University of South Carolina Libraries
* ~S I 1 I ' * ' ' ' '" ; ' [SEW SERIES ] VOL. 1. CA TlDG^r, SOITH IROLI\A, SATIKDA1 DECEMBER 28, 1839. AO. 4. TS3 OAACD32T JOTTSUMlI Zs Published every Saturday Morning, BY THOMAS W. PjECIJJGS, At three dollars in advance; three dollars and fifty cents in six months; or four dollars at the expiration of the year. Advertisements inserted at 75 cents per square for tho first, and 37 1-2 for each subsequent insertion.? The number of insertions to Iks notod on all advertise monts, or tlioy will be published until ordered to bo discontinued, and^chargcd accordingly. One dollar per square will be charged for a sngie insertion. Semi-monthly, Monthly and Qurtorly advertisements will bo charged tiro same as now ones each insertion. All Obituary Notices cxcoeding six lines, and Communications rccommcnuing wuuiuaics ior puoic Offices of profit or trust?or puffing exhibitions, will bo charged as adv ortisemonts. Accounts for Advertising and Job Work will be presented for payment, quarterly. EPA11 Letters by mail must be post paid to insure punctual attention. PItOSPECTUS OF THE FARMERS GAZETTE, AND CHERAW ADVERTISER. THE Editor of the Cheraw Gazette has determined, at the -uggestion of the Pee Dee Agricultural Society, to devote more space than formerly to Agriculture, and matters pertaining specially to its interests. About nine columns, or a paqe and a half ueeklv. will be occupied with this sub ject, except when it shall be necessary to make room for Executive Messages, and a few other political papers such as every intelligent citizen ought to read. A large proportion of what shall appear under the Agricultural head must, of course, be selected. But the numerous Agricultural periodicals now published in this country afford abundant and excellent materials for selection; and, after a short time, the reports, and other papers of the Pec Dee Agricultural Society will themselves, form no considerable body of original matter, all of it adapted particularly to this part of the country. And it is hoped, also, that among the numerous intelligent and enterprising planters of the surrounding districts and counties some may be found who will, occasionally, tiikr- trie trouDio of contributing to t!>?? columns of ilic paper the result of their experience. Among the subjects which will engage the E-'itor's attention the culture of eilk shall not be overlooked. Ample instructions will be given, in their proper season, for cultivating the inorus multisculis and making silk. The paper will espouse the cause of no party in politics, but shall contain an impartial summary of political intelligence, and, occasionally, able speeches and well written essays (when met with) fairly discussing the principles and measures of all parties. It is believed that a comparatively small space devoted to political subjects in this way may be made more profitable to the Farmer of domestic habits, who wishes to be acquainted with the true stale of the country and qualified for a proper and intelligent discharge of the duties of citizenship, than a whole sheet filled, fiom week to week, and year to year, wi?h oresided discussions, and the mere quarrels of editors and politicians,?whilst, at the same time, it will not be calculated to es - ? ?? ? ? - r"Am nAio-Itlwir C\ V tn sirange uttgnuui hui.i jiui^uuvi, "? ? " mislead into a belief that one half of the country are less patriotic than the other, or less ardently attached to our republican institutions. So much of the fourth page as shall not occupied with standing advertisements will generally be filled up with matter of moral and religious cast, and articles conducive, in other respects, to proper family instruction and family discipline. PBOSPECTIS CAROLINA PLANTERTHERE will be published at the Seat of Goverment, as recommended by Agricultural Convention, a paper devoted to the interests of the planter. It is thought proper that there should be, at the centre of the State, a publication suited to the awakened spirit of enquiry, on this great subiect. While the main object of the paper will be the diffusion of Agricultural knowledge, other topics of general interest in News, Science, Literature, &c. will not be neglected. The promised aid of many of our most distinguished men, will contribute to its interest and usefulness. Politics will be excluded, that the labors of the Editor may be acceptable to all. The Carolina Planter will be edited by R. W. Gibbes, M. D., and published by A. S. Johnston, every week, at 02 50 per annum. It will be neatly printed, on an imperial sheet in quarto shape. The first number will be issued early in January. Columbia, Dec. 4 WANTED. AS an apprentice to the Printing Busipess, a youth from 14 to 15 vears of age. Dec. 81. REPORT Of the Special Joint Committee on the Petitions, Memorials, and