The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-11-25

stTVe UOuntTV, aCcOTuInE
70 the dictates OF his conscience, with man TO call
him in question. This was our Bond of Union and
Brotherhood. The question not 10 what poti-
cal party does be belong, or what are his religious
opinions but does h gissk s1at0cicdti,,g Jiq,aors
can we save him from that sin? five can we shall
make him better, happier, and more useful man
Adherlng 70 this fundamental article of our faith
and animated by confidence in the truth and holt
ness OF our mission, we went forward in our work
Men OF talent and eloquence sought our midst. We
held our meetings, private and public, in the Dvis
ion Rooms and in the Tents. In our public squares
and in our churches the streets and public high
ways we held up boldly and ahectonatey, before
our fellow citizens the blessings of Temperance, and
the inducements for them to unite with us; and as
faithfully we warned them against the vice of intern
Perance its suferngs wretchedness and degradation.
We held our public festivals, and our heightened
professions Oh, how did my heart bound at the
sightof thousand hardy study men, all clad in the
regalia Of Temperance, with embems floating and
banners flying in full march through our streets.
Truly II was an "army with banners, which TO be
to be felt. Such was the state of things in
lS52, the period to which you called my attention.
The public saw it. and the proud and the lofty cursd
the lp and scorned; the city saw that there was
honesty virtue and intellect there, as well as true
pety, and they could not look upon it unmoved.
The history of the time affords abundant proof of
that. Our public men felt and were moved by it;
and rum palaces, as well as grog shops trembled
and tonered, whilst their occupants CRASHED their
| teeth and vented their curses. 6.g d,
The Mayor of the city, Walter Lenox ESQ.,, felt II
his duty to call the attention of the City Councils to
the subject in his general message Of August 26h,
| 1852, in the following terms: ta9f%fis
/" j earnestly invite your attention to the necessity
Of REVISION Of the laws in relation to the retail Of
| liquors, am fully satisfied, not only from the
returns Of the Police and Asylum, but from my Off.
cial observation otherwise that INTEMPERANcE is the
cause utmost erctusigeN Of all the disturbances and
| pauperism which aflict our community. Our laws
should seek to restrain and not foster an evil of such
frightful magnitude. The charter does not regard
revenue is to be drawn, b as an crit to te restrained
| or prohibited by the eXacton of licenses, or such
other means as are authorized by It,, With this
ntpoSant prtnclpke en- v7sao, many most necessary
changes can be made and wholesome restraints
added, Difficult as it is, and may say, almost inn
possible, to establish by legal proofs violations of
the existing laws, the only true remedy in my opinion
$50 far as our powers and Legislation con effect it is
to reduce the number md classes OF licenses with sdd-
ioDal restrictions upon those which may be granted
In addition to the forfeiture Of the license upon
second conviction in conformity with existing laws,
extend to the Mayer discretionary power to sus-
pend the licenses for limited time, il cases Of
fagrant violation Of the law upon the first convic-
ton; and for the sale of liquor without licenses,
ipfict the severest penalty which the charter will
allow. In advance Of any general action upon this
subject invite your immediate attention to the
defects of the I'd Section of the Act of October &c.
