Smyrna times., 1857-06-17
stat, Temperance Convention.

perance Convention met at the Court House I'D
Dover, on Tuesday, the 10th. The President,
DANIEL CoRBIr, Esq, in the chair, and RoBT
ID. HOFFEcXER appointed secretary pro tem.' IN
the absence of the secretary, DIR. ID. w. MAULL.
Alter an impressive prayer by the Rev. w. Z.
Ro nson, on motion, VIM. r. CahoOn, N. b.
Smithers, VIM. Hazard, Elijah Crouch and
John Downham, Esqrs., were appointed COM
mlttee to prepare business for the consideration
o. the meeting. The committee, after a short
absence, returned with the following resolutions
which were read and adopted:
Res0Iued lSt That though recent events
have greatly discouraged the friends of Tenn
perance, and tor the time being seem to have
plralyzed their Efforts, yet our confidence in
the righteousness OF the cause in which we are
engaged, and our confidence in its ultimate sue
cess remain undiminished, and we are deter
mined to tight on, and if need be, fight ever
agninst. the frightful evils to humanity, that
result from the sale and use OF intoxicating
drinks as a'beve:age.
ResOlUed ID. That in the opinion of this
convention, moral suasion and proper Legisla-
tion should go hand in hand in pushing for
ward the cause of Temperance, and we look
now AS heretofore. to entire prohibition of the
tratfic in these drinks as beverage. And any
LegiSIati On short of this, we accept only as
steps tow rdS the great object OF enactlng and
sustaining prOhibitory legislation.
ReSOiUed Sd. That in the judgment of this
convention, the friends of the cause of Tenn
perance in every neighborhood, should 60 vigor-
ously to work, in recognizing societies, enc
rOliIng men woman and children, that we recon,
mend 10 recording names that there be seper-
ate columns for the names so that the names of
the mem could be at any time easily ascer-
Jained
Resolved H. That the societies so raised,
should be pledged against the manufac ure,
sale and use of Intoxicating drinks as a bever-
age
Tie folio wing resolution was offered by the
Rev. NJ. Jerman and, after some dlscusson,was
also adopted:
Resolved, That in the opinion of this Conven.
tim. the Legislature of this State, during its
session last winter, committed two very great
err0rs. viz: first. by repeating the law which
prohibited bowling alleys and more especially,
secondly, by repeating the law enacted for the
suppression OF mtemperance-ln the repeal OF
which, the iOOdgates OF intemperance have
b zen opened and streams of. liquid fire have
been sent forth, bIighting and blasting the best
hopes of men, and spreading crime, poverty,
Wretchedncss and ruin in every direction
throughout the State.
The following, offered by T. B. Coursey, Esq,
was also read aud adopted:
Resolved, That we continue to show 10 the
world, by consistent course of action, that we
are now, and ever intend to be, the men we
profess to be; that although rum may be spread
broadcast and its use become reputable and
popular, we will still discUuntenance its use IN
all Our intercourse with men, and will endeavor
10 carry out our principle at all times.
- On motion, the proceedings were ordered to
be published in the Smyrna Times, and other
papers throughout the State. The convention
then adjourned until the next annual meeting
in May, 1858.
The meeting was harmonious throughout
though spirited. and seldom have we heard such
expressions of deep, settled, unfinching tenn
perance principle. Considerable discussion en-
sued on The different resolutions, mainly tend
ing upon the course the temperance men SHOULD
now take. disposition was expressed by
member 10 go back TO the old principle of mora
suasion, while the others contended that it hat
az
getting rid ot the evil only by legal action. Blu
when and how to proceed was the question:
An impression seemed to pervade the conven
tiOn that nothing could be done by the presen
temperance party at this time, and the onl
way for them to do was to "bide their time
until the reaction takes place.
Everything however will be done by exampl
and expression, and when practicable, in accor
dance with the resolutions, that can be done.-
The resolutions were elOquently discussed b
Wm. r. Cahoon, N. B. Smithers, Jno. Dowr
ham, and Elijah Crouch, Esqr's., and by tn
Reys. NJ. Jerman, J. Pastorield, J. L. Croucl
JOS Gregg, and w. Hazard, Owing to mi
take in the Wilmington papers in pubishn
the meeting, Thursday the 10Th, there we
none froul New Castle except the President
We regret that we cannot give a synopsis
the interesting discussions and remarks, f
want of time to get the same in type, before
suing.