The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-03-05
MASS STATE
TEMPERANCE CONVENTION.
Rqsrlsi larlh. orgsn q Tsnp.rano. Rslorn
COLUMBUS, ONO,
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I AAAN~~~ ENN@N@
ton assembled in this city, at the City
Hall, at o'clock, A. M.
The meeting was called to order by
Gen. Cary, and the Throne Of Grace adj
dressed by the Rev. Mr.. James Prestley,
of Cincinnati.
The Convention was then temporarily
organized by electing Hon. Chapncey N.
0lds, of Picaway, President; and James
Parker and DR.. 7. T. Webb, of Hamil-
ton, Secretaries.
The following gentleman were ap-
pointed committee to nominate perma-
nent officers for the Convention E. M.
Gregory, Judge Orr, James Claypoole, ].
A. Foote, and VIM. L. King.
A committee of enrolment was APP
pointed by nominating one from each
county, as the counties were called
Mr.. Mmball, of Medina, moved that
the committee on enrolment report to
the Secretaries the number OF petitions
in the hands of delegates in attendance
on the Convention. Carried.
The chairman, from the committee on
officers. reported the following:
i PTesident-Hon. CHAUNcEY N. OLDs, of
Pickaway.
! Pice PreSidents-Mordecai Barley of
Richland, Judge Service of Clark, Ed
ward Wade of Cuyahoga, Judge T. Orr
of Ross, Jas. Parker of Hamilton, and
Isaac Dalton of Franklin.
SecretGrieS-Dr. J. T. Webb of Hamil-
ton, William Turner of Knox, and H. F..
Brayton of Cuyahoga
1reGsurer-Thos. Noodle of Franklin.
On motion, the reporters of the public
press were admitted 10 a seat in the Con-
vention.
The committee on Enrolment were
authorized to obtain return tickets for
the return of delegates, and furnish the
same.
On motion, the Revs. VIM. P. Strick-
land of Montgomery, and BENZ. St. James
Fry OF Scioto, were elected reporters of
the Convention.
Hon. CHAUNCEY NJ 0LDs, the President
of the Convention, being loudly called
for, arose and remarked, substantially, as
follows:
Gentlemen Of the Convention In res
ponding to this manifestation of your
generous confidence, in calling me to
act as your presiding officer, | cannot
forget for moment that we are met here
to deliberate upon subjects OF the gravest
import. There is no time for mere idle
ceremonies. With simple expression
of my thanks for the distinguished honor
you have so UNEXPECTEDLY conferred upon
me, must be permitted to call your
attention at once to the great questions
which are before us.
Our position to-day is one of solemn
responsibility. This is the first great
public manifestation ever made in our
state, in regard to those great moral,
social, and political interests that are con-
nected with the Temperance Reform.
This spontaneous flowing together of
large bodies of intelligent, high.minded
men, from all parts OF the stale, is mat
ter of deep significance.
We are here, not as the representa-
tives Of the people, but as the people
themselves, in the exercise of high con-
stitutional rights, assembling peaceably
to consult together in regard to our COM
mon interests, our common safety, and
to memOTialiZe our General Assembly,
the Representatives of the people. We
come here, not to ask for monopolies, for
chartered privileges, for the protection of
mere local or sectional, or selfish inter-
ests; but we ask for sobriety, for social
order, for domestic peace and prosperity,
for protection to the hearth-stones and the
hearts of two millions of free people,
We are here to ask for wholesome, eff
cient laws-to pledge ourselves that when
obtained, these laws shall be respected
and obeyed.
| have said our position to-day is one
of solemn responsibility. Why? Be-
cause, in all free governments, LAW is
but the index to public sentiment-the
concentration and embodiment of the
popular will. Here lies the true distinc-
ton between Absolutism and Freedom.
Despots publish their constitutions and
change their laws, prompted by the tickle
caprices that fit through single brain /;
and the people submit at the point of the
tayonet. But Republicans make the
laws for themselves, aud enforce them at
the point of public opinion, the strongest
of all forces in free state. Our Law s,
and our reverence for law, are dictated
by public sentiment, and not by the bay
onet.
Why has the state of Ohio been so
long cursed by the iniquitous traffic i'll
Intoxicating drinks! Because aCe have
permitted It ! 1t has grown and -four
ished under the protection of laws made
by ourselves. But new era has dawned
upon Ohio. Light has shone in upon
i the public mind, and the protection Of
law to this traffic has been taken away.
The business may now be open and free,
or it may be destroyed The decision is
with ourselves. Shall this trade of Death
flourish, or cease? The desolating tide
is flowing over the land, higher, broader,
deeper, every hour. Even while we
deliberate, it encircles our very hearth.
stones and family affairs. 1t is for us to
4 say, here and noiO, whether it shall flow
on, or cease forever 1t is the settled
conviction of my soul that this great issue
between Life and Death is to be settled,
here and nolD, by Us The trade of Death
will not of course cease to-day. Oul
wishes and sentiments may not harmo-
! nize with the wishes and sentiments oil
} the lawmakers nOlO assembled; but as
8 surely as the sun will rise tomorrow, SO
J surely will the unanimous resolves oi
this Convention find their place on the
statute book as the LAW OF Ono
; charge you, therefore, to deliberate upon
and decide this great issue as becomes
lovers of your own homes and firesides,
: of domestic peace and social order, oi