Smyrna times., 1880-12-08
Letter from Dover.

Mr.. EDITOR The Temperance Alliance
Just ad journed was remarkable gathering
in several respects; LIST. 1t has leaped into
large proportions at single bound. This
was substantially the first meeting; yet $50
delegates were present from all portions of
the State. a preliminary meeting in
Smyrna, the appointment of committees to
prepare for organization, "a short notice,
and behold the largest temperance con-
ventiOn have seen in Dover.
ID. The delegates are men Of all profcs.
sions and occupations, and men Of charac-
ter and influence 1t has been said the
preachers had charge of this movement.
If that was true it is true no longer. There
were those here who have not been known
as active temperance men, who are men of
means and social standing. 1t would have
done you good to see President Purnell in
the chair, and such men as George W.
Bush, Allen Gawthrop and others on the
floor.
Sd. The members of the Alliance were
of one mind and came together to do one
thing. Instead of the usual lengthy reso.
lutions the following only was reported by
the Committee on Resolutions:
WHEREAS, Local Option as IL means 10
secure the prohition Of the liquor trade in
this State has been adopted by this Al.
lance, therefore
RcSolged that the Central Executive Com.
mittee are hereby duly instructed to arrange
the details Of plan to memorabilia the next
Legislature in favor of its adoption"
The passages of this resolution was with.
out a dissenting vote. Such unanimitY.
such representation and such members
indicate that Local Option will be the CUES.
| ton for the immediate future and the
fight will be determined and successful
! one.
! The constitutionaity of a Local Option
| law was thoroughly discussed The case of
/ Rice and Foster decided former law to he
! in conflict with our State Constitution and
| trouble was apprehended by some on that
score, but the law proposed to be ask ed for
! differs essentially from the one upset in
/ the above case, corresponding in its main
feature TO our present school.taX law. BY
the provisions Of this statute majority of
the voters in any district may decide
whether there shall be tax or mo tax
and this principle Is as available in one
case as in another, the difference between
the schoO-law and the localopton law
formerly passed and revised being that in
the first case the law was made by the Leg.
| islature while in the latter case 1t was de.
ferred to the approval of majority OF
voters before becoming a law. In this case,
said the Court, the Legislature sought to
confer legislative powers upon the people
which can reside in the Legislature alone
The example of our neighbors in Mary.
land was held up before the Alliance. A
delegate from the Maryland Alliance said
You are surrounded with temperance
the Delaware Bay on one side and Local
Option in my county on the other side
From the temper Of this Alliance it may
be predicted that even if the case of Rice
and Foster should be upheld land there
are not wanting eminent lawyers who say
it is not good law and ought to be reversed
the time will come when Delaware will
have local option law and if not consti
tutional tie people wW make il constitutional.
DOVER, Dec. 3D., 1850.