The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-03-15
The Ladies Memorializins the General
Assembly.

A memorial, signed by about one hun.
dred ladies of this place. praying for 3
prohibitory liquor law. has been present.
ed to our State Legislature. We learn
that similar memorial was in circulation
last week at Topeka, and was receiving
the signature of every lady to whom il
was presented The following IS scopy:
MEMORIAL:
"Io tie Honorable, the Senate, and
House Of Representatives. Of the State
Of Rahsds:
1.-The undersigned, your memorialists,
citizens of Kansas, aud the wives and
daughters of your constituents, beg leave
respectfully topreseRt to your Honorable
Body, that, in the opinion of your me-
moriaiists. the public interest requires
that suitable laws be Immediately passed
to prevent the manufacture and importa-
ton, for sale or use as beverage, within
the State of Kansas, of any distilled or
malt liquors.
"lt Is not necessary for US, in view of
your own observations, and the united
testimony of all experience, to enter into
minute discussion of the evils resulting
to all classes of society from the use OF
intoxicating drinks as beverage. Ever
since Its hrst Manufacture it has been
the aim of legislators to pass restraining
laws to prevent its abuse; and each year,
in the older States of the Union, new
enactments have been found necessary,
until the statute books have become liter
ally loaded down with provisions on the
subject. 1t was not until within a few
years that the true method was devised
tor its eradication and then The imagin-
AIRY rights, long established, and en-
trenched behind the bulwarks of law,
and even State constitutions, were found
in the way of an effectual remedy. Not
SO in Kansas. Everything is new, and
those privileges acquired by law and
long g-established custom do not exist. No
one can point to the precedents of several
generations to sustain him in doing that
which he frankly admits to be wrong
upon society.
'tHere, in Kansas, We are laying the
foundations of new society; and you,
as the first law making power recognized
by the people, should examine, with the
greatest circumspection, the evils existing
III older States, and by wise and judicious
enaciments, protect the moral and social
interests of the community. You will
not think to pass by enacting stringent
laws against the sale of lottery tickets,
the selling of unwholesome food, the
adulteration of -four, DC. How, then,
can you fail to give attention to subject
which impoverishes a whole nation,
brings wretchedness and misery in its
train, fills the land with mourning, and
sends the widows wall and orphans sob
to heaven for relief?
"In view of the plastic material which
you have the power to mould into form,
and clothe with lineaments and breath !;
and in view of the great suffering en-
tailed on us, the females of the State,
who are unable, by persuasion and kind
ness, to influence those we love in the
Ichannel which leads to temperance, pros
perity and happiness and in view of
their oft-repeated declarations that if the
destroyer could be removed from their
sight and reach, they would abstain from
its use, we, therefore, urgently but re-
spectfully pray you to take our memorial
into consideration, and enact such laws
in consonan"e with its spirit, as your
wisdom may suggest"