Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-10-19
8GP. 49,.
Primary Meetings.

peranco meetings held in different portions
Of the State, but the State Convention will be
in session before the issue of this number of !
our paper, and as these meetings were held
specially to appoint Delegates to that body, s
it is unnecessary to publish them all in de-
tail We therefore give the following synop-
sis Of the several Primary Meetings that have
been forwarded to US since our last issue:
The Cumberland County Convention was
held on the 9Th inst. James Cain, Esq.
Chairman, and Il. II. Ivey, Secretary
Messrs. James Smith, w. w. McKinzie and
J. q. Arey, Committee appointed to prepare
resolutions for the action of the Convention,
reported the following, which were unani-
mously adopted:
WHEREAS, many Of the citizens of this
county, being painfully aware Of the great
and numerous evils consequent upon the
traffic in ardent spirits, and Of the many priv
ileges and immunities granted to the ven
ders Of the same, contrary to every principle
Of justice and order, believe that restraining
Influences must be brought to bear upon this
deplorable state Of affairs, and that the most
decisive action on the part Of every lover Of
philanthropy is necessary, to effect the repeal
Of those laws that tend to the benefit of the
liquor dealers, and 10 the disparagement of
the case Of morality and religion, and the
enactment Of such other laws as will shield
the community from the evils Of ~intemper-
ance. Therefore,
ResoiUed, That ten delegates be appointed
to represent this County in the approaching
State Temperance Convention, to be held in
the city Of Raleigh, on the 18th inst.
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the following Delegates were appointed: Hen
ny Elliot, Esq, John @. Blocker, David Gee,
Wn. g.. B1rbec, Isham Blake, John p. Leo
nard, j d. McCallum, JOS. G. Arey, John
p. Mclean, +. ii Ivey, James CaiE.
The Guilford County meeting was quite an
interesting one. Prof. Richard Sterling was
called to the Chair, and Daniel N. Sherwood
appointed Secretary. Rev. DIR. Deems, D.. B.
Houston, +. w. Ogburn, D. Hobbs, Esqs.,
and DR.. J. w. Bceson were appointed a Com
mittee to report resolutions, and from those
adopted we extract the following:
All parties unite in believing intempcrance
10 be tho greatest evil Of this age and this
nation. In this country, it has shed more
blood, it has cost more money, it has wrought
more physical, intellectual, moral and social
evil, than all the wars in which America has
ever been engaged.
North Carolina has suffered prodigiously
from this evil. Probably four-ffths of all
our taxes are paid on account of intemper-
anoe. Tho labor Of thousands of drunkards
is lost to the Commonwealth. Our poor houses
and jails would be almost tenantless but for
strong drink. No christian, no patriot, no
intelligent, unselfsh man can be found
throughout the whole State, who does not
desire to see an end put to this desolation.
The mode Of accomplishing this, seems to
be tho only question upon which any differ
ence exists among thinking and good men.
All methods may be reduced to two forms,
in their general features LIST, moral suasion,
End, legal prohibition.
The members Of this Convention believe,
that while moral s]uasion has done much
good, it can never destroy this evil, as things
now exist because, although now and then
n drunkard may be reformed, the legal ven
ders Of ardent spirits will always be able to
make more drunkards than all the churches
and temperance societies can reform and
moral suasion can be brought to bear only
upon the drunkard, as the vendors deliber.
atcly, in the face Of conscience, determine tC
do wrong for gain; or else deceive them
selves into quietude, and resist all mora
%suasion, on the ground that the law of TIN,
AbAh ltGbRHlLtS lltlI BUSINESS, Utlu lil1L ina
cannot be morally wrong that is LEGALL
right. The lars Of North Carolina effect,
ally strip moral suasiOR Of all It's potoer, an
yet we are told that we must use moral sua
sion alone. To sell spirits is either right o
a0r0Hg. If right, VIC should not endeavor I
dissuade men from it by any process.
toTOHg. the law is sactioning n wrong, an
should be repealed or annulled.
This Convention. believing that the tim
has arrived when the prohibition ofthe trafi
in ardent spirits is n question transcendin
all the issues submitted to the public by an
or oil existing political parties
Rcs0tce, That we approve Of the call {
the approaching Convention in the City
Raleigh, to consider this question in all il
bearings.
R%esoirea, That Messrs. + w Ogburn, J v
Be'son. jesse IL Lindsey, Jesse Wheeler,
w Westbrooks, w f. Edwards. Thos G BLAKE
Rev Il Caruthcrs, Rev N II d Wilson, Isaa
Thacker, jesse Benbow, w w Ragsdale,
Fcntress, Rev Peter Do ID, and w S CLINE
be, and arc hereby appointed to represent tn
interests and views of the temperance publ
in Guilford County, in the Raleigh Convei
ton, aud are requested to be present an
assist in digesting such plans as shall be mo,
likely to secure the prohibition of the trait
in ardent spirits, in q manner compatib
with the rights Of all classes Of our felloy
citizens.
Resolped, That n Central Committee
seven be appointed to take charge of the inte
ests Of this great question in the county.
g. +. DEEMS, Ch'm'n.
In accordance with the Sd Resolution, ii
following gentlemen were appointed sa
Central Committee: G Deems, ID. d., Pro
Sterling, David u Houston, ESQ, DR. ]
Beeson, + w Ogburn, Esq, S w Westbrook
Esq, w s Gilmcr, Esq.
C~arver's Creek Division has a%ppointC
Messrs. j. J. Bright and VIM. Westbrool
TO represent that portion of Bladen count
and also passed Resolutions, pledging i
members to maintain all prudent steps
adopted for the suppression or Mitigate
Of the evils arising from the sale and use
intoxicating drinks.
BERTHE County.-The proceedings of Il
Convention held at Turner's n Roads, d
not reach us in time to publish in full tn
week. The Resolutions adopted breathe II
true spirit Of Observation-Disclosures argue Il
constitutionality and legality of a prohibit
ry law against the liquor traffic; and d
clarei it the duty Of every true friend of h
country, "as far rs in his power, to use ev
ry lawful means to suppress intemperanc
and finding by sad experience that MOI
suasion alone can never accomplish it, t
welfare Of the community demands ofthene
Legislature the passage Of u law finally alb
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