The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-10-05
MEETING OF THE CONVENTION.

MEETING OF THE CONVENTION.
UTICA, October 8, 1855.
The delegates to the State convention of he friends
of prohibition assembled, informally at Mechanics
Hall, at IL O'Clock this morning, when than
hour spent in preparing list of the delegates in
attendance.
Among those present noticed Mr. W. H. Burleigh
Rev. DR.. Marsh, Rev. Mr.. Warren; General Knox, Of
Oneida; Capt. Hiram Putnam of Onondaga Gen. Harris,
of Chenango Rev. Mr.. Champion; Hon. Mr. Rider, of
Jamaica; and Charles Bartlett, Of Poughkeepsie.
There being still hour to elapse before the time for
calling the convention to ORDER loud demands made
for Mr.. w. II. BURLEaH who thereupon took the stand
and said -
to the very choice and expressive Language Of the
New fork H4ib-present on inis occasion, and this
the same sort" Laughter and cheers) use the term
not because believe It descriptive of the character Of
those who engaged in the temperance lion,
reformation, by the enforcement of sound probtory
law. but because it is the epthet which is
claim that there any class OF men uDesesvaa
the name of fanatics it is precisely that portion of the
friends OF temperance who advocate the prohibition of
the traffic in Intoxicating beverages by constitutional
law because the object proposed is eminenty good and
the means by which they seek to attain that object
in harmony with the object ITSELF and adapted to it. If
fanatics, let ask the men who give us this OPP
probrous name, what they proposeY DO they propose
as asa substitute for prohibition return to the old license
which now the land has grown up und the
ture Of the license law Cheers. The thousands and
honored graves have been the product of the license
law and have been ruined under that system. The OBJ
jest have in view is the exrpation SO far as possible
Of drunkenness and the delivery this great State aud
ultimately Of the whole nation from the incubus which
rests upon II in the prevalence of ntemperance Has the
license law tended in any degree to the consummaon of
this object! voice goes up from the so 600 staggering
drunkards of this State and from the orphans orphaned
BIZ this cause, louder than own Niagara-No.
(Cheers Well then what shall have9 Free trade in
rum? Cover 1t up and seek to disguise it they may
and by the rum parties mean the parties which OPP
posed to the prohbitory movement. believe in calling
things by their appropriate Names and in this great
movement, those who are not for us are against
certain great philosopher Classified mankind as be-
longing 10 two great partiesthose who wise and
those who are otherwise. Qaughter) We may make
substantially the classification in re ference to this
prohibitory movement-hose who are in favor OF that
movement and the end which seek through it, and
those who are opposed to that movement is undoubt
edly true that many those opposed prohibition are
personally temperance men, and yet their moral inHu
temperance and the great purpose at which it aims 20
after all there only two classes this question The
are in favor Of free trade in rum The bought legal opn
ions given by Lord and Wood, and Hill and Jones and
Others that bear against present prohboy law
just as good against any license law against proh
bitoy law you could frame. There is in fact no neutral
ground between the prohibition of the traffic in noxca
ting drinks and free trade in would like to hear
one single argument to justify the continuance the
liquor traffic in the hands OF ten or one hundred or one
thousand persons which would Justify its continuance
in the hands oa Either let us have free trade or absolute
prohibition Talk about constituonatyl We have done
our best to make constitutional law 1t is declared to
be unconstitutional by these lawyers because the Liquor
Dealers Society have promised magnificent fees to some
and Offices to others Of the lawyers gave them The
opinions deliberately prepared and in iustriously
circulated have also been most munifcently paid for
What is their user What the object OF themp
It is to debauch public sentiment the sub.
ject, to prejudice jurors, and to anticipate the
decision of the courts. II is most indecent attempt
arrest the progress of the prohibtoy statute Now, If
the had resored to to arrest the execu-
ton of the Fugitive Slave law these same gentlemen
would have been udmouhed and indignant against the
fanatics" who lifted up their voices against the law
OF the land. The doctrine then that while a
law remained the statute book it to be
obeyed such leaving the decision of the question
but when the prohbitory statute passed. new Gospel
was promulgated. But repeat, there be egisa-
ton on the subject Of the liquor traffic, conemplat
ing its restriction that does not involve prohibition that
is constitutional in other words the great work of civil
government cannot be pursued without the prohibition
Of the liquor traffic. We cannot stop short Of this
have yet to see the first attempt to reply this argu
ment The legal opinions which have referred fail
entirely discuss the constitutional question thew only
burrow in the techncalities of the law These distin
guished lawyers descend to the level of the petit
logger. They must do this or lose the magnificent fees
law were unconstitutional what them The constitution
OF this State has been changed and amended and
Man has more dignity and power than constitutions
The power which makes constitutions can modify them
amended
generation Of to-day. (Cheers.)
Mr.. GEO. W. BuNGAy of Herkmer county was then
called for and addressed few desutory the
meeting.
The hour Of one O'Clock having now arrived Mr. RcB.
ARDsoS, Of Albany chairman OF the State Temperance
Committee called the Convention TO order and nomi.
mated Charles Bartlett, of Poughkeepse temporary
chairman.
The nomination was ratified by reclamation
Mr.. BARTLETT then addressed the Convention as follows
Friends (f you will allow TO address YOU by that
title) cannot take the chair without first expressing to
tla a.c.. t6atI c.al,
conferred upon me, by calling temporarily to the
chair. Had you assembled here to-day a political
10 he nominated and supported by the voters Of tb
President of the United States il would have been an
honor then to have been called upon preside over this
body, for a moment but called am to-day 10
preside over body of men who have met together not
TO settle the question who is to be next President or
who is to be next political Governor but to act for
the purpose of establishing and carrying out the
great principle OF eenevolence, ] do feel most pro-
iSundly thankful that ! ., have been permitted
do not know Of any which could have called us
together that OF sending thegospel the benght
ed portions OF the earth that is important or that
ought to be the heart Of the phanhrops than
the which has brought here to-day (Cheers1
II Is my most sincere and hearty desire and il has been
my earnest prayer both this morning and before left
home, that God may be amongst and preside over s
guiding and directing us in all councils and de-
liberations, that may be brought such results
that he honor and bless and grant us abundant
success in the coming election. (Cheers.)
The temporary organization Of the Convention was
then completed, by the appointment Of ~ < Barnes az
Ithaca and l.. Nyalls, of WATERFOWL as Secretaries
An ELDERLY GENTLEMAN inquired II IL not usual 10
have such mee tings IS this opened with PRAYER
The CHAIRMAN replied that he had taken counsel On
that subject and found that IL would be more regular 10
the prayer at the organization Of the Con-
vention.
DmyoArs here moved an adjournment till . O'Clock
80 as 10 give the delegates who were TO arrive by the
balpast O'Clock cars opportunity to he present at
the permanent organization.
The motion voted down.
The Chair then authorized to appoint committee
consisting OF Eve from each judicial district TO nomI
nete per ofcers Of the Convention The follow