Presentments of Grand Juries, concerning the License Law, the Retail System, and other measures, with a view to prevent the use of Spirituous Liquors, and to advance the cause of Temperance. The Special Joint Committee to which was referred various Petitions, Memorials and Presentments of Grand Juries, asking for Legislation on the Licence Law, the present Retail System, and other m )asures, with a view to prevent the use Spirituous Liquors, and advance the cause of Temperance, have had the same under consideration, and ask to submit the following REPORT. Temperance, and with it the suggestions for abolishing the use of spiritu ous liquors, have occupied much of the attention of some of the states of this Union. Various measures have been attempted to consummate an end, which your committee are free to admit, is worthy of the most eminent regard, and deserving of the the highest success. The most mature deliberation has nevertheless convinced your committee, that any ' prohibitory legislation upon this subject, at this time, is not advisable. Public sentiment in this state has always operated and will always operate as a powerful corrective of an evil, like that complained of. The influence which is derived from example, an influence daily forcing its way in the dissemination of an improving public on this subject, must, in the opinion of your committee, be attended with the most important and happy consequences. If at this time, legislation were attempted, your committee cannot but believe, that a spirit of party feeling would be created, infinitely more wholesome than the evil which it is now proposed to correct. D.fferenees in opinion have by the attempts which have been made at similar legislation in other states, has been engendered and are now marked by a feeling of the most violent airmosity. The inevitable result of this, must be in all these States, to retard the improvements so much desired. Your committee consider that legislation, is only powerful, & it is added only useful, when it recommends itself to the affections of the people for whom it. is made. And can only obtain a sure guarantee for the observance of its enactments when it inhibits no indulgence and interferes not with private murals? save upon a necessity commanding general consent.? | It docs not appear to your committee that legislation, such as is desired, is of this j kind. That experience is most valuable, which is derived from the practical opera tion of similar systems in other countries; and your committee cannot but consider j that system, as offering littte to admire, and nothing to imitate, which produces the most bitter differences, and invokes the j most distempered and uncontrolled pas| sion. Such have been the results developed to your committee by proliibitory enactments against the use of spirituous i liquors in several of the states of this Uj nion. It Ls true that the failure of an cx! perimcnt at one time or in one place, is of I itself, no just ground of refusing an oppor: tunitv for another, and possibly more successful effort. To your committee, howe; vcr, the attainment of the end desired has j appeared almost impossible?the means j proposed wholly impracticable. Whether the enactment of laws such as have ; been proposed, could effect the consequences anticipated, has appeared to your comi mittec exceedingly doubtful. While before an ascertainment of the success of the atterr.pt, you must jeopardize the peace and quiet of the people of this state, and excite the same angry feelings which have at times, swept over and convulsed every portion of our state. Your committee are confidently of the opinion that by any imprudent legislation at this time, the cause of Temperance would lose much of the vantage ground it now possesses. The habitual indulgence in scenes of debauchery, and excesses which were formerly regarded as matters for commendation, have now with us, sunk into comparative disuse. The use of intoxicating liquors among the rich, as well as the poor, has been much diminished, and this change is chiefly to be attributed to the influence of an improving public opinion. It is the evidence of a state of a state of society, in which the relics of more barborous clays, are fast falling into desuetude, and affords the most flattering earnest, that the reform so much desired will in time, become not the principle of a party, but incorporated into the constitution of society. The observation and reflection of all must satisfy them, that the substiution of penal provisions for the conviction of individuals, when both are tending to the same end, must always be productive of serious cpitsecyieflcss, " To forestall public ojnn ion on a subject like this, is frequently t change it to an antagonist, and in it crea' a c iunteracting influence seldom to be c? trolled, and which may