New-York tribune., 1868-05-15
MASSACHUSETTS,.
THE STATE TEMPERANCE CONVENTION AT BO5-
TON-THE DESIGN AND RESULT THEREOF
THE SPEECHES AND RESOLUTIONS-AN AD-
DRESS BY WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON

A Convention Of the friends of prohibition in
Massachusetts, was held in fremont Temple to-day for the
purpose stated in the call for the meeting signed b
over 5000 legal voters in the State" OF considering tR
political duties OF the friends Of prohibition at the pres
en crisis" The basis Of representation one delegate
for every town or ward OF city, and additional dele
gate for every 200 voters or fraction thereof.
Soon after 10 o'clock the hour for the assembling OF inc
Convention 800 delegates were present on the
floor Of the ha-which was strictly reserved for them
who represented 200 cities or towns The galleries were
The Hon joel Merriam Of Westminster called the dele.
gates order, and the Hon Whiting Griswod OF Green
field was chosen temporary Chairman. ON taking Tie
chair he said that this Convention was for one OF the
greatest and most important objects for which any con
ventOn could meet They were there not only IN the in
erest Of property but also IN the interest OF the health
and morals Of the Commonwealth they Were mct 70 gee
il they could not change az they should fail TO Kid the
monster which the Legislature OF the State had lot loose
TO prey upon the people The license law would surely
manned with this Convection 10 decide whether Ma,l
cbuses should progress I'm the cause OF temperance t
monweolth OF the world p r Duohemin OF CharesioVn
was chosen temporary secretary.
appointed; and when their duties had been performed
the permanent organization was effected Dy the choee on
prohibonists In the state Senate President who was
assisted by two NcePrcsidents from each county and
five Secretaries. MI Ptman ON coming upon ilo plat
form was greeted with three cnceiS LOT the cahVH on
prohibition IN the Legislature lie made speech o an
half hours length, in which he argued in favor Of thc
efficiency of prohibition, ana tue lhelhSleHol o Il
law promoter Of Temperance In closing he sa.d that
10 take by the members OF the Conventon but r should
insist that the next Republican convention slouId pd.'
resolution In this wise "Ihat this infamous hc"nsc iaw
sbaI he swept clean from the stutucbOOk' Loud aId
continued applause When that was done the statute
book would DO cleaner and the Republican party be bet
ter qualified 70 permanently reign III TINS christian COM
mOnwealth. =, ,.., ,r ,- me-.
Lloyd Garrison was chosen as an "lli"N.u We, ie
ident by acclamatiOu, and amid loud cheering hr
Garrison accepted the honor, and returned ihah"a M
The following gentlemen were appointed Committee
on Resolutions Henry 4. Scudder " Dorchester, Chair
man u. L. Raymond OF Cambridge, Henry D. (uhmne ot
Boston the nun George = Ball Of UPTON j. II. OfIc on
Day of Dodham the Rev 4 +. Marvin, -. D.. of Med
ford, II. T. Fuller OF Wayland ne Rev. ). Dana o.
Beckett the Rev g. II. Nibbcrt OF ROckioI Cen George
After some sharp discussion Of personal nature, In
which the arrangements Of the Convention declared
to be cut and dried" and 10 De managed solely y The
members Of the state Temperance Alliance D was
voted that Committee Of one from eac county he al
pointed 10 report State Central Committee OF one fo
each Senatorial District. and five members at large.
In response 70 the repeated calls ui the delegates the
Rev DR. A. A. Miner addressed the Convention briefly.
He said that when he looked az the material OF NL'h
this Convention composed, hc felt That hasachusc-
was safe and he perceived that those men Who were en-
acting laws the interest OF corruption would hd hat
aud that their cart would break iie denounced Ile
licensed nnhoder would be allowed 20 sell 10 hs gurr
The people OF the State not going TO abide legisa
tOn that would expose 20 corruption their Sons uud
daughters lie urged the temperance men 10 increased
activity and concentration OF enort. ,,.,
At l2i O'Clock the Convention adjourned for one hour
ATTERSOON SESSION.
When the Convention rcassehcd the afternoon, the
Rev j. H. Coo Of Now-Bedford made speech. In which
he denounced the course OF The Legislature, ana said
that il seemed as II the members were mad. lio was
prepared to 20 alone az distinct party WMrh tAoul
stand on the plank Of prohm.iyn I' Na1 t4a lnai tne
question had been made potca one, lo l lH7 u'ah'
scores Of converts had been made 90 prohibition.
