The Georgetown news., 1855-06-28
Address of the State Temperance Conven.
fiOn to the People of California.

lzatlons OF this State, assembled at Sacra-
mento on the 10th of June, beg leave to call
your earnest attention to one of the most
important moral and legal reforms of the
day. We are all interested in the suppress
sion of the vice of intemperance, and the re-
moval of the evil of the liquor traffic from
our State, There is no man, woman or
child, who has not common-a vast inter-
est in this movement. There is no man so
blind as not to see that the use of intOxicat-
ing liquor as a drink is the bane of the
! State-the most prolific source of poverty
and every wicked work; that its crimes and
miseries cannot be calculated Human Ian
guage cannot portray in their genuine col
orS the ruin it has brought on the world
All the tears and groans of hell but swell
the chorus of the earthly wall of the liquor
war. 1t is robbing our countrymen not of
gold only but of those moral and intelIectu-
al virtues which are the glory of man, and
which may be essential to the salvation of
the State. and thus undermining the founda-
tions upon which our republic rests-the
broad basis of civil liberty
Our object then is to expel from society
this great disturbing evil: 1t is to arrest
the practice and traffic that in its nature
and results tends to impoverisir and depress
multitudes of people, rendering them vicious
and degraded in moral conduct, and thus de-
stroying their responsibility as individuals,
and greatly impairing their collective
strength. We seek to avert from commun-
ity and the rising generation of men, the
most tremendous scourge that ever swept
over any country.
Fellow-citizens, we ask you to consider
the appropriate measures for the accomplish
ment of this object. These are moral sua-
sion and legal action: lst. We seek by NOR
al suasion to induce men to adopt our Tenn
perance sentiments in theory, and to abstain
in practice from the use of Intoxicating
drinks, representing arguments to their un-
derStanding and motives to their hearts and
consciences. Where our objects extend only
to instances of individual benevoence and
charity, and to restraining men from prac-
tees which do not injure anybody but them
selves, we cannot legitimately resort to any
other means. Besides, the whole field Of
popular influence lies first in moral suasion.
1t is power over public sentiment which
has accomplished wonders, and is capable
of further cOnquests. And as we advance
on to other necessary measures, let US keep
in the presence of this angel of the cloud of
the divine presence-the angel of light and
love-the armor of moral suasion. I'd. We
also advocate legal action. We seek BY le-
gal action to restrain men from the perpe-
tration of acts which injure their neighbors,
a Wr0iI nd
BILE mischiefs on the State; protection for
our fellOwcitizens against public disturb
ances and social disorders-against, crime,
pauperlsm and the augmenting burdens of
taxation,-in fine, against all the stupendu-
GUS eyils-public and private, social and po-
litical-which the traffic in inebriating
drinks has scattered throughout the State
and the world. 1t is appropriate that we
should seek by legal means to redress the
Injured to the same degree that they are
by law incapable of protecting and redress
ing themselves. The wife, and children,
and kindred of the inebriate cannot pro-
tect Themselves from the tavern-keeper of
the village, or the grocer of the city; the
trader can take the money which the wife
needs for bread for herself and babes, or for
her clothing from the piercing cold, he can
take it for rum, which converts her sworn
protector into an unfeeling brute, the father
into fiend, the husband into loathesome
beast, and she has no remedy! The law is
pOwerless-aye more! Hear, Oh Heavens +!
and be not silent at the tears of worse than
widows, and to the cries of worse than or
phans;-the iniquity is framed by a law
the trader has license for the crime
The effects of the traffic are not confined
to those engaged in it, but interfere direct
y with the interest and personal rights of
every other individual in the land, and are
incompatible with the public welfare; there
fore, the people have right to employ just
such measures as are necessary to abate the
nuisance. 1t is upon this principle that
laws have been passed in most civilized
countries for the suppression of gambling,
smuggling and lotteries. and those engaged
In these practices are coerced to obedience
by penal statutes. 1t is doctrine as firmly
established as constitutional axioms, that
the Legislature has right to suppress the
trathc IN Intoxicating drinks, whenever pub
ilc good demands it. And the prohibitory
law having become necessary, will, if pass
ed, meet the hearty sanction, and be enforc
ed by the stern resolve of high minded
people.
In order to secure the enactment and en-
forcement of such law, the friends of Tenn
perance must long ere this have become sat-
isfied that it is necessary for them to act in
concert, and as one man, in the coming
State election.
This is no scramble for place by men
whose only motives are the rewards and
of Office, but combination of
men united for common purpose, upon
principles sacred to us all; and it is our du-
ty to adopt those measures which, reduced
to practice, will insure the triumph of our
principles.
Fellow-citizens invoke you to labor