Spirit of the age., 1853-07-13
ELIZABETH Crrr, june 9th. '5a

ELIZABETH CIFT, June ZItn, >00
Mn. GoRMAN: The Spirit Of the Age"
Of June 22nd, contains an editorial in relation
to the Preamble and Resolutions passed by
the Pasquotank Division, S. L., in which they
expressed their dissent to the course of the
GLJesgille Division, and avow their determina-
ton to adhere to the principles upon which
they beticUed the Orderto have been organized
In that article you are pleased to say, that
every Division and every Son of Temper
"nec, both in their associated and individual
capacity, have right to act in this capacity
as he or they may think proper without in
vOlvlng violation OF any express rule or law
known to the Order" That every individual
in his ind6e5desGl capacity has the right to
pursue what course he may think proper,
provided there is no violation Of implied or
express law, none will deny-that he may,
upon has oUn responsibility, make opposition
to the " Liquor Lao" a test question-voting
| for who he pleases or not voting at all, none
will question but that in our g assOciatec''
or Divisional capacity, we are justified by
the rules of the Order in resolving to vote or
not to vote for any man for religious or po-
litical Office, beg leave most emphatically
to deny, A pledge not to do certain thing
with men Of honor, is considered rs binding
as any law could possibly be, except SO faI
as the penalty may be concerned, and lie
that would Intentionally violate it, would re
ceve the unqualified condemnation of honor
able men. What is true in regard TO individ
uals, applies with equal force to associations
Do we not give to candidates for admission
solemn promise, that there is nothing in tht
Order that can interfere with their civil OF
Religious liberties, and that no sacrifice O
g religious or political opinions be they wha
they may" will be required Is not tht
pledge tantamount to a law prohibiting th,
passage of any act binding man to any par
ticular course in voting for candidates for of
fee? Pass an act that we (Sons Of Temper
ance) will not vote for 4, B, or C, if he doe
not agree to some proposition that we hav
set forth, and are you not binding the action
of members and inter erin : VITA their civil
rights Are you not violating asolem prom
ise made to every member of the Order? L
Illustrate: suppose A. the whig-B. the Dem
ocratic candidates for the Legislature of n
G. A. opposes and B. favors law prohibi
ting the sale of Intoxicating drink. The Di
vision.Of which G. is a member, resolve. sa
; by q majority of one, that they will not sur
,, port any man for Office" who is opposed t
the law. Maiorities rule. c. must be GOV
erned by the majority. Query Cam G.. vot
for A., his favorite candidate This favorit
because some important political question i
) involpedt without violating the law ofhis Di
vision? Is he amenable to the Division fo
!, his vote,.if he should vote for C? Has hi
Division.interfered with the free exercise G
his political opinions and have they not v
olated their most sacred obligation q not {
interfere" with such rights The answe
is as plain as the noon day sun in the ur
clouded sky. The Division is transcendin
: it's bounds, treading on forbidden ground, Y
olating an cypress rule of the Order, and la,
ing itself liable to impeachment before th
Grand Division Of the State.