New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-10-30
Address OF The state Temperance Convention
10 the People.

To The People.
Public attention for many years past has been
earnestly directed to the ravages OF intemperance.
The agency Of that vice ia bringing degradation,
disease, and death 20 individuals-desoatiOn and
wo to the domestic hearth-in multiplying poverty,
insanity and crime ia the social communicated IN
b hting the character happiness and prosperity OF
the country, has been clearly traced and distinctly
pointed out BY the untiring efforts OF the wise ana
good. the origin progress b1urse and influence Of
examination; the multiplied evils il works laid bare
to the public gaze and the necessity Of complete,
speedy and eiiectual reform. pressed with all the
energy Of sisess truth. A startling array OF fear
fa facts has forced conviction upon the hearts and
conscenccs Of men, until all are compelled TO admit
the existence of the evil aud the necessity Of re-
form Yes al, even those whose convictions are
not strong enough to prompt them to active effort,
or 10 forcgo personal Indulgence yea down 20 the
drunkard in his cups unite IN proclaiming that the
progress of iniemperance must be arrested. W c
have the whole philosophy OF the case practically
demonstrated, beyond the possibility OF doubt
the origin. the temptation the danger, the effects
and the remedy A casual indulgence, thoughtess-
~ repeated creates a vitiaed appetite which often
gratiiied becomes Unsuitable in its cravings oppor
tunles frequent; resolution Is weak, and the
individual becomes degraded and lost The sole
remedy is total abstinence from all that can lnoxi-
ca,e-a remedy effective at whatever point of the
career it is applied Efectua as preventive and
eiectua as a cure. The officially of its application
consists in the ignorance of danger in the early and
in the weakness of resolution to conquer appetite in
the later stages Of this ruinous course.
The customs Of the country which tolerate the
use of alcoholic drinks at the social board, and 10
the domestic circle, do much 10 create this appetite
the facilities for obtaining ardent spirits at taverns
and groceries being many temptations TO indulge
constantly before and around us. strengthen the
power of the appetite before excited. and iasten the
chains OF such habits As long these customs ex-
is, and these opportunities for qualification so sur
round US, scarcely shall the thoughiless and self
confident fail TO be ensnared and with much greater
difficulty shall he retrace his steps and refrain from
Indulgence amid the constant temptations TO which
he Is exposed.
A reform 10 be thorough and complete. must
reach jail these OF vicious habits sweep away
these social customs. and remove these temptations
to 'ulgence. This saluiary reform cannot be ell
ciendy wrought ont except through public opinion,
induced upon deliberate judgment of the case, TO
make its expression so emphatic and authoritative as
to admit Of no resistance.
\ great obstacle in the way of a thorough reform,
consists in the facilities of procuring intoxicating
drinks, by It's very common exposure for sale IN
small quantities.
The excise laws Of this State seem to recognise
the fact that such sale of alcoholic liquor is injurious
aud demoralizing inasmuch rs II Is prohibited by
severe penalties While iorbiading this traffic, the
Law, however gives power 10 certain discreet public
officers called Boards of Excise, TO tolerate II by
special license in certain cases-Of the propriety
of which the Boards are made the sole judges We
think. in point of fact, that the Boards OF Excise
have gone far beyond the spirit of the law in the
number of licenses they have allowed, and the hrte
regard paid to the personal character of the licensed
But this. if an abuse, is sanctioned by long prac
icc that il is difficult TO reform II, under the laws
which have given occasion for II. One thing. at
least, j. quite cear-that much OF the ntemPerance
Of the country, and much OF the multiplied evil
which it works, is distinctly traceable to tile numer
Gus taverns and groceries so Unfortunately IL
censed by these Boards OF Excise. 1t is equally
clear that if these springs of vicious habits and des
oletng evil could be stopped. tie polluted streams
which flow from them would be dried up and the
eye be gladdcncd with the moral verdure which
woald beauty their unsecmly wastes. In TINS
country it Is the people themselves who must deter
mine whether the smiling meadows shall take the
place OF these moral wastes. or whether they will
still tolerate the existence of these quagmires and
Misunderstanding the moral sense with reekng
exhalaiions-iainting the moral atmosphere with
their pervading poison-and desolating the iairesi
portion Of our cherished heritage
The Boards OF Excise, 1t is true, have 10 power
10 refrain wholly from granting any licenses, and
there is no tribunal which can control their deci-
ion Dr the practice Of granting licenses almost IN
almos, &C arbitrary exercise OF power FOR them
to refuse. Boards of Excise might properly hest
tate in the exercise Of such power. without clear
evidence that II was desired by majority OF the
people. This evidence il i difficult TO obtain IN
satisfactory mode. Members Of such Boards might
indeed be elected with special reference to such ob
jecis but there is always room 10 say that other OBJ
iecis, motives and purposes were influential IN such
elections and in most cases il is, In fact diihcu tc
determine satisfactorily that the result was pro-
duced for a single obec; and with a single motive.
The most satisfactory evidence OF popular opinion
upon this subject, is by direct vote upon the alb
s,raci question unconnecied with any thing that can
cause the least doubt 10 the question embodied II
the result Ii is u subject which, more than any
other. affects the people themselves directly, as IN
dviduals-in their social and domestic reauions-a'
members of organized communities. 1t affect;
Their property by the taxation il induces their hu
mainly by the woes il infcis and their aggregate
character for peace, order and sobriety. Upon them
should be thrown the responsibility of giving ex
preston TO their will, in manner so decided as Il
admit o! no doubt with provision 10 carry thai