Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-11-01

states, and must, OF course be Similarly
dlsregarded, and if necessary, put down
We have no reason to think that the
municipal authorities of Washington will
act with less frmness- though We trust
with more discretion than did the Mayor
OF Baltimore, IN recent and similar
struggle with the same sort of people in
that city.
The two resolutions following were
passed to meet case which recently
arose, where the police of Washington
put stop to Temperance meeting held
in the public street, the police therein
obeying a Corporation law of June Sd
last, which prohibits meetings and assem-
blages obstructing the public ways and
thoroughfares. They are as follows:
Resolued, That the liberty of speech
is sacred and cherished right which we
will never surrender and shall always
hereafter, as heretofore, claim and exer.
else that right, in regard to all evils, out.
RACES, and wroags which exists in the
community, or which threatens its we'll
being, and especially in regard to the
great evil Of intemperance. AS we re-
new the solemn pledge which we have
already assumed, to wage unceaSing hos
tillty against the manufacture, sale, and
use of all intoxicating liquors as bever-
age.
Resolued, That any attempt which
shall be made to hinder or obstruct any
such meeting, held and conducted in &C
cordance with the rights guaranteed by
the Constitution Of the United States, will
be regarded as gross Infringement upon
our rights and privileges, which we pledge
ourselves to resist in lawful manner to
the extent of our power"
We also quote from letter from the
Mayor of Washington in reply to one
from prominent actor in the cause, for
the purpose Of according it our approval,
and expressing our hopes that no amount
of clamor, Or fear of prospective proscrip-
ton on account of the fearless perform
ance of duty, will avail to swerve him
from his duty. He says:
CAS- to your second inquiry, should be
very sorry to believe that the time ever
will come when meetings could not be
held in this city for the promotion of the
blessings of temperance among our citi-
zens. [ have not the wish, as l certainly
have not the authority, to prohibit any
such meetings. At the same time it is
proper for me to say that citizens, assem-
blcd for the purpose of lecturing or OF
hearing lectures on temperance or any
other subject in public places, are ex-
pected to conform to the police laws and
regulations cf the city, and it is incum.
bent upon the officers of the Corporation
to see that they are enforced, without re-
spect to persons. They have no authori-
ty, nor has the Mayor, to dispense with
the operation of any law; their duty be-
ing simply to execute it as it is until it be
modified or repealed. And permit me
here to remark that if our worthy fellow
citizens, the friends and advocates of tenn
perance, morality, and order, fail to rem
der willing and cheerful obedience to
the laws, and to give to the officers whose
duty it is to see them enforced their coun-
tenance and cordial support, from whom
can they expect these things? Not GER
talnly from the Incorporate, the disorder
ly, or the vicious.
Il can see no difficulty whatever in re-
gard to holding such meetings as you refer
to without interfering with the laws of the
Corporation. Among the numerous pub
lie buildings and squares with which our
city abounds there can at all times be OBJ
tanned such locations for public assemb-
lage as will not, with proper arrange
ments, interfere with the rights of others
or obstruct the streets, &c. You will, |
am sure, agree with me as to the at least
doubtful expcdiency of using for such a
purpose the leading thoroughfares of the
city, even if there were no law upon the
subject"
Before concluding these remarks we
take the opportunity Of complaining of a
noisome and disgusting placard, posted
about the city, with the mistaken design
of aiding the Temperance cause. Ifsuch
things have any effect at all in respect to
Temperance, it must be unfiendly to it,
and we cannot be wrong in saying that
all enemy to Temperance could hardly de-
wise surer methods to serve his ends, than
those often adopted by its supposed
friends.