The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-05-14
FIFTH DAY.


FIFTH DAY.
The National Temperance Society,
SECOND ANNUAL MEETING.
The National Temperance Society held their
second annual meeting last Wednesday evening,
Ut Metropolitan Hall, which spacious building,
with the exception Of the top gallery, was complete
~ filed. IL
John Falconer, Esq, the President of the society,
was unanimously called to the chair, and the pro-
eeedings were commenced by the Secretary, the
Rev. O. ]. Warren reading the annual report, from
which we extract the following. Shelton's Brass
Band was in attendance, and diversified the enter
tainments by some agreeable airs =
~ ABSTRACT OF THE REPORT,
The year through which have passed is marked with
most important events The passage Of the Maine law
Immediately after the last anniversary gave not only
new impulse to the cause, but type to the general
measures throughout the country No form of iegisla
ton met with such universal approval as the Maine
law and the friends and promoers Of temperance had
asked for the Maine law ana as to it's essential features
nothing but the Maine law At the last annual meeting
the society had just commenced it's efforts for the relief
employment and cecual restoration Of nebriates the
industrial temperance, end to this movement attention
was principally directed throughout the summer and
The necessity and utility OF asylum for inebratos
and it's worhness compared with other objects of public
wa: on the legislature at the extra
from several ecclesiastical bodies from the Grand Jury
the Recorder Of the city Police justices District Attor
ney others and the Legislature ade an oppropria
tiOn of tvs thousand dollars
TO this the society added nearly three thousand
dollars making entire expense Of the about
$1,000 for ten months The number of inmates in the
Home from May 3, 1851. to March 1862 was 400 and
the average number about 20 In the chapel Of til,
Homo the Gospel has been dispensed every Sabbath by
the Rev. John Leahey, who stationed there by the
Methodist conference and supported by the Ladies' HON,
meetings. and chdrens singing school have been held
weekly as also weekly meeting for those who desired
special religious instruction has been held by Mr.. G. c.
North one of the Executive Committee.
The Superintendent reported that nearly hundred
had LEFT the institution in the eight months prior the
tlon has been had since they left.
The report then recommends the total abolition of the
dramshops as the only means for the effectual relief
and restoration of inebriates. While the society had
not lost it's convictions Of the necessity utility of an
asylum for nebates and had not abandoned its original
purpose it has been deemed judcous to discontinue as
society the special efforts that have been made in this
locality The connection Of the society with the Indus
trial Home ceased on the first of March.
The entire energies of the society to be de-
voted to the enactment Of Maine law for New York
state and the prompt and full execution of such law in
In January last the society made an effort to petition
the Legislature for prohbitory law. About thirty men,
most Of them heads of families and out Of employment
engaged for two weeks at expense Of than
$3.50. They obtained $4,000 names-2O,00O of them
Of men, which sent to the Legislature in one
roll About 5000 other afterwards forwarded
Az the session drew to close with little no prospect
Of action being had for the benefit of the
society directed their secretary to address memorial to
that body urging the immediate passage Of prohibtory
hw, upon which vote was taken, which showed that,
aside from the fifteen members from New York city who
voted against the law the Assembly were equally divided
on this question.
Of the Grand Jury to the Illegal In which licenses
have been given by the Commissioners Of Excise By
this effort ut least in part the Grand Jury have made
presenthent to the Court of General Sessions, that
licenses have been given, and permits to sell liquor with
out license in violation of law If the present Commis-
soner of Excise consisting the Mayor with the Alder
and Assistant of each ward shall follow the steps OF
Of their predecessors in Office, this action Of the
Grand Jury lays for them to be by not
future Grand Jury not only presented but indicted
for misdemcanor.
To prevent the necessity for such painful resort the
and address memorial to each Of the Excise Commits
soners. This has been done. The memorial sets fort
the grounds on which the Grand Jury based their pre-
that mot only In the particular points condemned by the
Grand Jury but in other respects the whole course OF
irregular and inconsistent with not only the Revised
Statutes but the particular laws that relate this city
This memorial has been presented to his Honor the
Mayor and to each Of Aldermen and Assistants The
york Of licensing going forward in the City Hall
No opportunity has been afforded for those violations Of
Mar practice is adopted formerly We question il q
import ant work before the friends Of temperance
in this city than to watch the operations Of this system Of
licensing the liquor traffic. and to endeavor to correct the
wrong.
Early in April the Secretary applied to the Mayor and
to the captains Of police to epor the and residence
Of all who kept their shops open on the Sabbath
for the sale Of liquor The order was made returnble
this day. and to embrace tho last four Sabbaths The re-
turns made this morning four wards We have
examined one Of these reports which, being anayzed
presents the following result
Number Of places open the Sabbath for the sale Of
liquor
Restaurants - Groceries. 11s
Hotels. ................ o Total .......... 2l2
OF these, are kept by women, hotels 2, saloons 8,
Marked very bad, (by women 81 Observation-Disclosures.
One porter house IL mafked-thieves meet here
We have to believe that this statement very
= below the truth but even with this proposition there
Ssuid b in all the city open on the SABBATH
Restaurants and saloons 500 Thieves meet here. 20
They wnl or win be permitted to sell without license
unless effort Is made to induce the officers Of our
lions Of law. The committee would thus urge upon the
society, and upon the friends Of temperance gene
rally 10 the city to follow the effort that is thus hap
PLY commenced. 1t may cost some time and trouble,
the friends in each ward bring the subject before tho
a. other men, and they find that any course Is really
objected to by that large class Of voters who claim to
friends Of temperance they will be very cautious how
This effort may reduce very greatly the number Of
licenses granted It may prevent thi. great body of
licensed 1t via strengthen the good purposes Of those
magistrates policemen, &c.. who are now inclined 70
sttempt 70 90 tnelr outy IL VIII 90 nothing else, II
win clog the wheels Of the license SYSTEM and make them
drag heavily Show the legions Of that the Tempe
hosts not dispersed discouraged and
distinctly to the voters of this city that they have spe
cial duty to perform ct the next election.
The Rev. RUFUS w. CLARK, Of Boston, then adj
dressed the meeting, urging that the Maine Liquor
law was the only efectual means, and arguing it was
as constitutional as to egislate against murder or
forgery, and that he believed it could be carried into
effect. Many persons had thought this would not be
80 in Maine, when Neal Dow had been superseded;
but he had letter from his SUCCESSOR the present
head. From that letter he would read the follow
ing
In order that you may understand my position as
Mayor you should be informed that nominated as
candidate by the political party to which have always
bsonged Ny political friends claimed the right to nom
nate the democratic candidate and they supported
and elected such, In opposition to the regularly
minated candidate Of the whig party
Knowing that there much excitement in regard to
the execution Of the law to which you refer and that there