The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1882-06-09
Organizing for Temperance Cam.
paign.

The Hartford County Temperance Alliance
met in the Methodist Protestant Church, Bel
Air, on Tuesday. The attendance was good,
nearly every section of the county being repre-
scented by delegates. The meeting was called
to order by Mr. d. F. Thomas, Vice President
of the State Temperance Alliance, and opened
with prayer by Rev. Mr.. Baker, of IIavre dc
Grace. Rev. j. W. Smith was appointed tenn
porary Secretary, and the meeting was then
ready for business.
A constitution and bylaws, providing for a
complete organization of the Hartford County
Temperance Alliance, presented and read by
Rev. h. +. Benson, WAS adopted, and officers
were elected us follows
President-D. +. Thomas; Vice President
Rev. b. F. Benson; Secretary-Rev. j, W.
smith; Treasurer-D. f. Thomas,
District Executive Committees-First Dis
trict.-Edward Sweeting, chairman A. &. Jack
son,
Second District-Jas. b. Gallon, chairman ;
Rev j. w. Steele, |. &. Matthews.
Third Distributions A. Hays, chairman
c. }. Moore, DIR. D. P. Wysong, Dir. Benjamin
| Smith.
Fourth District.-John R. Rutledge, chair
man; George A. Cairnes, j. K. jackson, John
| Divers.
Fifth Observation-Disclosures Boyle, chairman ;
VIM. +. Mccain, w. Scott Whitcford.
| Sixth District.-Jessc Hilles, chairman Col.
| j. +. Frieze
| Rev. Mr. Benson read an address explanatory
of the provisions of the prohbitory law passed
| by the late Legislature for Hartford county, in
| which some OF the objections against the adOp-
ton of the law by the people were answered.
Mr.. Benson said that the law does not, as has
| been stated by its opponents, forbid II man from
| giving ncighbor glass of wine, cider or any
strong drink at his private house or farm house.
| 1t was not the intention of the temperance men
to do any such thing, nor Is there any founda-
| ton for the allegation in the language Of the
| law itself That the allegation is not true is
| proven by experience in local option counties
| of Maryland, whose laws contain the identical
| language in relation to giving away ardent
| spirits. Giving 1t away at private houses has
| never, in those countless constituted an infrac-
ton of the law, nor has there ever been an in
| dictment for 1t. He argued that under the law
liquor may be given away as freely as it now is
at any place in Hartford county, except places
| of business, such as hotels stores, boarding
houses, restaurants, places of amusement, &c.
1t may be given away at any private house OF
farm house, without restraint. The law, in
deed, iorbds its sale on any inch of soil in Har'
ford county, except Mt drug stores, where II
may be sold upon the prescription of regular
physician.
It has been alleged that under this law a far
mer can not sell his neighbor gallon of cider,
ty would be destroyed. The speaker denied
that the law could be so construed. The manu-
fucture Of cider is not prohibited, nor is The
sale of sweet cider an infraction of the law
The cider clause had been inserted to prevent
the setting up of cider shops, where intoxicat
ing liquors Of all kinds are sold under the name
of solder" Liquor sellers, he said, are won
derful chemists. They tan put a gallon o.
whisky into a gill of cider, and transmute the
entire compound into cider. The law does moi
l. Al,aA ,npIi ,,tar ham .
farmer may sell his cider in a sweet state, OF
make it into vinegar, and the consumer may
buy the sweet cider and keep II for his own us'
or to give to his friends In any condition, at hi
own discretion.
The THINKS of the meeting were voted Mr.
Benson for his address, and 1t was ordered to bt
published.
It was determined not to engage actively II
the campaign until about the latter part of An
gust
| Rev. Mr.. Benson offered the following resolu
ions, which were adopted:
Resolved, That the zeal of the colored people
In promoting temperance sentiment, and thei
remarkable fidelity to the temperance cause II
the late preliminary election, is worthy of the
highest commendation and praise, and we here
by tender them our most cordial congratula
lions and our sympathy and cooperation II
their future endeayors.
Resolved, That they are hereby invited to con
fer freely with the committee on the organiza
tion of the coored people, that their condition
needs and requests may receive due considem
tion and attention.
After some remarks by Rev. Mr.. Baker, o.
Havre de Grace, the Alliance adjourned.
Among those present were Rev j. w. Steele
James B. Gallon, G. j. Moore, Thos. A. Hays
Jno. r. Rutledge, Geo. A. Cairnes, Andrew
Boyle, VIM. E. Mccain, Jas. II. Ball JAS. A
| Walters Silas Norris, j. p. Silver S. l.. Bond
Geo. L. VanBibber, II. W. Archer, Jr., and Jno
| Y younp