Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-01-17
MEETING AT THE CA
PITOL.


Friday night last. The evening was unusually
serene and pleasant; and, as Congress had libe-
rally voted the Hall, and the character OF the
speakers was peculiarly inviting, brilliant and
full assembly was early convened. All the seats
in the centre of the hall were occupied by ladies';
and. before the hour of seven the lobbes, gale
ry and passages were filled with dense body OF
gentlemen.
The meeting was called to order by the hon.
Lewis Condct, member of Congress from the
State of New Jersey; who moved, that the hon.
Lewis Cass, Secretary Of War, be invited to
take the chair.
The hon. John Blair, member Of Congress from
the State of Tennessee. then moved, that wal
ter Lowrie Esq. Secretary of the Senate, be ap-
pointed Secretary of the meeting.
The meeting being organized. the throne OF
grace was addressed by the Rev. Mr.. Post, Chap
lain to the House of Representatives.
In brief manner, the Rev. John Marsh OF
Connecticut, stated the object OF the meeting;
which was the promotion of the cause OF Tenn
perance in the United States and throughout the
world; and offered the following resolution:
Resotred, That as our government and the ha-
bits of the People are peculiarly controlled by
public opinion, the free discussion OF existing
evils and their remedies isdemanded of us; and
that The attention of this meeting wisely called,
at the present time, to the desOlations of Intern
perance and to their check by the great work OF
reform which is now blessing the World
The hon. Felix Grundy, United States Senator
from the State of Tennessee, next introduced the
following resolutions:
Resolped. Tha, as the prevalence of ntempe.
nol afHi all
orders of Society, men of all parties and pur-
suits are called upon to unite 10 its suppression,
by the only effectua means. entire abstinence from
all spirituous liquor, as drink for refresnment
or an auxiliary IN labor. Mr.. Grundy supported
his resolution in an able speech OF about twenty
five minutes. He said, it had been the result of
his experience as an advocate for 80 years, that
three-fourths of the crime of the country arose
from Intemperance; that it was tie duty of the
patriot statesman and christian, to come up to the
aid of this cause, that next to the ministers OF
the altar, those who occupy the high stations in
society should step forth to its support; that to
those who objected TO Temperance societies he
would say. in union is strength; certainly in po-
litical matters we all acknowledge, and why not
in this cause? Mr.. q SAID, he would appeal to
Americans as such; their pride Of country was
fattered by the success OF an American inven.
ton; It was followed on the other side Of the At
lantic, and BY IT We repay our obligation for Eu-
ropean, especlaly, English literature. Mr.. q.
said. on this subject he preached only what he
practised; and he would say to the friends of the
Tempe rance reformation. that if they would be
consistent, be kept themselves from evil. and
gain to their cause the laboring class of the
community. they must abstain from wine, as well
as other spirituous liquors.
The Hon. Theodore Frelinghuysen, member of
the Senate. from the State of New Jersey fol-
lowed Mr.. Grundy with the following resolutions:
Resolred, That the success which has attend
ed the efforts Of the friends of Temperance. af-
fords matter for public gratitude, and should lead
US to cherish the principles that have. under the
. i,ine blessing. produred such decided and ex-
tensive reformation. rrOpitlous alike to the hopes
of piety and patriotism. In his usually mild and
felcious manner, Mr.. F. took view Of the rise
OF the Temperance reformation. growing out OF
the awful crisis to which we hal arrived; OF the
smiles of Heaven upon it. aud the extensive
hold it had and ought to have upon the sympa-
thes Of all who love their country and their race.
He powerfully advocated the pledge to entire alb.
srinence, abiding, in most thrilling manner to
those who once pledged "their lives, their for.
tunes. and their sacred honor" that thev would
De Tree. he portrayed 'ne uiesseu 'hHuenCe
which the Congress of these United States would
have in coming up in body to the great work of
resistance to that debasing tyranny to which we
had been yielding. and handing down the inffu-
ence Of their opinions and examples through the
great body nf their constituents to the remotest
border Of our happy republic; and in conclusion,
come down with rare tenderness and power up
on all temperate drinkers, the men who are now
alone hntlerins The work of reform. and en-
tering themselves into the path of ruin.
The don. Mr.. Bates, member Of Congress
from Massachusetts,, further sustained the resoIu-
ton of Mr.. Frelinghuysen. He said, that this
subject was free from objections which attach to
may others; here'vould be no sectarian or terri
torial jealousies; no tax was laid on any mans
dew falls on our own fields and
flowers. All the elements, said Mr.. b. could not
produce such devastation as Intemperance. He
felt his compassion and sympathy deeply excited
for fixed drunkards They we're like the priest
of Apollo Qaocoon) crushed in the folds of the
monster, and expiring in agony-he would push
the figure father, for not unfrequently, all his
sons ner;sh with him. The cause, said he de-