Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-07-19

persons Intoxicated as I supposedly came up,
the steps stamping with feet, and calling with
stentorian voices, doubtless for the purpose
of drowning my voice. Isuddenly stopped.
and remarked to the citizens present, that ]
would be gratifed if some one would quiet
them. No one, 1owever, attempted it. /
stamp and yell / however, made an effort
to he heard, but could not succeed. I again
asked the citizens to quiet the rabble, but no
one, las far as l ann apprised) made any eff
fort to do 81. | then asked the Magistrates,
"a number of whom were present) and the
Sheriff to exercise their authority to suppress
the row: but, sad to relate, not one moved
in that direction. / then again remarked,
gentlemen and magistrates, | do not ask you
to protect me, but | ask you to protect your
selves from such outrages as you see but still
no one, so far as | could discover made any
effort; instead however of quoting the rab-
bic, several came to me and urged me to de-
sist, and be quiet myself, to whom L replied,
| should take my own course.
While these things were transacting, | a
gain and again said to the company present,
that | had done all was authorized to do, to
: quiet the row, and now, as they had not IN
terfered to put it down, | proclaimed aloud,
: that I threw the whole responsibility of that
: riot upon them. Said a gentleman to me-, do
l you intend to include us all, good as well as
the bad? answered, | had no doubt there
t were many honorable exceptions Individual
e ly; but | had no evidence of the fact that the
: company, as such, did wish the suppression
Of the riot. But said another, there are SO
: or more of them, and we cannot do it. | an
swered, the magistrates and Sheriff could it
u they would at all events, they were officially
. bound to do it. As an evidence that these
e officers could have suppressed the riot, the
Sheriff in the hottest of this riot made procla-
nation that the members of the Court would
meet again Immediately to do business, when
in five minutes all was quiet.
I call this a glorious triumph and it is SO,
l. Because, amidst the whole affair, the
sober-minded were deeply rejecting upon the
scene, and became fully satisfied of the truth
of a remark l frequently made out aloud
here gentlemen, is the most demonstrative
argument | haye ever seen, in favor OF total
prohibition and many responded, 1t IS SO,
1t IS oil! 2. Because, before | left the
e. Court green, q number Of men said to me,
n and others we have been opposed to prohl-
bition, but now we are convinced, and 60 for
I'd it. 3. Because, the whole of this was trans
tn acted in opposition to, and in violation OF
e. law, and so disguised the thinking men, that
iv they have much cause to throw their lntu-
IS, ence in favor of temperance indeed, some
ct so expressed themselves in my hearing. A.
,r- Because, it was evidently the intention Of the
n parties concerned, not only to silence me, but
,es to drive me from the field but in this they
We also failed, so far SO, that even some of the
he enemies themselves evidenced that they felt
themselves bafled, and many of the more
he thinking ones acknowledged the victory was
for on our side. 5. Because, when the confusion
i'm was at its highest, many who before had ap
err. peared to be either overwhelmed with feal
The or astonishment, were aroused to such al
at extent that they would then have taken tht
nd law in their own hands. Feeble men became
ere strong, the faint hearted became courageous
Indeed, several asked me shall we fight TO
you ? to whom [ answered, no fighting her
nd for me or my cause. Ny God, | said, wa
en- fighting the battle. SEE, HEAR the most I'm
anSa0erable argument for prohibition, SEE IT
nds HEAR IT. Many voices responded, q grea
our Temperance victory, a temperance revival
EN-. Oh! said one, there is more doing for tn
are and others, how it works, we are gaining fas
p 6. Because, many of the friends of Tempe
oare ance are so aroused upon the subject, tn;
they affirmed they would do more, and /
more decided than ever before.
ide, Three things are hereby evident: l. TIL
ight the temperance cause has the ascendancy
be- the minds of the purest and best enlightel
the ed portions OF our community. 2. That tt
opponents of our cause are satisfied that tt
cor argument and truth are on our side. Their
n to fore, 3. That nothing is left to them b
saw BRUTE FORCE.
heir In conclusion the relation above given
null believe to be substantially correct. And
und add, that have no doubt but a very larg
ink portion of the company present would ha'
lead been willing to have suppressed the riot,
nce.' they had not been overwhelmed with surpri
the and astonishment. When they recover,
from this, the scene had become entirely u
ont manageable, and therefore they could n
Is of then suppress it. | do therefore exonera
you those who would if they could have remedi
ID of the evil, from blame in this matter. If Il
at civil officers had acted promptly they cou
at first have prevented it. This was not dor
must SO far is my observation extended. No mar
ude, rights can be secure when civil officers W
nav. allow such scenes as then transpired, wit
ar out an attempt, officially, to put them dow
Maj Individually, there may have been attemr
as" made but none that l know of officially.
and In this / may be mistaken, I hope l am.
s. or PETER DOUB.
Iuib- Hunts Store, July, 1854.