New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-11
cor. CLARK At BOSTON.

We take from The Boston Telegraph the following
report of Gov. Clarks speech at the great Temperance
Meeting in that city, on Wednesday;
Mr.. President: 1t was not my purpose in coming
here 10 undertake to entertain you with speech. My
efforts and abors in the Temperance caase have been
in other departments than speech-making Having
Ceived from your State Temperance Committee very
polite and Iressng invitation l concluded If my pres
once here this occasion would be of any service 10
the great cause OF Temperance woad attend although
quite out OF health. Nor did come here for the pur
pose, with any idea of instructng you on the sub
jet of a prohibitory law lon have had more expe-
renee ON chat question than we have in New York.
Not until now were the people of our state forced
from the old system of Granting licenses to sell inoxi-
eating liquors to be used ~ beverage. On this very
day has that inquitOus system finally IN every part OF
our State come 10 end But not until the fh of
July-that day commemorative Of another great
even-shaii we come INTO the full irntion OF that be-
inefficient law.
On this question of Temperance and Prohibition
men Of all parties and fron+a sections can agree The
subject and Ite difficulties suppose the same mere as
in my and other States. Tho cam0r from ln'er
ested raries about the unconstitutonaty OF legisa
five prolibifion of the liquor traffic will be fierce or
faint not according to the conflict or harmony OF such
laws with the constitution, but according TO their ell
cheney iDefiicency IN restraining ana ultimately
Euppfessing the traffic The real objection of our OPP
ponents however they may disguise II under a mass
of yerbiago is not TO the by which we seek 10
accomplish the end but to that cad Itself Inc pro
cesses of law which will give most effect to the prohi-
itory principle the principles which IN the inter-
probation of these conflict with the Constitution
Other processes might violate every provision CT our
fundamental laws and yet being Inefficient would call
forth no hostility end hardly protest from these
guardians OF the Constitution. TIE h'ng done ana
NOT the means Of dong a. repeat, constitutes the real
ground Of objection and calls forth the most active anu
yirulent hostility TO our prohibitory laws
IL the experience of the past has determined any
thing-if it is safe 10 infer that effects which, through
the whole eriod of human history have followed Ger
tain causes are consequent upon and will continue to
foiiovx flneQ then IL demonstrated fatt,
that between civil government as an ordination TO
certain end and the quortraic as productive OF GER
tain results there is an inevitable anagonism-iat 10
The integrity of the or the other IL Il the province
Of Government to suppress crIme-the hquor-.rafhc
promotes crime II is the province of Government to
conserve the public peace and saiety-the h9uor-t9inc
ippcrsLs and not unfrcquently destroys, the public
peace aud safety. II is the province of Government TO
prevent the citizen from using his property as 10 en-
danger health, destroy life, or inure the properly OF
ohen-and on this principle predlcaicl all iaws
in relation to nusances not TO give other illustrations
The liquor traffic saorihces the real interests OF the
many to the supposed interests of the tew-and
wore than this, involves the wanton sacruice OF
thousands of human hives, and widespread &c,
moraizatiOn of the living more to be delNaied
fan death itself In one word, every interest
which Government was established 10 pso1ec1 'ic
honor traffic assais and tends to destroy. The ques-
ton Of prohibition therefore Is SIMPLY TINS; Shah
Government honestly endeayor TO attain the END Tor
which j; was ordained The question of the eonstltu-
hOnality of Prohibition becomes tins: Il the cINl pow
or competent to use the requisite TO The attain
ment Of that endl Both of these questions must DC
answered in the affirmative, or Government - a aFce'
statute which most efcctuGlly secures the suppress
son Of the liquor traffic beSf ucoords with me primary
idea Of Government and is therefore most IN harmony
with he intention and meaning of It's iundanenta
law. THIS seems 10 me 10 not only the philcs9phcs
but The common scnsc Wow OF the SUBJECT needing io
tine spun legal sOphistIir Ia sustain H. anu impIeela
be to all their assaults There il not law upon the
statute books of our several Sstes, for the proec
bon Of health property, life OF morals, that does not