Inc C9mmitee on ItoiG.Pns s b.l @ G e o. oi
Convention harsg met totay 70 en-, -f ihe pcll - s Of ten
] n.oa, a. s5a o. rS ,aSS % a. 5 e lS n obios
political question that Is aegaHht from tle orilv oee' 4
sssSs sssS.aSSl .rS ss Y oaes. s rdo fgoirr
toS 10 .. H. objects between license ,ni olsol
important thsn ordiusry psrJ suss ., ..,,
however Infamous the as rseeH eOles Hd ih.t our real ar
license ITsten which has a"as and every where proved dA
Resolved Tia. the word. Which The Governor apps 70 g, Frssr'
tenn II throws open public ba al tpg l9's, & a ga.'
snare Tor the I1Est , saa W. s tt, at5 -, &
adverse to good morals and repus'l' " Tie 'r1e " 's
ISsosd That party neutrality issue nat control, hs ,oss Of
rs MEMBER political sucde that efe e eh"re he'l"eH p
heui aud gives equal favor TO ihe friends o that @ and m
,sorea Tbs, allegiance to party & consistent and honorable only
when party represent principles and while e GO uo l"o 70 .9'9
upon q ereoas soemH declare that no rary hsl
eelvs susragrs whose platform and candidates are opposed TIE
prlaepe and tramph Of prohibition ,,,
k'oIp.d That We feoiee ~ the soI Nh na, % zen oi 70,
representative standing high in national odee ha, saasi TIE
the necessity " requiring siH obhey qaalei
esoIdsd That this Convention appoa Temperance, Com
mee and that authorize them to call state Convention fhs
sss sIs GSs% css sTo " poloBp I f purpose " "
Tho resolutions were seconded By Dr. Vim. NJ Cornell
of Boston, who dismissed them seria and advocated
their unanimous adoption.
Mr. William Lloyd Garrison was loudly called for NJ this
stage Of proceedings lie stepped forward and met
with an enthusiastic reception. After mentioning that
the delegates though strong tcetOtaers eynccd consd
erable spirit and audng the fact that formerly
women ",
a theory which had been exploded. he said: have no
other claim upon your attention than the simple that
for more than forty fears have been teet0tacr; and
In the years that have gone by You have not found me
at Temperance Conventions In any conspicuous ~
shall tell you whyi 1t has been, In the first place. be
country and You viii admit that had quite as much as
could attend to in order effect overthrow and
L had to give special conservation OF my tune
another at the time refer TO. The temper
ance movement had come up from very low condition
into q very powerful II had wiped out s rcproacb,
aud was everywhere eminently respectable. "a 0r my
seh was simply infamous. and being aware that could
bring nothing but nfamy TO the temperance platform,
aud loving the dearly cherished the warm
blood I'm my veins, thought that could not bring any
thing TO the cause at that time and that should helpt
better by staying away than by making my appearance
Now the Temperance cause seems TO be somewhat under
the ban tn tins afSmon. ANA pssEe eve
eyes q the people Of nesSachEsets ApPause feel
being upon this platform ICres Of Good good" and
appause And let add that the AbOliti0niss OF this
country, without exception, were radical teet0ialers
the very back bone of the temperance movement-al
ways. Aboonism and teetOtallsm moral senti
ments and with exceptional cases class OF
pie In this country thoroughly In favor Of total alb
stinonco the Abolitioniss aud under God had IL hot
been for the temperance enterprise preceding the anti
slavery movement my Judgment Is that there wonld have
been no antsavery muvement and that sc shonu nave
made progress In the way OF breaking tho feters
OF our countrymen who were IN chains, tlko n
that cannot be that there are any mere who are true
friends OF temperance who are az all disprted by tho
present state OF tho In Massachusetts, There
such word fall In this movement II you VIII bc fnc 20
IT, Now, either the reaction which has come IA positive
reaction IL Is not II II be- II the temperance cause
going backward and not forward II the power Is tho
master the Commonwealth, and Is stronger than
moral and religious sentiment OF the people then II only
ahows the work that 10 70 be DONE and instead ~ being
dsmayod or disheartened there must be renewed and
powerful efforts put forth In moral point OF view for
Affecting the change which will come at last-when