Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-03-28

~ - -~'Saes VI "t0hta4aJ evenings
areh 2'rd. MIR VIM. Ran ny was called to pre-
de, AMI Mr. Geo. Il. Peakt to act as Secretary.
On motion OF the Secretary, a resolution was
dopled, declaring 1t proper TO form a State Tot al
osunenee Society; and, upon motion, a COMMITTEES
hve was appointed TO dtaft and present TO a
meeting 10 be held at tho same place the follown g
venlug, Constitution for said Society.
Mr. L nj Mcllhaney then rose and addressed tho
oeety upon the general subject in a forcLlo STYLE
pr lew minutes, and the meeting adjourned.
IHvhsDAr EVENING, March 2ilh.
An adjourned meeting was held, when the com
nttec, through their Chairman Major Geo. T..
Roberts presented a Constitution which had re-
eved the sanction Of n Majority of the committee,
nd was submitted for adoption. MIR MeIlhaney,
the request Of many friends. delivered his views
large upon the subject Of State organic ton at
his particular time, showing most clearly the great
Importance OF such step. and having ut once
competent agent in the field; after which, the fol-
owing was adopted as tho
CONSTITUTION OF THE VIRGINIA
,TATE TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETY.
PREAMBLE.
Whereas, intemperancc is great evil, which has
spread poverty and misery, crime disease and death
Ike dark cloud, over our Land and Nation. in
Toving alike the physical. intellectual and moral
u,n oil us unhappy victims, annihilating domestic
eheity, sapprg the foundations Of social order and
Trying up the sources OF national wealth and great
TENDED the late energetic efforts of the friends of
Temperance, wherever local Societies have been
ormed; still the Tyrant stalks abroad, sowing the
eeds oil wretcnedness broadcast upon many fair
ields m our beloved Commonwealth, and no effort
ias yet been made TO stay hi, progress. And
whereas, we believe that, by the organization of an
etVe anu eihcient State Society, upon proper prin.
lples, mighty influence may be brought to bear
upon the subject, in addition to those already in
operation, We agree TO form ourselves into State
Temperance Society, to be governed by the follow.
ing
CONSTITUTION
AR. This Society shall be called the Viz
gina State Total Abstinence Society.
live disclnim any and all other objects save the
promotion Of Temperance, and consequently will
have no connection with any particular relig ious
denomination or political party, but invite the
cooperation Of all.
IlT.-The officers shall BEL President. Via
President, from each county, city and borough;
l Recording Secretary; I Corresponding So
ereisty; ! Treasurer; General Agent; and
m Executive Committee of 5-tosetber with a
Committee OF Vigilance in each County, SO soon
rs names can he procured for that purpose
IV.-Tho President, and one or more Of the Vice
Presidents, the Secretaries and Treasurer, and
~ Executive Committee. arc TO reside in Richmond.
V.-Ihe President and all the other officers, ,x.
eept the County Committees Of Vigilance to lie
elected at the annual meetings of the Society:
and H. at the annual meeting IN ,re should fail TO
be an election, then the board shall make the APP
pointus1t ~
IVl.-The President will preside At all meeting, of
the Society, sign oil orders upon the Treasurer,
and at the request OF any three OF the Executive
Committee, call special meetings of the Society,":
Out IN case OF his absence, or inability the fore
gong duties shall be performed by the Vice Pre-
sldent, highest in rank, who can be procured.
Fll.-Ihe Recording Secretary shall keep a record
OF the proceedings Of the Society, and n st of all
the members names in suitable Book, and
eountersign orders on the Treasurer.
VllI.-The Corresponding Secretary will omen n
correspondence with such persons and such So
eietes, as he may deem most likely TO commune
cate important information the subject of
Temperance, and conduc, the general CORES.
rondenee ofthe Society, and ut each meeting Of
the Board, lay before it all communications re-
ceved by him.
|lX.-The Treasurer shall take charge the funds
oil the Society, keep an account of the receipt.
ana expenditures, and present his accounts al
each quarterly meeting OF the officers of the So
Getty, provided for in article XII.
N.-Ihe General Agentshall travel into such parts
oil the State as his services appear TO be most
nseded' cali Temperance meetings, address III.
People, form local Societies, obtain members 10
the State Society, keep record of their names.
and furnish certificates Of MEMBERSHIP nominate
suitable persons for Committees of Vigilanc. in
each county, and IN all proper ways promote the
cause OF Temperance. He shall also send n
| quarterly report OF his proceedings 10 the CORES.
pondlng Secretary, who shall lay it before the
| Board. Wv
Nl.-lhe Executive Committee, with the two
Seeretarios, shall constitute "a Board of Bu.iness
any i've OF whom shall constitute n quorum
Nll.-The Board shall hold stated qEarieru rp,,t-
iHgs on the LIST SatuTda in January AprIl July
| and October, and hear he report OF tho Cores.
| pondlns Secretary, examine the accounts of the
treasurer, and pass upon all claims presented foi
their consideration, fix the compensation of such
persons ms receive remuneration Tor their services
nnd employ additional travelling agents wher
the means of the Society will allow il, and IN,
| interest OF The cause demands it; and when ba.
lance IS found in the Treasury, after meeting tn,
expenses OF the year. direct the mode of its ap-
plcaton TO promote the interest the cause and
report 10 the annual meeting.
Nlll.-The annual meeting shall be held on the
LIT Monday in January in each year.
NlV.-Any person may become 4 member OF thi.
Society by signing the pledge and paying to the
proper officer 81 annually, or may become q life
member by paying $40 at any one time.
XV.-1he local Societies may iecoue nuxilIiorv
To the State Society by sending list of their on
csrs 10 the Corresponding Secretary.
NNL-Thls constitution may altered bv the
Society at regular annual me citing il tho Exc
ouiVe Committee recommend such alteration
and publish such recomme ndntion for six
weeks next preceding said nur Ial meeting in the
Temperance paper or papers palroniEej by the
Society.
BYLAWS.
The Society also adopt the following By.I.aw,.
las the Corresponding Secretary and General
agent viii necessarily incur some considerable
expense annually for postage, they will keen
an account Of such, as arises entirely from their
Official duties Temperance Oficcls which viii
be allowed in settlement.
H-Whereas the duties OF TRAVELLING Aeon, will
REQUIRE very considerable oxcrtion Of mind md
body, and necessarily preclude the possibility of
attending 10 any other business, he shall be al
lowod a sufficient salary to cover his travelling
expenses, and unreasonable compensation for his
time
ill-ln order that the office OF General AGENT be
not made a sinocuro, II at the end Of the wear
snfhcient funds have not been collected Ia cover
nj least tho Agents own salaries, any balance
due them shall not DO considered a debt against
the Society.
iN.-ln order TO prevent either Religious or Poli-
teal prejudice from arising against the cause. no
Agen, shall speak in public on religious or DO
litical doctrines.
PLEDGE.
We do hereby solemhly pledge ourselves TO nJ-
staia from the use Of all intoxicating liquors as
beverage, or IN any way to Cause in,oxictton, and
TO use our influence IN all proper ways to abolish
tho practice Of moderate os well as immoI srot ,
drinking in Society.
The meeting proceeded forth with to the cleo
ton OF officers, 60 lar was necessary to petfcct
the organization for immediate action, when the
following individuals were chosen to act'ill the an
DUAL meeting on the first Of January next:
James G. Crane, Of Richmond P.esiden.
Dr. Francis II. Watkins do 1T Vice President.