Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-03-26
General News.

EI.IIiU.

Senator Ferry, OF Connecticut, has ad-
dressed the following letter to Mr.. W. +.
Benham, President of the Young Mems
Christian Association in Meriden:
WASHINGTON. March II. 1874.
DEAR SIR:-On the 9th inst, received
your letter. in which. by request of the
body over which you preside, you expires.
the regret of its members at my OPPOSE
ton TO what you designate as 1.-THE bill for
Temperance Commission of in1uir,
While am sorry that we disagree. am
grateful for your letter. 1t affords me an
opportunity to say some words that NAV
remove misapprehensions. The hill pro-
poses to inquire into the effect Of the alco-
hole liquor-trafiic upon ''pauperism. crime.
and social vice. Il quote It's laugua.e)
throughout the United States. and also to
inquire and take testimony as to the prac-
teal results OF license and restrictive lev
islaiion for the prevention of intemper-
ance IN the several States The results
OF such Inquiries are To be transmitted To
Congress. This Is = common mode OF in.
niating legislation In that body and the
present inquiry is undoubtedly expected To
produce that effect. Now, in all my Off
cial action here. there is one authority to
'''''N'' hH'A submit. anu liiit ~ ltI' ,oH-
sttution OF the United States That in
sirunent has not conferred upon Congress
the power to legis,atc upon the matter,
which are made the subjects ofthis inquiry
and am convinced that the several states
arc, IN fact. as they are in law. the deposit
tories OF that power. The proposition to
MAKE the inquiry assume. the authority 10
ie.islate upon the conditions which may be
disclosed, and such an assumption i, In
plain contravention OF the Constitution. A
few weeks ago the Republicans OF Con-
necticut. n; their convention, resolved that
the state should be left la regulate their
own interna! affairs without interference"
and the principle OF that resolution | have
found myself called upon to protect against
legislative assaults almost ever since have
been IN the Senate. | cannot now violate
both ii and the Constitution which as,er:s
IL, even for an object in which 50 entire
~ sympathize as the extinction OF drunk
enness. For this is the real object OF thou
sands Of petitioners who have signed "A
printed form asking Tor this commission OF
inquiry, and do not think that the Young
Mems Christian Association OF Meriden
viii do me the Injustice OF believing the 10
be opposed or indifferent tai such a con-
summation. | mourn with you over the
misery which the sin OF drunkenness is
bringing upon such numbers of our peo-
pie. rejoice with YOU in tho great rcvi-
val OF interest IN the cau-c of temperance,
aud While dcprecaie some OF tho modes
OF dcSelopcmsut Of that interest, especial
iy in the West. | would not lightly regard
any honest effort In it, behalf Pledges OF
total abstinence. temperance societies. and
prohihttory laws each may accomplish
something. but the great instrumentality
Tor The eNtirpation OF every species OF i'm
morality. drunkenness among the rest. Is
Older. wiser, better than all The Church
and the 'ioolishness of preaching" are
Gods remedial agencies for the sin, Of hu-
mainly. and while other agencies NAV have
their value, IL the former are set aside for
devices OF mans invention. the result viii
be failure. Writing TO a "Christian'' as
ISOLATION may not suggest that revival
OF distinctively Christian effort, through
the Dvinely-appointed channels, Is the
great necessity which the experience OF
the last my years forces upon our
thoughts: The most encouraging symp-
tom OF the present awakening is the dispo-
sition which discern, in both churches
and ministry. 10 enter more actively upon
this field of Christian duty.
Yours very truly, o. :. FERRY