Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1853-08-20
THE MONONGALI MIRROR.

Lot speakers 60 forth and cnlighten the
pcople, and III the most unlaroraole 10.
caliiies, there will be vast change OF
public sentiment. am confident that u
We had four or five speakers in The field,
we could, at the next election, carry u
general prohibitory law, BY all overwhelm'
Ing majority.
Sir, believe | am sanguine as any man
on this floor, and think TOO, that ! have
as keen appreciation Of the difficulties 10
be met, as any gentleman, but have oil
intense, nnallerable conviction, that tile
people Of Virginia will look 10 their rights
and duties, in connexion with the sub
ice, Of the liquor traffic. and that the cur
rent ofslrong common sense, which un-
deriics all eScitemen,s, and all theories
amonst us, will SION be found on the side
Of prohibition. would moi have Maine
liquor law passed by what John Randolph
called dean and staggering majority"
| would rather have none a, all. But we
need no, look for such state Of things.
We may fall-but although little rusty
in the classics, | still remember the sense
Of q line in one o! them, THAT even 10
fall in noble undertakings, is glorious"
"For freedoms battle once begun,
Bequca.hcd from bleeding sire to son,
Though baillcd of is ever won."
h. don't like this going before the people
with these complicated, double.heaaed
resolutions. don't like the idea oil IN.
scr,ins in our proceedings anything that
looks like an attempt 10 CIRCULATE" the
Iiouor traffic. Yen might just as well
talk about regulating ahe bites Of mad
dogs, or the action Of a cancer. Men
don't Try to regulate such things
exlirpale them. | abhor all attempts 10
regulate that which every man knows 10
be in itself dangerous, aud capable oil no
safe regulation whatever. would ralh-
er have no law at all than sectional one
or one which should be enforced in
particular counties. | am for general
law which shall include every foot OF our
territory from the Atlantic TO the Western
boundary. Ii might perhaps do to pass
prohibitory law applicable to the whole
district east or west Of the Blue Ridge;
but cannot think with patience Of this
narrow, sectional legislation-conlined TO
counties, here and there, by which the
moral aspec, Of our State would become
varirgo,ed like Dutch bed-quilt. Such
Legislation is always dangerous, and, per
haps il may be well for us to consider,
that almos, all the evils under which
France sroaned, before the revolution,
grew GU, Of partial and unequal laws
Normandy had one law, and Province an.
other-and so throughout the kingdom
Each district and city had its peculiar
code, and from such system nothing but
wrong and oppression could proceed.
The gentleman from Rock bridge is mis-
taken as 10 the condition Of public senti.
ment in Maine. have recently visited
The North, and travelled through Micli-
gan, Illinois and other States. On my
way met Nsil Dow, Of Portland. and his
woids. I say. that the prohibitcry meas.
ures which we hesitate to adopt, have in
all The Northern States, rooted themselves
Day By day more deeply into the affections
Of the people. New Hampshire might as
welltrv 10 overiun her mountains as her
Maine liquor law. The same truth holds
good in other States. Pecnniary interest
may, and will, produce violen, opposition.
We ought 10 cxpec, it. The high and ar.
istocratic, the classical men, the lovers Of
Horace's glorious drinking song Of old,
will oppose us. But, sir it will be found
in the end that our cause has been strength
ened By every assault. ! commend the
resolutions and the substitute 10 the calm
consideration OF this meeting, anu ASK
gentlemen presen, whether they will adop,
measures efficient OF inefficient.
Mr.. Minor was followed By Rev. !. 5.
Tinsley, and Mr.. Tilden, Of Lynchbursh,
who took the same side. Mr.. Preston re.
pliel at considerable length, and with
prcat energy aud clearness, advocated the
nproposcd substitute, and showed the i'm
pruc,icab ili,y and inexpediency OF pressing
a prohibitory course OF legislation, IN the
present stale Of public sentiment.
MIR. Preston was followed by MI. Pol
lard of Spottsylvanin, Rev. Mr.. Tinsley,
+. Minor, and Dr.. McGuifty, and in op.
position 10 the substitute.
AT abou, half-past 10 in the evening,
on motion OF M. Gibson, the Convention
adiourued till Q O'Clock this Thursday
morning.
TnuRsDAr, Aug. 40, A. NJ.
The Convention met according to ad-
iournmen;, and was opened with prayer
By Rev. MIR. Siegfried, Of Mcrgantown.
The morning was bright and beautiful
after the showers Of yesterday.
Several delegates, not before reported,
reported themselves, and took seats in the
Convention.
Major Preston; for various reasons,
withdrew his substitute, offered yester.
day, for the Committees report.
mir. N. A. Sturdivant offered the fol-
lowing resolutions, by way Of compro-
mise, as substitute for the report Of The
Committee, and spoke in behalf OF his
substitute:
law prohibi,ory Of the manufacture or
keeping for sale, and Of the traffic in in
loxica,ng drinks, guarded by proper pro.
visions and penalties, and especially BY
,he provisions that ulI such liquors found
in one's possession, contrary to law, shall
be destroyed.
9. That such law should be submitted
to The people Of each county and city, and
be in force, when i, is adopted BY a ma