The Columbian fountain., 1846-10-22
{, Bnsinfss anS @emrral intelligence.
Rev. J. I. WARD. AssistanlEditor.
,I:'' PRICE ONE CENT.

from all the deplorable consequences attend
ant upon the use Of sprituous liquors, was
withheld from us. Now, all we a.k is,
that the question may be submitted to the
decree Of the good people ofthis city, whe-
ther licenses shall be any longer granted in
this city TO authorize men TO carry on
calling, the direct tendency and necessary
consequences Of which are 10 ruin the
health, and degrade the morals Of the COM
munity. But strange as il may appear, yet
nevertheless il is true, that objections are
raised that the act is unconstitutional -
What unconstitutional TO suppress an evil
which has caused more misery TO the hun an
race than all the other evils which humanity
is heir TO
Unconstitutional to pass restraint Of a
practice which throngs your alms-houses
with paupers and your state prisons with
criminals Can nothing be done TO pre-
vent crime' Must the hand Of the Legis-
lature be stayed in plncking, as brands from
the burning, the rising youth of the coun-
\ try, and fathers and husbands, from sinking
into an early grave and saving widowed
mothers and orphan children from sorrow
ing through the world Is it unconstitu-
tional for the government to exercise pa
ternal care over The community, and TO re-
strain their children in the career Of destruc-,
ton OF all absurd constitutional ques-
tions, consider this the most absurd -,
And yet this is the only objection which
any reputable man has the eff onlery to
raise TO the effectual suppression Of such an
evil Yes, fellow-citizens, the glorious
cause of temperance, which has done more
towards redeeming man, eleya.ing human,
nature, and advancing the happiness Of the )
world, than anything else since Christian-
ty dawned upon it, is In this, the metropolis
ofthe western world, in its crowhing effort,
brought TO stand. But do trust that
there is a moral sense in this community
which will not rest quiet under an order
of things like this--that the government Of
this state will be made to realize that thi.
/, city is not SO much Of Sodom as this ex-
empiion seems to imply This law is now
in full operation in other parts Of this great
state, and is shedding its blessings far and
wide and do hope and trust that it will
j be ever firmly and resolutely upheld that
the people will not only withdraw their
confidence, but frown Indignantly upon
every man who dares to raise his voice
against it; that willy politicians viii be made
to realize that such measures will not ad-
vance their popularity with virtuous and
independent people; that the road TO ruin
is not the road to popularity
Rev. John Chambers, Of Philadelphia,
j was then introduced, and on coming for
ward, was greeted with much applause
He spoke for nearly an hour in his usual
bold, pointed and convincing strain of ar
gument, intermingled with soul-stirring and
deeply impressive appeals. He asked
Why are the people assembled here to-day
in multitudes Why are the citizens OF
New York gathered together in the great
emporium of this western word, beneath
those stars and stripes, and that portrait of
the immortal Washington which floats be-
fore my eyes9
Are they here to discuss important prin-
ciples of commerce., To determine great
questions Of international law? Never
were the people for more important pur-
pose; for a purpose more identified with
all the dearest inteist and prosperity Of our
nation at large--to rescue themselves from
the most abhorent, the most damning curse
which ever rested on GODS lair world, -
the traffic in intoxicating drinks. Suppose
you were TO enquire Of all the inhabitants
of this mighty city, from the Mayor down
to the humblest citizen, from the Judge on
the bench down to the most abject and de-
graded outcast, what physical, what moral,
what political or social good, what good Of
any kind, has ever accrued to the city Of
New York, from the traffic in, or use of,
intoxicating beverages? What could they
sayo
ITO be coninued)