Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-08-11
state Temperance Convention.

This body assembled in Staunton on Wednes-
day last, at 10 o'clock, A. NJ, and brought its de-
liberations to close Thursday evening. There
Were present about one hundred and twenty Dele
gates representing thirty-siX counties. Gen. JOHN
*. CocKE, of Fluvanna, presided, assisted by F.
WINDLE, of Monroe, DR.. w. F. GAINS, Of Hano-
yer, J. Nj. JEwETr, of Jefferson, Maj. j. 7. L.
Preston, of Rockbridge and LUcIAN MINOR, of
Louisa, as Vice Presidents. n. A, STURDlvANT,
of Richmond, S, X. TAYLOR, of Staunton, and
w. r. POWELL, of Spottsylvania, Secretaries.
The Committee appointed to prepare business
for the Convention reported series of resolutions
recommending repeal ofthe present license laws,
and the enactment of more stringent provisions for
the suppression of the traffic in ardent spirits. In
the opinion of the Committee, the Legislature
ought, upon petition, 10 pass law allowing the
people of any County to say, at the polls, whether
licenses shall be granted and that even in the e.
vent of decision in favor of]icenses the question
shall still be left to the discretion of the Courts
that all persons holding licenses, shall give bond
and security, under adequate penalties, that they
will not sell intoxicating liquors to any minor, any
colored person, or any notorious drunkard and that
seeking renewal Of said licenses shall be oblig-
ed to make oath that they have not sold to any
such persons, during the preceding year, and that
all persons obtaining license to sell intoxicating Ii
quors, should be required to give bond and security
that they will be responsible for all loss or damage
which by verdict of a jury, may be ascertained to
have been occasioned by their traffic.
minority Report, was also presented, to the
following effect: That the Legislature of Virginia
ought, whenever majority of the people shall
signify their desire for such law, at the polls 10
pass aw-similar in its provisions to the law now
in operation in the State of Maine-the fundamen-
tai principles of which are that no ardent spirits
shall be manufactured for sale, CT sold for any 9TH
er than medicinal, sacramental and mechanical
purposes; and that all such liquors exposed for sae
in violation of law shall be seized, confscated and
destroyed by the proper officers.
A large majority of the Convention, were evil
IDENTIFY with the minority of the Committee. In
deed all seemed to favor the ''Maine Laws" but
there was difference of opinion in regard to the
expediency of asking for such law now. 1t was
commended by those in favor of the majority Re
mort. that an effort to secure the Maine Law now
would inevitably result in defeat, and on the con-
trary. by those who favored more extreme meas
ures, that nothing short Of the Maine Law could
do any good. The Resolutions were deliberately
discussed and discordant views at last harmonzed
by the adoption of both sets in 4 combined form;
50 that all parties, while asking for the present
mere moderate restrictions upon the traffic, have
their eyes steadily fixed upon the ultimate passage
of Virginia Liquor Law like that Of Maine
This platform was unanimously adopted, and after
the passage of sundry resolutions providing for
thorough organization of the Temperance Army,
preparatory to the campaign upon which they are
about to eater, the Convention adjourned sine die
On Tuesday night previous to the organization of
the Convention, the Rev. Mr.. ANDREws,of Shep-
herdstown delivered a most excellent Temperance
Discourse: on Wednesday night, the Rev. Mr..
Tying, of Charlestown, entertained very large
audience with an elaborate argument in favor OF
the Maine Liquor Law, which was regarded by
the friends of that measure as unanswerable. On
Thursday night Mr.. STURDIvANT, Of Richmond,
occupied the stand much to the satisfaction OF
crowded assembly. We considered his speech very
creditabe, but thought our professional brother
manifested occasionally little more zeal than dis
cretion His sweeping denunciation OF the "secu-
lar press" for intentional concealment Of facts ia
vorable TO the cause of Temperance, was not war
ranted by the course of the press generally, how
ever papers in MIR. STURDIvANT's particular local.
ity may have deserved it. MIR. S. was followed
by Mai. Preston, of Lexington, in brief but we'll
| conceived and appropriate address. On Friday
night, Mr.. THos. }. Evans, of Richmond and
| Mr.. SMITH, of Lcxingtor, presented the peculiar
claims of the Order of the Sons of Temperance to
large and interested auditory at the Methodist
| Church.