be for years n<? and wild without the possibility of corrcc- ; tion. The history of the attempts which 1 have been made to correct this evil in oth- I er communities, will most fully support the I correctness of these views. Your committee, in the examination I which they Have made concerning the pro- < pricty of any legislation, have referred with 1 some eagerness, to the effect of the regu- 1 lations which in Great Britain have been i adopted to suppress the use of spirituous i liquors. In England, in the year 1736, l ministers from their pulpits, and grand ju- i ries in their presentments, denounced the < use of ardent spirits. The most severe t measures were enacted for the suppres- i sion of this evil. Ingenuity seems to have t been taxed to furnish means for the detec- s tion and punishment of the offender. But i instead of suppressing, they had an effect directly the reverse. The law, it is said, 1 " became odious and contemptible, and s policy and humanity forced the commis- t sioners of excise to mitigate its penalties." ; < At the very lime when the most severe j measures were adopted for the suppres- ] sion of this vice, upwards of seven mil- i lions of gallons were consumed annually, i At length the folly of the attempt display- 1 ed itself so plainly, that no one could long- < er doubt. In 1742, the law was repeal- j ed, and the conviction, which has forced s itself upon the minds of all, who have ? calmly and del'berately examined the i question is, that it is impossible to repress s the evil by prohibitory enactments. The attempt has been productive of more ijiju- t nr tlion /*rviilsl rtnacihli; rncult f*rnm tlto cnln I 1 y II1CU1 Vy?'UlU J/VJOiUiJ X V* JXJLl L llVill liiv |9U1V V of ardent spirits. ; It is not however to England alone that < that the investigation is to be confined.? < In Ireland, similar legislation produced, it is said, more than the horrors of civilized < warfare, and in Scotland, the effects were < scarcely less disastrous. In the United I States the same consequences have result- I ed. In whatever of the states prohibitory i enactments have been made against the i consumption of spirituous liquors, cva- ] sions of the law, the most disgraceful and 1 pernicious to the morals of the people 1 have resulted, or popular discontent has I erected itself into antagonist faction. A | contest, ensues between fanatical reform- I ers, and those who in their opposition will i lend themselves to the wildest anarchy.? ] In a matter where such consequences have i resulted,and may again result, it is the sug- i gcstionol wisdom and patriotisin to pause i and reflect. If we enter upon a system i of legislation now new to us, but long since tried and condemned, as ineffectual I in other countries, the sin of the consc- i quences must fall surely on all who urge I its adoption. There is no reason why the < consequences which have resulted in other communities should not befall us. And I if by a perseverencc in such measures, we < should introduce an habitual disregard of < law?make perjury common, ana cause s the citizen who is now an example, to be- I come, from violent opposition to such mea- 1 sures, the ally of the lowest; if we excite i tlio naci'inn^ rO all tr, a rlmvrnrt at vtrhir*h 1 IUO J/wooiv?ijisj VI Wll IV (A VVq* VVJ Ut ?? ltiv?l I they will lose sight of the distinctions of < right and wrong; we may boast of having < prohibited the use of spirituous liquors, 1 but we shall long deplore the blight which i such a reform would produce. Your committee have not been able to < concur in opinion with those who advo- < catc a repeal of the license laws. The li- i cense tax is not a tax legalizing that which I is intrinsically unlawful. It might with as s much propriety be said that labor is for- 1 bidden, because the laborer furnishes to the Treasury, a portion of his labor in the t <tax he pays. The tax on spirituous li- < quors may be comparatively higher, be- < cause it is a tax on what is considered a i luxury. It supports therefore a higher i tax than any other articles, which are cs- ] sential: and on which consequently the < price of enjoyment or use as the rate of i taxation is much reduced. It docs not < seem to your committee, that the present license laws are obnoxious to the charge : ,uf absurdity, or to the still more serious charge of legalizing that which is criminal. It has been urged to your committee, that they should recommend the passage i ; of a law, prohibiting the sale of liquors in i ! any quantity less than three gallons. But : lit has seemed to them that anvlegislation I of this kind, would be necessarily of the > 1 most invidious kind. The only cft'ect of I the law would be to prohibit those, whose ' means would not admit of costly indul- i gencc. No law should be made, which < denies to the poor, what is not denied