The Ohio organ, of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, [Ohio]) 1853-1854, 1853-06-24

OOfsNNfeseOteg
to be held in PGinterSvaLe, Greene
County, Ohio:
Having been kindly invited by the
committee of arrangements, to attend
and address your honorable conven-
ton, on tomorrow, the 28th inst, /
regret very much to say, that circum-
stances beyond my control, will pre-
vent my being present. look upon
the glorious objects contemplated by
your convention, as not only compati-
Bile with our republican institutions,
but also, as in perfect harmony with
the great laws, both natural and re-
vealed, of the Sovereign of the Uni
verse. l look upon the Legislation,
heretofore, Of this and other States,
however defective, as based upon a
social and moral being, Still the
traffic in intoxicating drinks, under
certain restrictions, aOas, and is yet
permitted. The prohibition of the traf-
fc, though limited and defective, was
the rule and principle of Legislation
but the permission to traffic in these
| liquors, was the exception to the rule.
understand the new Constitution of
Ohio, as seeking to remove the ex-
ception, by prohibiting the Legislature
from granting any license to traffic in
intoxicating liquors. But, gentlemen,
there is principle which lies before
and beyond all legislation, and it is
this, that no man has any right to en-
gage in any business or enterprise to
the injury of his fellow man. To say
the least, no man has right to take
the property of his neighbor, without
rendering a valuable consideration
But on the other hand, when a people
thus feel themselves injured in their
persons, in their substance, in their
character-injured socially, mentally,
and morally, for this world and the
world to come, they have an inalienable
right to rise in the majesty Of freemen,
and legally protect themselves. The
mighty influence of moral saGsiOn has
been brought to lear on the public
mind of Ohio, and yet it has failed to
roll back the fiery flame of this infer
nal traffic. All Legislation heretofore
has failed to give the community pro-
lection from this Wakering, blasting,
burning, desOlating, and damning evil.
According to the last census, we are
consuming in these United States, an
nually, about eighty-three millions of
gallons of intoxicating drinks, of our
own manufacture to say nothing of
the amount brought to our shores by
importation. Think of it, gentlemen,
for one moment Fifty millions Of
dollars expended annually, by this
model republic, to perpetuate an evil,
in all its wide, boasting varieties and
desolating consequences, the greatest
that ever cursed the human race
Nor is this all. We have standing
army of five hundred thousand topers
and drunkards two hundred and fifty.
thousand criminals, paupers aud ma
MACS and near fifty thousand sent
annually to drunkard's shame, a
drunkard's grave, and a drunkard's
eternity. Women made worse than
widows, and children worse than or
phans. The heart Of humanity sick
ems at the thought. With us and all
the friends of humanity, it is dern-
ier resort, we can do nothing more
than elect a majority of members to
the next General Assembly of Ohio,
who will put on their statute books a
law authorizing the SEARCH for,
SEIZURE and DESTRUOTI of
the bloody monster.
u This will constitute the Mount Nebo