The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-12-23
LOCAL MATTERS.

| TEMPERANCE LEcTURE-At the African
| Church last Wednesday night, Judge z. s. White
rance. When we reached the Church the Judge had
| commenced his disc,urse, which, it seemed to u.s.
had been divided under three heads-"Appetite, In
terest, and Law" Taking the pIomsiug and inteIIi-
gent youth who, possibly up to the time of his de-
but into society had known the of iutoi-
eating dr7nks-the lecturer proceeded She W how
ne was induced to take ls first glass Of wineposs-
bly, by the persuasion OF fair and lovely woman
how he became moderate drinker; increasing the
number OF his potations from day to day until even.
taaiIy an ungOvernable appetite created which
lead Its possessor to degradation the gutter aims
house, prison or gaOws, and engulphed in unutfera
bic misery woe and wretchedness those whose hep-
piness WIS vested in the hands of the besottea
bTate. No msn, when taking his first glass, had ever
supposed that he was TO become drunkafd social
glass all that he expected partake of vet
such IS the unnatural appetite when once created
that but few ever quench its burning flames until be-
ret of al once dear tn them 1t better that tie
wine cup should be stunned for within it lurks the
destroyer OF at least onehh OF all who intoxica-
| ting beverages.
Iaterest-There several classes of persons
who had opposed the temperance reformation from
interest These Ministers of the Gospel Law
yers Doctors, Politicians Lquor Makers and LiQuor
Sellers. The first OF these originally opposed the re-
formation because they believed that the climate was
all sufficient for temperance purposes. The speaker
glad say however, that this deluson had pass
ca away, ana that now nne out OF ten OF the Fro
tesaut Ministers in the Union were favOr;ng the
great moral reformation, which the Church of God
mad failed to bring about in eighteen hundred years
The next class was small fry lawyeIs,-those who
received and expected other practice than that
produced by assault and batteries and other crimes
superinducsd by lntemperance-they were opposed
to the temperance movement from Interested mo
tives Doctors know that niuetenths of lii diseases
with which the human family afflicted, spring
from the ofintoxcatiDg drinks, and there fore it
is that the friends of Temperance should return their
thanks to those who join the great work, for they
a opposing the own peeUniaTy interests. The pc
litIclau opposed IL because 1t the potent of
e!ectioneer ng machines in use. And the liquor
ker and liquor seller opposed it, because their inan
ces, which now drawn from the tears aud blood
OF the widow and the orphan would then be cut off
The ud ge particularly severe on professed chris
tians who make and sell ardent spirits, and illustrated
their position by several amusing anecdotes which
he related in his iuimitabe style
LGlo-Its unconstitutional, say some for the Leg
lsiatGre to pass prohibitory law. If so, said the
Lecturer there already exists law on the statute
book of Virginia, authorisug search to be made for
liquor, IN certain cases, and when found the officers
required to seize aud seit to pay the of the
suit. The only difference in the now existing law
and the one asked for, is simply this: The present
law requires the officers to seize and sell it, while we
ask thai it may be seized, raped in the head and
poured upon the ground Law is intended to COM
that which is right and prohibit that which is
wrong. Il such the effect of the license law? Does
it support the right ard cordemn the wrong? The
speaker thought not and argued to prove. The
present license law had been passed a means of
rasiu revenue, and the very legislature from whom
it received its birth, seems to have doubted the pro-
prieiy of its passage by throwing around it the
guard which requires that those who retail shall be
men of good moral characters; and that the place for
its sal must be suitable one Is there n s,itoble
place on Gods green EARTH enqured the speaker for
the sale of so estructiye liquid He hoped pray
ed and believed not. That the Legislature of Vir.
gina rad perfect right pass the prohbitory law
asked for there can be no doubt. The Lecturer did
not call upon that body to force it upon the people
zainst their will All he asked that the voters
of the State might be heard the license law ques.
tOn. If majority against prohibition, he
would bow to their decision, only asking that such
counties, cities and towns by majority vote asked
for prohibition might have it while others who de-
sired the sale of liquor should have that This was
| democratic rule and he Legislature cou not re-
ect it. Ou the 2Nth of this month the friends
of the prohibitory law have been work but two
Jnths, the names of more than 20 000 voters asking
its passage will be presented to the General Assem-
| bly,. Shall they not be heard He hoped aud be-
| Ii wed they would.
After arguing the coustitutonaty of the law ask
ed for. length, in nasterly speech interspersed
with lively anecdotG and descriptions of heart touch
| lug scenes, witnessed by himself the speaker con.
ciuded with of tbs most beautiful pathetic and
impressive eXhortations young men TO reuouuce
| the wine cup and bar rooms, and engage in useful
and literary pursuits during their leisure moments
that listened to. Our regret is that we are
unable append it to this hasy notice for the ed
| hcation Cf our readers.
| As a temperance lecturer, presume Judge
! White has no superior. Devoted to the cause he
seems to go into its discussion with warmth of feel.
ing and force of argument, thzt prove irresist-
| BILE to those who are free from all prejudices And
whatever the result Of the bill before the Lesisla-
ture asking for the law it is clearly evident that he
| intends to spare no pains to ensure its passage