1919, and the Sth Section of the Act of November 5,
1882, in relation to minors and persons of color"
This was the first official act Of decided encourage
ment given to the Of Temperance by any of the
authorities of the city. There we've members of the
Council known to sympathize with us, and some Of
them went so tar,as Join us in the public discus
sons of the subject before the people but body
they3had taken no action on the subject. And was
well known, that great laxity prevailed in the grant
lngiof Licenses to taverns and igrog shops. Itwas
generally understood that forms for these licenses
were signed by the Mayor in blank, and left with the
Register TO be filed up by him and delivered to per-
sens who should apply for them, with papers filed up
IN accordance with the forms required by law. There
was still greater laxty in the enforcement of the law
for the suppression and restraint OF intemperanceby
the police The complaints against them were many
and loud. :.. ,,g .g sfar a
In view of the facts the message of the Mayor was
hailed as the arbinger of better times the dawning
of new era in the history of ngton-and the
Temperance Army rallied under it. A new energy
was Infused throughout the ranks in this city, and in
Georgetowh. In the Division-rooms of the "Sons,"
and the Tents OF the Rachabites--in public meet
ngs the streets and public squares and in churches
by night and by day, the great doctrines of Temper
ance were urged upon our fellow citizens, as also
warnings against the vices crimes and sufferings
you Of the partyou took in these discussions You
were absent from of these meetings at which it
was possible for you to be present and no man said
u did more in the cause than you, and few with
effect If we had among the public speakers more
eloquent tongues, there whose zeal and fer
vency exceeded yours-none to whom the public
Judgment awarded more praise. And may add, that
there was no one upon whom the curses of the rum
- .. . q. 4. 4
My own part in these proceedings was less promi-
nent as have no professions as public speaker
indeed, up 10 this time my observation in regard 10
the vice Of intemperance had been restricted, very
much, to its effects on official friends and associates
and that class of society in apparently easy crcun-
stances. 1t is true had seen many fall from these
circles TO the cutters, and sink into degradation in
their slough and fth-but now, my position in the
Temperance associations made it my duty to visit
the abodes of the laborng poor-those who had no
regular income TO look TO, or house farm TO shelter
them, but Woodworking men, who earned their daily
bread by their daily labor And in these abodes,
from the wleehed mother and the starving children
| learned 70 know and TO feel the horrors of this
accuIsed trafiic-and never can forget TO pray to
Cod IN his mercy TO put an end 10 it, cease to use
the best efforts OF which am capable to persuade
my fellow men TO abandon, and Danish il forever
II In addition 10 these measures the Ternneranoe
men attacked tho rum traffic in the public prints and
opened a direct correspondence with the Mayor and
Councils of the city, tHsi x 'a ts.iS.' 'l'''77' Z
- The effect + these discussions and operations were
soon visible-the public mind was Weakened np Il
became the subject Of general conversation in ali
circles and quarters Of the city. The rum traffic
became mad aud sullen. They did not yentuere
upon any public defence Of their business They
saw that such step would be fatal and wisely and
prudcnty kept silent They sheltered themselves
under the plea that their business was lawful and
therefore highland especially, they harped, in a
private way, upon the words Liberty and freedomi
The right of every in our free country 10 aci.
drink and wear what they pleased, &C &C.
II was Madame Roland, / think, who, during the
horrors OF the French Revolution on her way 10 the
place OF execution, whilst the popnlace in the wild.
ness Of their phrensy, were shouting the words
LIBERTY AND FREEDoHil" exclaimed u o freedom 4
what crimes committed in thy name fi' and thus
Il is and will continue to be.
In this state of public opinion. the Mayor and
Councils became seriously concerned 10 know what
70 do the public Judgment demanded that something
shonld be done. The Temperance friends demanded
prohibition This TIE Councils were afraid 10
grant, but set themselves to work on u more strin-
gent and efficient License system. They labored
long and hard, and finally in the spring of 1883
determined to repeal al existing laws authorizing the
granting of licenses 10 taverTs and ordinaries and
all shops for The sale Of spirituous liquors and pass
laws establishing a more stringent system.
preparatory TO the passage OF this new and i'm
proved system, and as sort Of Introduction Of them
70 NE people OF the city, the Councils passed ON the
9TH Of May, 1862 the following resolution. author
izIng the citzeas TO vote, at the general election
which was 70 come Oft on the 9th June 1858. on the
question OF licenses or no licenses Ito wit:
iesotved de-, That the Register Of the city be. and
he is hereby directed to have prepared. sufficient
number Of tickets, printed with the word "crnsesr
upon one set and the word mo censesn upon another
SET and have them deposited the several ward polls
on the rst Monday Of June next when IL shall be the
any Oh the commissioners of Election TO have box
ivr Ine purpose OF receiving said tickets which tickets
sna pc counted after the closing of the polls and
correct retdn Of them made TO the Register abov;uo
the number cast for licenses and tbe numhaSr
against licenses; (" the persons ent;flad =, - ,,a