Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-05-31

II has been 90 considered from the first. MIR.
Goodill then alluded to DR.. Cathcarts argu'
ments. and asserted them to be untenahle lie
said that the friends of temperance expected the
Convention 10 raise the standard Of moral ex.
cellence. and not to lower it.
Mr.. eastman Of Pa. thought the traffic NOR
al evil, and moral wrong. Whatever Is pro-
ductiye Of evil is contrary to the will OF the Dene
volent Creator, and therefore morally wrong. lie
was of opinion that there were not i've people 10
the house, who did not in their hearts agree VIII"
him. The Convention, it is true' nao po' co"e
to lesisate, but it had come to express ,.s op'"'
and should do so, whatever might DC 'ne .o"
ouence. Members should declare 10 Tue worn
what they really feel; and II they no no'' VIZ
fail in their duty. As tor h!mse, pe .J" in
the advocating OF the reso'uuoi' -
moral obligation. NJ .,,u.,.oI anu
:, Tho room TO prove the moderate use OF ar
80 sn;r;ts immoral. Gentlemen cannot do IT,
Ws ',h;ected to the resolution, however, on the
score Of expediency chiefly. In the county next
his own, the yearly income from spirits alone Is
five millions. In that section Of the country 1t
,.onld mot do to run against popular prejudIces,
| and use harsh denuncistions He thought Quito
nc daring, horrid crime, without even the pour
eycuse Of drunkenness for Justification, yel "h"
could call it immoral7 The resolution might an
sver in New England, but it will not do IN fenh'
sylvania.
The Convention was not representative oo"y;
on the contrary, the people look az II WIN Jea' :
ousy, because it is self.conslituted. IL Is not
legislative BODY, and has no right to a,temp! to
IesL ouhlic sentiment. II was not safe IN the
attemp,. for the aggregate public opinion IS not
| 9Th the Convention. Their business Is to con-
firm. strengthen, and encourage public opinion;
10 show facts, not to express opinlons TO suggest
modes for destroying the causes OF 'nte'nPerahce'
not to throw out violent epithets.
Mr.. Harrison GRAY, OF Boston, withdre" ms
amendment. AZ it had not answered his purpose
by preventing discussion, aud producing narmo'
nv. The resolution then stood as reported from
The Committee, that g the traffic in ardent splr'
;ts az drink, and the use of it, are morally
WRONG: and that they should be abandoned
throughout the world"
| MIR Evans, Of N Y. thought it strange that
the Convention should hesitate in pron"uncing.
The various state societies have long since gope
as far II not further than the resolution before he
house. If physical evils are moral evils, an" ne
could not separate them, then is the tratnc mWo'
raj. He trembled for the event OF the discussion
for the reputation of the Conventions; he would be
ashamed, aud blush to return to ms constituents
if the resolution should fail. He feared that
tho Convention was deficient in moral courage.
Mr.. Wood, of Albany, was willing to go any
length, with any gentleman, Tor the cause; anu
Inc did declare himself astonished at the turn Of
the debate. He considered whatever detracted
from the general happiness to be morally wrong
and that moral right contained the essence Of the
conservative principle. If it is morally right Ia
, poison neishbor's we'll, then he was willing tt
, confess it morally right to traffic in and drink
ardent spirits. He thought it impplitic in the ii
nal result, to trim to the breczes OF expectancy
HEWITT 81 tSoa s nd %aSsui f3 haV,
never met. His first temperance sermon turned
him from his pulpit, and he was wandeIer On
ill the truth began to prevail. Reformers are not
f, for their Offices, If they bow to expediency.
The men of the revoIution-the Patrick Henry's,
the Washinstons. the Hampdens the Sydneys,
have left no such examples to men, who are anX
ious II benefit their fellows. He was panied to
think that the Convention should be ashamed or
afraid to declare its opinions. -The eyes Of the
world we're upon them.
I Mr. Bryce confessed himself between Scylla
and Charybdis, and wanted the Convention to
extricate him from the difficulty; otherwise, he
would be obliged to abandon the cause. The re.
lg,ous men Of the Convention declared intern
perance not religiuusly wrong; the moral men
declared it not morally wrong. the legal men said
It was not legally wrong II then he was com
pelled to the conclusion that it was not wrong at
all, he would 90 home, and waste his time no
longer about it, tie hoped the Convention would
release him from his perpexItes, and tell him
the difference In this matter between right and
wrong.
Mr.. Wilkinson, of New York, cited an anec.
dote on the present doub.. which might be bene-
fetal to the venerable divine opposed TO him -
In a village opposite West Point, there is large
mandatory, ard near it a large grocery store,
which drove profitable trade by vending up.
wards of six hundred and thirty small glasses OF
grog daily. The clergyman Of the village was
temperance man, not Of The expedlenry class
In spite of gbes and jeers, he preached total ab-
stinence for two years without gaining convert
At length he enlisted nine men under his banner.
and in less than two months, the sales Of the gro
cery store were reduced to thirty small glasses
per diem Those who still drank stole to the
counter, and were nicknamed "tangIe legs" by
tI,., If no