to ] the rich. Such laws when made, either i induce evasions, which invest them with I ridicule and contempt; or if enforced, a- I wake a spirit of opposition, based upon the artificial distinctions in societh which wealth creates. There is no element of our political society, which tolerates such 3 WQCU9& We aerate tiw lav would be, that he whose fortune would >w him to be the purchaser of the qu. ty limited by law, would gratify his ! sire; while he would be debarred of >.! srmc enjoyment, whose fortune rcfu- -. liim a like expenditure. Whatever mig!. :)e the intention of the Legislature, the m feet of the law in the mind of him wh was deprived, would be, that a penalty had been fixed, not upon the commission of a crime, but upon his poverty. That such would be the opinion which a law of this kind, would induce, your committee are uot allowed to doubt, and they cannot but -egard it as an unanswerable argument :o the legislation proposed. Degrading as may be the indulgence, in the use of arient spirits; fraught as the history of In:emperance may be, with the heart rendng, and desolating evidence of a beastiali:y the most revolting awful; and impresjive as may be the lesson, conveyed to us, n a home abandoned; a family beggaecd ?the man himself, a blasted monument of lis wickedness and his guilt?these are far short of the dreadful excesses, which exend themselves to every member of a community, in a contest arising from a ealousy arising from the distinctions and arivileges of a favored class. True, such esults may not follow with us. Yet, widish their occurrence. What princtplc of ellgion, morality 01 government, calls up)n us tu work a fearful experiment on the xiace and happiness of our State? Why IlfA <Mll\lloll O 1 ti\ tllA .?m o Miuuiia vrii puiyuau a iu iuc u^uiapgue, to revel in that disorganization, wliich attends every contest between classes in a community. Your committee are of the opinion that ;he exercise of the powers now vested in ;hd* Commissioners of Roads and Bridges, ind other bodies possessed under the acts i ">f this Legislature, may be made by a ju-1 iicious exercise, productive of great good, rhe power of granting or withholding licenses in proper cases may be made productive of the greatest benefit, not only t i | those communities where a reform is most j loudly called fir, but in all where a change is deemed necessary: and from the infor-1 JldUUH WHICH I103 UUCH UUiillllUlllLaiUU iw your committee, they have no doubt but Lhcse boards can and will do much to advance the cause which has excited an inteterest so deep and general. In different parts of the state, these boards or bodies by law invested with similar powers have made a most judicious use of their authority in limiting the number of licenses, and in the character of the applicant; guarding the interest of the country they have in chnrge, these powers if administered in a proper spirit, cannot fail in doing good. The nature of their authority, removes them from all improper apprehension, and makes them emphatically, in this regard, the trustees of the happiness and comfort of their respective communities. Your committee have also, determined to advise the repeal of the regulation now existing in regard to suttlers. The mode of appointment, and the appointment itself, your committee regard as alike objcc[ionoKIo Tn<? limn nnrl in which the suttler exercises his privileges, is alike injurious and useless. The muster ground is not intended as a place of disorder and dissipation; but an occasion in which the citizen is emphatically reminded of the high duties which devolve upon him as a member of a free republic. The duties which he is there required to perf jrm are 3f the greatest importance to the welfare :>f his country; and he can never repair to; it with the feelings or ability to do that duty properly, if the responsibility which should be present to him, is forgotten in the anticipation of gross indulgence. Your committee would also recommend that the penalty for retailing witho t a li- j cense be increased. There can be no; doubt but the retailer in many cases spec-! nlates upon the chances 01 detection ana ascertains that his escape for a certain period, will make him a considerable gainer, even if detection and punishment would ultimately ensue. Such practices arc not only frauds upon the state, but unless prevented by provisions, inflicting heavy penalties, are wrongs to the honest dealer, who has obeyed the requisitions of the law, and paid for the privileges of his license. The number and respectability of the mamnoi-ilicti! oiirl thr> mn\ With wllll'll tl)(> subject has been pressed, demanded, and has received from your committee, iheir fixed and deep attention, Entertaining a like desire with the memorialists, that if it were possible, some amendment may be made, in that which