Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-10-15
For the Spirit o. the Age.
Temperance Meeting.

At a large meeting of the citizens of
Lenoir and vicinity, held in the Court
House, in Lenoir, on Monday the 22d ult.,
to take some action in regard to the lieen-
sed retail ofspirituous liquors in said town
on motion, r. B. Boyle was called to the
chair andG w. +. Harper appointedSecre
tary.
Whereupon the Rev. Ell. H. Prout adj
dressed the meeting and then offered the
following memorial and protest, which, on
motion, was adopted by a rising vote.
The undersigned inhabitants Of Lenoir,
in Caldwell county, n. G., beg leave most
respectfully to represent to the Court of
Pleas and Quarter Sessions of said county,
as follows, VIZ
l. That the quiet and good order of their
town are infringed and at times grievously
violated, and the sound moral department Of
many of our country people liable to be
greatly injured, by the licensed retail of ar
dent spirits within the town limits.
2. That the general reputation of our com
munity for peace and orderliness is not
what our wish and desire and endeavor is to
have it and this evil result, we believe flows
from the sale and use of ardent spirits
among our own citizens, and our country
~ OOk W ~ 1OA05 CtlO tOWd A8O1 Ai4Cl z
cessary business.
3. That when the moral reputation of a
place is deprecated, it is a deep injury to the
: community living in it affecting unfavor-
ably all interests but more especially ruin
: Gus to social elevation and the interests of
! such educational enterprises as that of the
: Female Collage, located in our place, and
? ? the prosperity of which we have at heart.
, 4. A great amount of crime which costs
l the county much expense is the actual re
y suit of the licensing of such grog-shops as
d we now have; and for this we appeal to
s recent facts Of outbreaking violence, and
o probable loss of life.
5. Our young men. the hope and fond
pride of our people, the anticipated stay and
: solace of their parents, and the ornament of
J our civil state, are falling into an excessive
use of intoxicating drinks which will soon
re create a ruinous habit.
8. Even our children see before them ex-
amples of beastly department, are unblush-
: ingly allowed to drink without the surmise
or consent of parents of that which would
ie quickly make them as british as their sedu-
ne GERS and they learn to hear without shame
ct and repeat without horror, language revolt
ed ing to human and christian ears.
at Z. The poor become poorer daily by the
tn presence OF dram-shops ; the distressed are
made more and more wretched, every evil
almost is aggravated, and not one counter
NC balancing good meets our eyes. Good men
Ia among US find it more difficult to maintain
y, sound habits ; the reformed, who would
i" gladly become confirmed in sober habits, are
ks exposed to unnecessary and hazardous neril,
m and the actual drunkards are made to hurry
- to their quick destruction by the open and
" constant temptation to drink at our licensed
a grog shops.
nv Thnrnfnra nrnfn,nalu Cd -o.~c,II- 49,
ne WINGED that our dearest interests as citizens
I'd. are IN Jeopardy that our fondest hopes az
mt parents are at stake mot to mention the
mo amenities and decencies of refined md mora
society, In peril of being too much abandon
~ ~ ed we now approach by our worshipful bod,
:, and present our most earnest emphatic pro-
or test against the licensing Of retail selling o
the liquors in our midst. Most respectfully bu
earnestly we ask you to refuse all license 70
1T retail within our town corporation limits
"a And this we wish to have recorded, and t
Ne wish. 0
eN- At present we are obliged to feel that on
ne peace as a community is infringed, propert,
len ana eVen lite are insecure and we appeal t
nd you as to the guardians of the general wei
* fare and good order-those to whom tn
sound interests of the community are dear
-. AS magistrates of our county and our fel
o ' low citizens, we hope this our solemn pro
test and appeal may meet your approval an
secure your concurring action.
ect Inns is the appeal and firm protest an
ate united request of the undersigned, a larg
majority Of the Inhabitants of the count
"a town OF your county of Caldwell and W
~ further hereby pledge ourselves as a commit
nifty and corporation, to most cheerfulIy an
10 gladly sustain your worshipful body, in a.
Gus absolute refusal of all license for the sale {
! to spirituouS liquors in the limits of orr en,
hat poration and will joyfally take upon our
n selves as a corporation the entire social an
moral responsibility of such desired and mo.
necessary action.
lily, Interesting and appropriate speeche
'ck- were also made by the Rev. A. Erwin an
let, j. Z Norwood and w, W. Lenoir, Esqr
The latter gentleman read a memorial
un- be presented at the next session of til
State Legislature, praying that body to e,
: act an amendment to the Act incorporatin
said town, SO that the town commissions,
shall have power to prohibit the sale of
quors In the incorporation limits, in lei
ar, quantities than Five Gallons.
ar On motion of j. G. Norwood, it was O
ess- dercd that a copy of these proceedings /
n. forwarded to the Spirit of the Age for pu1
MS LEGATION and that a number of the uap.
is containing them be furnished to each ma,
an istrate of the county.
On motion of Rev. Fl. III. Prout, Il
ard Chairman and Secretary were requested
'ro- present a copy of the Memorial and OF
Lit test with these proceedings, to the Court
Pleas and Quarter Sessions at it's next teri
Iew Both memorials were signed by all pr
sent, ladies and gentlemen, after which
On motion the meeting adjourned.
R. B. BOGLE, Ch'm'n.
nch GEO. W. F. HARPER, Sec'y.
rev. ~
hot IT,. IL. c..