Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-06-14
The Gubernat.rial Candidates.


The following from the Hillsboro' Recor-
der, will show the position occupied by the
Gubernatorial Candidates in this State, con-
corning the Reformatory measures on the
Liquor Traffic, now in agitation
At the close of his speech at this place,
Gen. DocKERY read a communication recei-
we'd from a committee appointed by one of
our county Temperance Societies, requesting
the candidates for Governor to declare their
sentiments in relation to a Prohibitory Law,
or restrictive legislation on the subject of
the liquor traffic.
General DocKERY in reply said, he would
cheerfully answer their questions. Though
he was not a Son of Temperance and never
expected to be, he was nevertheless a tenn
pcrance man. As long ago as 1929, he
found the use of intoxicating liquors was in
no wise necessary to his constitution, and a
regard for the happiness of his family had
induced him to forego the use of it. From
that time to this, a period of twenty five
years, he had not tasted of it, and he did not
think he should if he were to live twenty FIVE
years longer. If it was the desire of the
friends of temperance that a prohibitory law
should be passed, he would not interpose a
feather to prevent it, nor would he on the
other hand throw a feathers weight in favor
of it. What restrictions were proper to be
laid upoE the traffic in spirituous liquors was
a matter for legislative consideration, with
which the Governor had nothing to do.
Mr.. BRAGG, in opening his speech, in re-
ply to a similar note, made pretty much the
same declaration with regard to a restrictive
law. He would not do anything to retard
or forward a law to restrict the sale ofliuuors.
1t was a matter solely for Legislative action,
and with the Legislature he would leave it.
IMPORTANT AND INTERESTING FROM HAY
ANA.-Our attentive New York correspon-
dent, says the Washington Star, sends us a
letter from Cuba, which had just reached
him. 1t was written by the well-informed
person from whose previous letters we have
quoted so freely. We extract from this last.
and very late one, as follows:
You will find by the official Gazette thai
DEGREES have again commenced-that of arm
ing the negroes is officially promulgated
There will be four companies to each battal
ion-two of mulattoes and two Of blacks
This decree, which it was supposed would b.
suspended, has created great CONSERVATION
here, as we'll as the one of the day before
registering all male white inhabitants be
tween the age of 16 and 40, enumerating op
posite to each name the amount of property
each possesses, and such other remarks a
may be found convenient and necessary pre-
paratory to being enrolled in the militia.
You cannot be surprised at the desperate
state in which men here find themselves. A
to the armament of the negroes the humble
will be about $4,000. This will exceed tn
effective force of their troops. This accom-
plished, the fate of the Island is sealed
They will never lay down their arms again
except they are forced to do SO, and we can
not blame them, nor could we blame them
they were to sacrifice every white on the Is
land. They seem to be encouraged in il
and from the apathy that seems to prevai
in all quarters, except the few spirits tina
exist on the Island who really have no pow
err to prevent it, the event may be realize
sooner than we anticipate. Ofthis, time wi
show. Facts are stubborn things, and whe
l send you official evidence, it will not b
doubted, as | presume mine is.
The decree permitting the whites and black
to intermarry is not yet promulgated, buttE
circulars are out from the Bishop, by ordt
of the Captain General, to all the Curates t
that effect.