is at times, the source of individual and social distress, of the deepest die, they have yet felt themselves unable to report that any effectual aid could be afforded to the cause of Temperance, by legislation at this time. Your committee repeat the belief already expressed, that there has been grca' enlightenment of public opinion on this subject. The scenes which formerly shocked with their frequency ^ atrocity, ^rc tow of limited occurrence; and public -nion has already applied the corrective. } eipifation in moral reform, is peculiarhingerous, and correction and coercion . nost universally delay the end desired. Whenever public opinion refuses its sanconn to a law. its violation receives approbation instead of punishment. Your committee believe, and with confidence assert, that the same means which have already produced this improvement, will, if steadily persevered in, accomplish its great triumph. The advocates of a [ ref irm of this or any other abuse, should I nut expect that the fruits of their labor will be immediately developed. If partial and progressive amendments attest the growing influence of the doctrine they teach, there is uo reason to complain of the slow march of improvement. The change desired, is a new habit of society, and to make it tolerable, it must gradually be accommodated to those, f >r whom it is intended. In no other way would it possess the least guarantee for successful continuance. Your committee in discharging the du- ; ty which has b en assigned to them, have not been insensible to the interest which is felt in the result of their deliberations.? They have endeavored to discharge their duty, with the most earnest desire to secure the quiet, and promote the happiness, of the people of this state. In conclusion, your committee submit: 1. A Bill concerning the Estates of Habitual Drunkards. 2. A Bill to amend the law in relation to retailing spirituous liquors without a license. 3. A Bill to repeal the 10th section of an Act passed on the 19th day of December, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and sixteen. And the following Resolution: TJiat in ttir> Anininn nf this A IlUk AAA l>UV W? Vl*w Legislature, according to the existing laws the Commissioners of Roads and Bridges, or other bodies inve rted with like'power, have the power to graut or refuse licenses, as they may deem expedient. Respectfully submitted. A. G. MAGRATH, Ch'n. Committee House of Representatives. .Reasonable Complaint.?The only prisoner in Nantucket Jail has given the Sheriff notice that unless the pr'son is reI paired so as to guard him from the inclemency of the weather, he cannot remain much longer. Memory,?It is strange?perhaps the strangest of all the mind's intricacies?the sudden, the instantaneous mannerin which - momrvw Ktr n oinepln nrrnol oocto urirln ui^iiiuijy ijj a OI^UUJ vcww ??xxaw mu door of one of those dark store-houses in : which long passed events have been shut ! up for years. That signal, be it a look, a tone, an odor, a single sentence, is the cabafstic word of the Arabian talc, at the potent inag-c which the door of the cave of the Robber of forget fulness, is cast suddenly wide, and all the treasures that he had I concealed displayed.?James. A watch has 'been presented to the A: cademy of Science at Paris, constructed j of very curious materia', the parts being farmed principally of rock crystal. It was : made by M. Robeilier, and is small in size. The internal works are visible; the two i teethed wheels which carry the hands are ' rock crystal, the other wheels are of metal i to prevent accdents from the breaking of 1 springs. All the screws are fixed in crysi tal, and a'l the axles turn on rubies. The ! escapement is of sapphire, the balance wheel of rock crystal, and its springs of gold. The regularity of this watch as a time keeper, is attributed by the maker to the feeble expansion of rock crpstalon the balance wheel, &c. The execution of the ' whole shows to what a state of perfection the art of cutting precious stones has been carried in modern times. A Quaker's Letter.?Friend John, I desire thee to be ? o kind as to go to one of those sinful men in the flesh, called, attorneys, and let him take out an instrument with a seal thereunto, by means whereof he mav seize the outward tabernacle of George Green, and bring him before the Iamb-skin men at V/pstininster, and teach him *o do as he would be done by. Thy friend, 11. G. Pleasant Places,?On the coa*t of Peru, never falls, but in the vvi. y of Maynas, on the other s;do -S -iVr hllva. the rain never ceases; an i ^ . vt.-i u . be visited by a thundci s: >rrn every Jay in the year. Umbrellas and lightning rods sh u'd brng a good pri -e in that "happy valley," \vh:!e professor Espy might make a f >rtuno by supplying the coast with rain. -mmmW* neatly execut d ATTiusomcr.