Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-06-28
For the Shirt of the Aqe.

For the SPIRIT Of the Age.
Mr.. EDITOR Asst has been some time
since [ have read a communication from
Camden, in your excellent paper, I desire to
write you a short article to let you know
whether the people of old Camdenare asleep
or wide awake.
On Saturday, the 10th inst, the Sons Of
Temperance Of Jonesboro' Division, No.
POI, turned out, and were addressed on the
Eoceasion bs that ssezsing advocate Of seza-a
peranee, Mr. johnson who led off by saying
that he had consented to become lecturer
for the counties of Currituck, Camden, Pas
quotank, and Perquimans, and in accep-
ting the call, he did not look at the thing
in pecuniary point of view, but he did so
because he felt that it was his duty as
minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and
lover of the rights of the people, to work
for the cause Of God and his fellow citizens.
He stated that he should confne himself
wholly to the subject of prohibition, and in
doing so, he expected to show that the
liquor traffic was wrong; and that prohibi-
tion was right; and he proved, I thought,
to the satisfaction of any rational mind,
that the traffic was carried on for the ex-
press purpose Of gain by those who engaged
IN It, He stated that some people say, it
would be Of no use to pass a prohibitory
law in North Carolina, for, say they, the
people have passed law of that sort in
Maine, and there is more liquor drank there
now than before. If this is the case, said
Mr.. johnson, why do the rumites howl and
rave so furiousl ly against the passage ofsuch
a law in this State ? [ should think, said
he, that the rumites would like law oi
that sort, if it be like some people say
But, the truth is, the report Of such persons
is untrue, and the rumites know it perfect
ly well. Why will some people circulate
such base errors? Oh ! consistency, thou
art jewel
Mr.. Editor, I should like very we'll t.
follow Mr.. johnson throughout his whole
speech, but the want oftime and space for
bids me doing so and | fear [ should d.
Mr.. johnson injustice, were [ attempt t,
follow him through his whole speech. HI
has won the reputation Of being most ex
cellent and popular temperance lecturer
The people are highly pleased with him
If we had many such men to traverse tn
State of North Carolina from one extremit,
to the other, [ think we should soon b
freed from the tyrant-ardent spirits
After Mr.. johnson had concluded, Rev
Evan Forbes rose apdAaddresSea the aud
upon them the necessity of a prohibitor
liquor law. He said that some people sal
it was too soon to approach the matter
Such persons, said he, were like suckin
babes, they wda cry out for more milk a
long as their mothers would crafty thei
appetites; and he said the best way to kee
them from sucking, was to take the bottl
from them, and tell them, they should NJ
suck any longer Mr.. Forbes is natiy
of Camden county, and has seen enough {
the evils arising from the liquor traffic, I
teach him that nothing will answer in th
country but prohibitory liquor law.
After Mr. Forbes concluded his speecl
the people all dispersed to their homes wit
smiles upon their countenances, which il
dicated that they were well pleased wit
the good advice they received from the gel
tlemen who addressed them on tie occasio
There were good many persons, out (co
sidering the busy time, among whom we
a great many ladies. When they are wi
us, there is no danger of defeat They pc
sess great influence, and, thank God, it
put forward in the great, the good, the g
rious, and the benevolent cause of tempe
ance. It was Pocahontas who saved t
; life of John Smith. It will be through t
influence of the ladies, that great ma
: more lives will be saved from the poiso
; Gus weapon of the rum-seller. The ladi
of Camden deserve great creditfo the b
and noble stand they have taken in
: temperance cause. May they live to re
the fruits of their efforts.
PROHIBITION