the change of a single section, must be regarded as heretic and guilty of sacrelge My faith in the success of temperance has always rested on moral suasion. That principle brought me into active service as temperance man. l feared the effects of coercion or legal prohibition-did not believe that two such op- poste principles as coercion for the rumseIer and moral suasion for the rumdrinker would combine the right sort of force for success, vet fell in with the current of the time hoping for the best But in yielding to the doctrine of coercion for the rumseler, did not suppose the principle was also to apply to every man that might happen to differ from us in opinion in re- ] gard to any law or principle.

 1 l have, however, noticed the disposition of late, to treat all differing opinions on Ae sub Ject of temperance as your correspondent treats the Hon. Mir. Mygatt. Whether it is from some person that wants to be Senator next year or has some friend in view that he thinks can ge. q nomination by riding the hobby, of course am notable to say but there has been very much of this kind of electioncering going on in certain quarters within few years past. It is good way to make political and moral hypocrtes; and of course dcadens that high sense of honor and strict moral rectitudes which we are so essential to the we'll being of society.

 I The Senator of the 16h District has proved i himself one of the abest and one of the most in hucntal of his colleagues, and commanded uni have reason to be proud of him. Every report he made was successful. He thinks long and carefully before he acts, and when he acts his movements will bear the closest scrutiny. The 27th section of the liquor law no doubt ori- ginally we'll intended, but it operated badly :-- and as Nr. Mygatt and others it's evil effects, they did not hesitate 10 express themselves against it.

 1T your CDlfeSpOllttelit IS q CailulN UIpfe- 1 judiced man le will come tothe same conclusions when correctly informed of the operation of that section, and of it's denoralizing effect upon in dividuals and the disgrace it has brought ul lon the State. If he is narrow minded bigot. or is ambitious of rising in the world by sapring tho 1 foundations of better men, and seeks office Cn his hands and knees, of course he will leave ar gument for vituperation and, instead oc feeling that excccsccnce my be removed from law, he will insist that his idol god has been sacrc!i- giousy mutilated, and that vengeance should be visited upon the head of the offender. I vii not believe Mir Editor that your correspondent is one of the last described, but trust that he will give the matter candid consideration, and agree that the action of Mir. hygatt and the he- gislature was right MoDERATIoS.