Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-12-13

the Register:
On Wednesday, the 9TH inst, a bill for the
incorporation Of a Division of the Sons of
Temperance coming up, Mr.. Leach, of john
ston, moved to reject. Mr.. Dargan opposed
the motion in some eloquent remarks upon the
blessings ofthe Temperance Reform; and Mr..
Jones, OF Orange, advocated it, and expressed
ms opposition, from political considerations, to
any te9.stdt'on IN favor of such associations.
The House refused to reject.
On Thursday, the 5th, Mr.. Scott, from the
Committee on Private Bills, reported favora-
bly, upon the bill to incorporate the Grand Di-
vision OF the Sons of Temperance. The bill
was then put on its second reading, and pass
ed by a vote, of Ayes rs; Noes SO.
Those who uted in the negative were :
MesSrs, Joshua Barnes, Blow, B~razier, Bridg-
ers, Brogden, Clanton, Cockerham. Cotton,
Dickerson, Douthit, Durham, Flynt, Hill,
Jones, kallum, Al j. Leach, Locke, Marshall,
Martin, Mathis, Mclean, Patterson, L. Sanders
Sheek, Sherard, Sloan, Sutton, Swanner, Tay-
Tor, Thigpen, Waugh, Williams, Winstead.
Mr.. Scott, from the same Committee, repor-
ted fayorahly upon the bill to incorporate
Greensboro Division of the Sons of Temper
anec. The Ayes and Noes were demanded on
its passage the second reading, pending which
call, the House adjourned.
On Friday. the unfinished business of the
day before being in order, Mr.. Avery moved 10
lay the bill for the incorporation of the Green's
boFo' Division of the Sons Of Temperance on
the table which was lost ; and, on a call for
The ayes and noes on the second reading,
Mi. Jones' remarked that he intended 10 offer
no farther opposition TO the passage Of the bill,
except TO offer an amendment. He had heard
The oplniOns OF the House, and the bill needed
amendments. 1t gave as much power TO such
associations as the Legislature possessed, and
their powers were unlimited. He therefore Of
Tered as an amendment, to strike out the words
state or Federal" and insert 'slaws of the
State OF of the United States !" which was
adopted.
lie further proposed TO amend by adding a
section, that it shall be lawful for The General
Assembly to alter, modify, or repeal the act of
Incorporation, whenever il shall appear that the
powers granted have been OF may be transcen-
ded. Such a clause was usual.
Mr.. Steele said, that the example of other
States was Of no consequence to him. He ad.
mitied no such authority. The plain meaning
intended ID be conveyed by the precautions Of
the gentleman from Orange, was, that the Leg.
stature was afraid of the Order Of Sons Of Ten
Peranee- There was no man in the Order but
would scgrn a charter clUgged with such a
clause. Ifsueh were incorporated with the bill,
he would vote against it, himself. He did not
suppose that the gentleman himself had any
fears that the Order would vary from its le-
climate purposes. but others had. He (Mr.
Steele) protested to know something Of the Or
der. He was a member, himself, and was not
afraid to avow IL here or elsewhere. He had
no Tears that the Order would interfere in the
politics Of the country, and would ask The gen
ileman, whether as 4 private individual or a DO
lltlcal man he believed it could do moro mischief
with or without a charter. The sole object Of
an application for incorporation was to enable the
Order to hold the little property which it might
accumulate, and surely that accumulation could
never be very great The opposition might be
very patriotic /; but why weret the Sons often.
P~erance singled out for hostility, while ODD
elbows and Masons passed unquestioned. Tie
institution should be fostered, not opposed.
VI. Brogden said he had not designed
saying any thing, but the gentleman had coated
ms pill over 50 sweeily, that he thought some
might swallow it without reflection. He coule
not remain quiet while the gentleman talked
like,
"SOme ancient sage philosopher sr
Who had read Alexander Ross over
He objected to the institution, because il mivhI
Interfere with politics. Though small at nTes
ent, it might hold the balance Of power in cleo.
tons, and might fnTn their course. He haC
seen the power Of the Anti-renters in New YorI
to control that State, and many associations il
l0lh0F Males inetwafGooae =. -
that same power as was the case with the Son,
Of Temperance. He admired the Order in ii
proper sphere, bot thought it out Of place wlier
IL applied for Legislative aid. He could tel
the gentleman (Mr. s. the difference betweer
Ood Fellows and Masons and Sons of Temper
ance. The latter had already interfered in cleo
lions. II had interfered in the matter Of trea.
ing and had made that a test question in som,
counties. II had lnierfered nshis city in TIL
Municipal election. Was not this interference
lie was opposed to the Division on principle
Look at Rome, where crowds of friars, monks
and others, drones upon society, fatten on tn,
substance OF the people, and such was the resol
) oil all interpretations, TO enjoy some particuIa
: rights not granted to others. The principle wa
dangeroas, and he would vote against it.
! Mr.. y. W. Hayes said he was sorry to SCI
the question in the Legislature. Such an opuo
; slllon ought not to be made, but while an attacl
was made, he felt it his duty, as a member an,
E as a man, to defend II. The Order wss assail
ed without cause, 1t had no object but the re
formation of the drunkard. and interfered wit
the political or religious liberty of no man. H
denied thai 1t had ever been the aggresspr in Dc
c lItlcal warfare; on the contrary, it had been al
I tackled, and he himself was near retaining q
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