The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-03-08
Mr.. R.) thought they would have to wait

(Mr. R. thought they would have to wait
until doomsday.
Mr.. Langdon could see nothing in the
resolution in any wise discourteous toward
the committee. If there was any thing Of
that kind, he certainly should not vote for
it. He agreed with the gentleman from
Greene, that the House should have an op-
portunity to shield itself from misrepre-
sentation. He had little sympathy with
that morbid sensitiveness which could see
in resolution a concealed thrust al some
one. If he were disposed to retort upon
gentlemen, he might point to acts of dis
courtesy on the part of the opponents of
this resolution, who had not sufficient
courtesy to allow the mover to withdraw
it, when he desired to do so.
Mr.. Hubbard offered, as an amend
ment,a substitute requiring all the standing
committees Of the House to report by the
9th of March, or state the reasons for fur
ther delay.
Mr.. Hubbard said the origin al resolution
involved nothing discourteous-it was on.
ly intended as lash to hold in terrorem
over their heads. Two months of the
session had passed, and yet comparatively
nothing had been done. 1t was vain for
gentlemen to skulk behind the Temper
ance Committee, and find an excuse for
delay in legislation, in the fact that that
single committee had not reported. He
was not an advocate Of the Maine Law;
so far from it, his own election had been
claimed as whisky triumph; but he de-
sired the committee to have fair oppor-
tunity to mature bill. If it was desired
to put whip and spur to the committees,
he wanted them all served alike. ,Bul
to single out this one committee, he would
not, if he stood "solitary and alone,' -
lend his vote towards inflicting an addition.
al pang upon one who perhaps even now
was called to perform the last sad rite to
a beloved member of his family.
Mr.. Walkup regretted that the gentle
man from Preble (Mr. Hubbard) should
deem it his duty to offer an amendment OF
this character. The committee having in
charge the subject Of temperance, was q
select committee. specially charged TO
mature bill. Every gentleman of that
committee had made up his mind upon the
qestion before taking his seat. The po-
sition of every man was known before his
election. The subject had been amply
discussed, and they had had their Neil
Dows, their General Carys, and other
stumpers, to drill their forces. 1t was
clearly distinguished in this respect from
the other committees, who had not yet
the annual reports upon which their re-
ports must be necessarily based.
Mr.. w. said if there was any gentleman
on the floor who could sympathise with
the Chairman of the committee in his
domestic affliction, it was himself Blu,
no censure was intended. The Chairman
was absolyed from blame. The fact
that he had left the whole matter in the
hands Of a colleague, if he had not been
absolved before, would have that effect
Mr.. Taylor made an explanatory state
ment connected with the preparation o.
the bill to be reported to the House, which
he said had been, after much deliberaiion,
matured, and was now ready. He deni.
ed that he, Cor one, had been elected with
reference to any particular temperance
measure. He had been elected on his
general character in his own county,
without any questions being asked.
Gentlemen had been blowing both hot
and cold in the same breath. They con-
tended that the minds OF the committee
had been made up, and that the charac-
ter of the measure to be brought forward
was perfectly understood. Yet the same
moment they complain that they will no,
have sufficient time to decide upon bill
| whose provisions were so notorious. He
would leave them to reconcile these con.
flicting statements as best they might.
| Gentlemen need have no apprehension
of having no opportunity to make their
mark for the inspection Of their dear con-
stituents.
Mr.. T. said that public opinion was
against the law now in force. AS to VIVA
particular law was best calculated to meer
the public wishes, there were various
opinions
Mr.. Mackenzie could not but compli
ment the delicacy of gentlemen. They
had alluded to domestic Affections of the
Chairman Of the Temperance Committee
not once, nor twice, nor even thrice, bu
they had continued until they had grown
quite pathetic. Less remark would have
as fully been appreciated. He contended
| tuot SOiO OOJOSt "oS W otoVO oAi lhe
action of the House by mastery mac
tivity. If two months were not sufficient
to enable the committee to make up theil
minds, it was time some means were ia
ken to secure action, as action was ex'
pected and desired by the people of the
State. He had not been elected upon his
general character alone. but upon both his
character and his principles. They did
not take things upon trust in his region
He was known to be against any prohibi
tory law involving the features ofthe Maine
law, and he should so vote; but he de-
sired to meet the question fairly. which
could not be done at the end of the ses
sion.
| II the repeated disavowal that the res
olution implied any censure, was not sui
fcient to satisfy gentlemen, he did no
think it due to the majority to offer any
further assurance on the subject.
The amendment of the gentleman from
Preble was merely an evasion. If there
had been any dereliction of duty on the
part Of any Of the standing committees. lie
them be singled out, and not thus con