The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-02-07
ANOTHER DEBATE
ON THE SUBJECT OF PROHIBITION.
Two S.uatOr, Consume Day. Session ia Talking
or It-Ln Exhaustive Argument on Both
SIdss-Mr Price OOpO''s the Amendment
Aad Mr.. smith. Of Marion, FATOrS It

on It-Ln Exhaustive argument on Both
sldss-Mr. Price OppO'ss the Amendment
Aad Mr.. smith. Of Marion, PATOrS IL.
In the State Senate yesterday, when the
hour Of Ii o'clock A. NJ. arrived, Mr.. Dawson
called up the special order for that hour,
the second reading Of House Joint RCsolu'
ton No. II, proposing an amendment TO the
Constitution VI the State forever prohibiting
the manufacture. sale and keeping for sale
of any intoxicating drink, liquor or prepara'
ton " be used ~ beverage. Ihe gaIiety
was already crowded with men, and the LOBBY
held many ladies and some prominent citi'
zeps OF the city and State, among these sew
erAl ministers.
The clerk read the resolution, and the py;;
rotechniCs began. ThequeStion was, should
the resolution be ordered TO its third reading
as It Stood2 Mr.. Price moved TO amend by
making tho euaCting clause read that "the
following amendment 10 the Constitution IS
agTeei TO-" instead Of ''is proposed, This IS
MIR. HubbArd's amendment OF the last session,
and the one recently proposed In the House.
Mr.. Dawson objected TO this, principally
because it would neceSsltate sending me
resolution back to the House. He Appealed
TO those who opposed the resolution 10 h8nt
It squarely aud not beat around Tue DuSh
about 1t.
Mr.. Burgess said he, too, would vote
against this or any other amendment. He
wanted 10 come to square vote ON the main
issue, and settle this vexed question once
for all.
PRICE On PROHIBITION.
bfu prnnOntttou
10 meet with opposition. He supposed that
in objactiuG 10 the passage oil tns tgso'utaon
he and those who thought with him were
laying themselves open TO criticism, and
would meet with attempts 10 place them
in false and unfair positions. He, however,
considered 1t due himself and his constitu'
en- Ia to define his position, and to show that
ali the virtue. morality and respect for law
Sere not with those who favored the passage
of the MEASURE. This thing had been held
up as tho test OF Christianity, and the man
who opposed It was set down as mo Chris
tian," but whisky man." IN league
with the worst elements OF society,
against the best interests OF the people;
This was the principal argument advanced
to prevent men from opposing the measure.
He entered his solemn protest against this
unjust procedure. The supporters OF the
measure were many Of them good christians.
but they did not include all the christians OF
the State; aud when the true christians look
ed at the matter in their sober senses they
would realize that those who opposed the
passage did right. The measure was opposed
10 the spirit OF true religion. Mr.. Price then
went on,tO argue the Constitutional question
involved, holding that his amendment was
necessary In order 10 make the act con-
form to the constitutions; that pro-
posed amendment should be really
agreed to by the Legislature by q two'thirds
vote, not that q member could vote 10
submit the question and then vote
sgainst It at the polls. This was shirking
sworn duty. He also went at some length
into the merit Of the proposed amendment,
holding that the present law on the subject
was ali that was TO be desired, 1t authoriz.
ing the Legislature to enact absolute prohi-
pition, which power this destroys.
REMARKS ABOUT WOMEN.
The answer that this could not be enforced
was ridiculous. He paid his respects TO the
women who favor the amendment, saying
that nothing would sooner uproot the funda'
mental principles OF society as ordained BY
the Creator than the calling Of the gentler
Sex into the arena OF politics. Man was
gifted with physical and mental organism
which fitted him to govern; woman's gentle
influence was for the home. Speaking OF
Mrs, Foster as the woman lawyer OF the
northwest, he said, "rhank God, we have
none yetin West Virginia"
The expression OF the ladies' faces du-
ring this portion OF the most elaborate
as We'll as the sblest speech so far made In
the different debates on the amendment,
varied from calm amusement TO lofty scorn,
while the feelingsof those In the gallery &C.
casionaliy found vent In audible mtrth or
murmur OF applause. All present, both
Senators and spectators, among the latter
many members OF the House, paid the closest
attention to his entire speech, which occu'
pied tifty-hve minutes.
After The conclusion OF his remarks, Mr.,
Donehoo moved TO take recess till hall
past two, which alter some discussion pre-.
vailed.
At recess members. and sympathizers IN the
number OF scores crowded around Mr. Price
and congratulated him on his effort
Mr.. SMITH REJoINs.
In the afternoon the crowd OF interested
listeners and spectators was II possible larger
than In the forenoon. the adjournment OF
the House afording Delegates the opportu'
nifty TO visit the other branch OF the Legisla'
ture.
Mr.. Price said that as the friends Of the
measure had expressed desire 10 vote upon
the measure as they had offered II, he would
withdraw the amendment offered by him.
The pending question then was: Shall the
resolution be ordered 10 It's engrossment and
third reading?
Mr., Smith, OF Marion, regretted the impu.
tation that the friends Of this measure were
disposed to place the opponents In false
positions, and denied Its truth. He was
willing 10 accord TO others the same honesty
OF motive he prOfessed himfelt. But no e1.
pected to be able 10 show, however, that
though the intentions OF opponents OF the
resolution were honest, their influence was
thrown upon the side OF intemperance
and wrong. He had been mortified
by the attempt Of the gentleman to call 10
his aid the Gospel, and his references to the
church. The church may never have pro-
hlbited drink, but those whose power and Ell.
oquence had shone brightest had done so.
He drew a picture Of the evils OF intemper-
ance, which be said had reached even the
pulpit. He read from the eighth chapter OF
Paul's epistle to the Corinthians: "lf meat
make my brother to offend, will eat no
flesh while the world stands" and other
passages Of Scripture to show the duty OF
Christians Alludlng to Mr. Prices remarks
concerning Mrs. Foster, he said 1t was
source OF regret that he should have resorted
to this kind OF argument, and he asked what
desirable reform or moral movement tending
TO the good OF the race had ever succeeded
without the aid OF woman, The eu-
logy on woman which followed evi.
IDENTIFY had a pleasing effect, especial
" upon the ladies present.