Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-05-20

~ 81" '|"'ei WV W. J wy ~ "'
ing signatures to petitions asking Tor the
passage of the law; in few days, II
was triumphantly announced that
25,t00 of the inhabitants OF this State
had signed these petitions. We were
then of The opinion that very many Of
these names were obtained AS the tcs
we're. in SAP, in favor Of the so called
PcoI les Constitution, and that very
many Of them belonged 10 The various
branches ol the numerous "S9uiH Fami-
w." We were unwilling TO believe that
there were 5000 persons, OF sane mlnd,
who had arrived a, years Of discretion,
aad who possessed common intelligence,
la this State, who had deliberately ask
ell Tor the passage Of such an unjust,
such ridiculous, and such an unconsti-
tuuonal law. We did hot comment on
II subject AT tina, time, because we lclt
that il was impossible for any set of men
vino pos, essed any sclcrcspect and en-
,eriained any regard Tor their regulations
us legislators, aud who intended 20 be
Just To all IN their legislation, 10 he gull
" of such folly as voting in favor of this
law, that is, we knew that all ianatcal
mcn who might chance TO be in the AS.
scmbly would vote Tor i,,-but we were
not prepared so believe that any sensi-
bic men would be gully Of so foolish IN
act We also preferred 10 wait while,
until We could examine at least the pc
tiuon from this town, aud ascertain cor
rectly who the persons were in our OWN
midst. who had been so indiscreef, and
Who had formally asked for the pas
E ,ge of a law which was To affect every
one OF them in a most essential and vital
point Of view.
The original petition from this town
is now in the possession Of one of our
citizens and we have carefully pc
rused it, and the different signatures, in
,he handwriting of the persons who
signed. As we looked over it, we must
comics that we were astonished TO find
the names oi some few OF our cilZcns
who are mos, deeply interested in the
prosperity Of Newport, and especially in
our summer business; men who almost
,xcIusiveIy derive their sustenance from
strangers. Did not these persons think,
when they were signing this petition,
that they were executing their own
death-warrant 7 Did they not know
that il the Law was passed, and could
be enforc. d IN this community, that
there was the end OF our summer-busi-
huss, and there, consequently, was the
end Of all their business prospects p
From what We know Of the characters
of most OF this Glars OF ,he signers, We
are inclined To the opinion that they gen.
orally signed il without much reflection
at that time thrre was quite a Temper.
ance mania pervading the air. and some
OF these well disposed men hardly knew
how to refuse the urgent appeals which
were made to them. And then, possi-
bly,, some Of them might have thougl
tat II would not do to be unfdshi iondbIe.
even though the fashion, Tor the time-be
ing. was iolly aud ianaticism combined.
Among the signers from this town
less than one hundred are voters the
rest are men who are not eRtitled to vote,
women and children; we noticed tie
name of one gentleman, signed three
times TO the petition. Now We have ov-
rr four,ten huni,ed voters in this town
and with all the strenuous and unceas
ing efforts OF these Temperance gentle
men. last winter. and they pushed their
-ndeavors with terrible zeal, out Of over
fourteen hundred voters, they were only
able TO obtain about ninety who were
willing to sign their petition. This
elbows. most clearly, what the opinion OF
II very large proportion Of the voters OF
Newport is, on this question and many
who signed il we know are ashamed Of
tie act, and bitterly repent their folly
Iritwas possible, iull one half of them
who are voters, would gladly dsengage
themselves from the predlcament into
whirh they stumbled, and il they could
publicly spean now. their voices would
be loud against the law. We state q
solemn and indispu,ahle fact, when We
assert that full three-fourihs of the tree
men Of Newport are opposed to this
law.
This is the manner however. in which
fanaticisrn always rur away with the
reason and judgment OF certain men
they precipitateIy commit foolish act,
and then repen, OF their folly at leizure
while they are enduring the punishment
which their own indiscreiion has brough,
upon them. Such men ought to suffer
and if they alone could be injured by the
operation oi the Maine Law, we would
lot OF en- our lips, because We should
lecl that IT was righteous visitation
upon tn, III, and proper punishment ioI
lneir Jolly.
Nv Some Of the Episcopaians who
signed the petition 10 the Ass, nbIy, last
winter. asking for the IA s,ge OF the
Maine Law, did not probably refec, that
they were seeking to be deprived Of tho
use oI wine Tor Sacramento purposes
such WIS the case, and their request has
been granted. Now that the reality il
,t,,nu th.un thav mr.. e,r.I, nar,Iax,I