The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-05-31
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.

| REPORT OF THE COMMITTEES.
Bro. Warren, from the committee to whom
was referred the Quarterly Report of the G.
W.P., submitted the following as the report Of
that Committee:
The Committee to whom was referred the
Report of the 6. w. p, beg leave respectfully
to Report.
We have had the several matters contained
in the excellent report of the Grand Worthy
Patriarch under consideration. The first i'm
portant feature therein, claiming the attention
Of this Grand Division, and some expression
of its opinion, is the suggestion relating to an
effort being made during the present year to
procure the assembling of Convention to be
composed of all the friends Of Temperance,
embracing not on y every order and organza-
ton but even, if possible, those who are not
pledged to total abstinence, but who see and
feel the great and growing evils Of intemper-
ance, and the means which are Legally in use
to increase and perPetuate this evil in our land.
The present position Of the friends of Tenn
perance calls 70" some definite and vigorous
action. 1t is necessary that something should
be done. The people in the State friendlyto
our cause expect Us to do something. Shall
they he disappointed9 We hope not We
believe it is proper that this Grand Division
should give further evidence Of it willingness
and anxiety to cooperate heartily with those
who are willing to engage in any enterprise
which looks to the suppression ofintemperance,
and the furtherance Of the object fUt which we
arc united. The present retail system, your
committee regard us not only radically wrong,
but tas absolutely the cause of more, if not all,
the mischief which is being done in our State.
This system is not only directly in the way Of
the success of our principles, but of the peace
and wellbcing of society in general-an unjust
and oppressive one, which calls for the repro
baton Of every good citizen, whether an avow.
ed temperance man or not.
Your committee deem it unnecessary to en-
large here 1t must he truth as clear as o
sunbeam to every unprejudiced and candid
mind, that the present license laws of South
Carolina are in efct privileges to crme-a
cloak for perjury and the grossest corruption,
to the base and designing who are ever to be
found ready to deal out the poison without re-
gard to sex, color or condition-injuriou alike
to health, happiness and property.
1OuI COuiIilLlee uecIll IL UlSuIy illpoilaHS
that the owners of slaves should be enlisted in
this matter-let this important interest in our
State be largely represented in our mass Con-
vention. The rights of property should ~be
equally cared for; every planter and slave
owneri is largely concerned in this matter; and
surely no man will remain Willingly Indifferent
to his own interest and happiness. We need
only appeal to the experience of slave owners,
to say whether or not they are willing that
men should be allowed to sell any commodity
to their slaves which would deteriorate from
their value, and render them even worse than
useless. Such is the effect of the traffic in ar
dent spirits with slaves; and no appreciating,
right minded slave owner is willing to submit
any longer to these outrages. 1t must be
manifest to every mind, not willingly ignorant,
that there is absolute necessity for change III
the present liquor laws of this State. Almost
any change would be preferable. We cannot
be injured more than we have been, or than
we shall be, if matters remain where they are.
The question paramount to all others just
now is, How is this change to be etlected!-
Your committee believe, that in accordance
with the >suggestion of the G. w. p, that a
committee ought to be appointed BY this Grand
Division to correspond with other Temper
ancc organizations in the State, and with per-.
sous of intelligence, patriotism and christian
benevolence, to unite and act in concert with
the friends of temperance in the ditfusUI cf