The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1866-07-12

time to consider this subject. It Ys. a new tenn
perance movement, If 1t can be called such and
confess am not at present prepared to soy wheth-
er can get the assent of my mind TO enter Into ii
or not. Tam In the habit OF, indeed l have a-
ways made 1t point IN life, to look to results, and
study as far as am able both sides before 1 con-
clude what TO do Or what not to do under agiven
state of facts, for II is better not to undertake
even good thing unless 1t can be carried out SO
far at least as to result IN more good than evil.
Now, the question is, to my mind will the
course proposed result II more good than, evil,
and in this community, under the circumstances,
Is the course proposed the best TO bring about the
desired resultF On these questfons men, will
differ, and claiming to be temperance man, l
hope may be permitted to state some OF the OBJ
jections arising in my mind. (Here was called
to order by Rev. Shaw, and the chair decided as
others had spoken, might proceed) Then, II
not using intoxicating liquors as drink, and being
in favof OF the suppression of the same In traffic.
as far as practicable, constitute temperance man,
then ! claim 70 DO ole; and having introduced o
'blll' in the branch of the Legislature of which
am q nember, which passed that House, and
which, If it had passed the Senate would have
compelled all executive officers to shut up all
houses where intoxicating liquors are sold in any
manner on Rftytwo days Of the year, to-wit: on
SUNDAYS. On the discussion Of which bill heard
the opinions OF members fCom different parts Of
the State. as TO the most cftectusl mode Of Sup
pressing the traffic In villages. think am pre-
pared to say, IS temperance ulan, that it IL my
opinion, supported by the opinion and experience
OF those to whom have referred, that your pro-
posed mode is not the best that can be found to
accomplish whatyo desire. (Some interruptions
here.) But that by the town authorities, by or
dinance, and through the officers of the law, with
out offense to any Que, more could bedone than In
any other way.
Your plan, In my judgment, is not the best yet
If 1t is adopted only hope l may be mistaken.
But think am not do not desire, rs has been
intimated, ITO throw cold water on the move
ment." IL thought the plan was otherwise best,
l at present would not like to sign the constitu-
tion for fear might be made one of the committee
of five; for l am free to say that you have no five
men--yes, will say there is no five men In the
town that have the nerve to carry out the duties
to DC imposed on and done by the committee of
five. They would receive the jeers, SCOTS and
curses Of all who supposed they were to be watch
ed and prosecuted by them as smelling committee
as it has been called tonight. This Is not right
Let each aud every take part of the duties and
responsibilities, I'd be Imposed uhder the consti-
tutioh and not fifty or d hundred shift from their
own shouldersO dsagfeeable task to say the least
OF 1t, and make i've do the duty Of all. No five
can be found bold enough to undertake it, and
carry it out in good faith. We have had the ex-
preston from enough of you already to prove that
the number can not be got tonight. As can not
consent to act as committeeman myself, cdn
not ask it of Others II Is unfair;
Furthef; might be permitted to say, COM
binatiUn to enforce one law Uhly, might create
counter combinations, In q divided community
like this to oppose its act ion and also to retaliate
by enforcing other statutes that are daily violated
with mpunty by many, probably, of the persons
entering into this All laws ought to he enforced /;
and if order and the enforcement of the law is the
only object of the combination" it ought to say
all criminal and penal statutes II 1t was to re-
form men by prevailing on them to quit drinking
and selling intoxicating liquors in any tndnher'
whatever, it would be different. Then moral
suasion would be as important as the enforcement
of the law.
We are taught by our ministers and BY the
scriptures, blessed are the peace-makers !" and
now from what have said / am not sure but the
proposed mode would beget strifes and O9nteni
sions, turn neighbor against neighbor, and make
enemies out of former friends, and result in more
evil than good, and finally die out in few months,
as former efforts have done, aud bring As lar as
failure does bring, contempt on the very cause
itself.
Suppose one Of the committee would undertake
to prosecute for violation Of the liquor law, and
the informers, orthe committee-man's, hogs run
at large docs not knowledge Of human nature
teach you that the prosecuted man would retail
iatei and as we have heretofore had, many pros
ecutions would be brought that would finally re-
suit in nothing but bad feeling, loss Of time and
money to all parties, (and fees to lawyers, with
many things said that will always be regretted,
but that can never be taken back) Besides, as a
lawyer, l have always made 1t a special point to
settle oil difficulties without litigation, and think
l could enumerate hundred cases where ! was in
strumental in doing SO. | therefore at present
can not get the consent of my mind to enter into
fha laci In 1pfft fha
sons stated might be violating my first duty as
an attorney, If not my oath of office as such, by
being instrumental in string up lawsuits,
These reasons, when the subject Is FULLY studied,
may amount to nothing and II was to judge BY
those present who have expressed an opinion, IL
they have considered both sides OF the question,
might be led to believe there was nothing in
them, but wish to get the assent of my own mind
from considering the subject myself
Here the Rev. Mr.. Shaw moved that
| be limited to one minute, and knowing
as did that he himself was out Of Or
der in making the motion when l had
the floor, | chose to quietly take my seat,
without the most remote thought that |
would be made the subject of an unfair
newspaper article, or Of passionate
sermon.
Now this is the long speech to which
you refer, made by me as you say,
"against the enforcement Of the liquor
law" / submitted it, as above written,
to DR.. J. s. Reasoner and VIM. b.
Steele, two of the persons who signed
the constitution, and they said it was a
fair and truthful statement of what l
said.
Ihad not finished, it is true, what l
wished to say when / sat down, but be-
cause of the uneasiness and interrup.
tions of yourself and Mr. Shaw, l at
once concluded that you both thought it
a very grievous offense to suggest an
improvement or amendment to the plan
worked out by your unerring hands and
minds. But |, in my simplicity and
verdure, ventured a thought or two,
and for my rashness received almost in
stantaneous exposure, and l suppose as
you thought, punishment. And | am
free to admit was punished, not, how
ever, because / feared the final effects of
your article on my character, but be-
cause / felt grieved and vexed to think
that poor human nature, even while it
was setting itself up as standard of
morals and temperance, that it could so
far forget itself as to get down into the
"mire and the clay" as to use thepublic
vehicles to convey to the public per-
vertion of truth, if not a directly false
statement of facts.