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Letter From The Editor

Letter From The Editor image
Parent Issue
Day
6
Month
February
Year
1847
Copyright
Public Domain
Editorial
OCR Text

Kaí.am izoo, TuKSDiy, FLB. 2, ]47. As soon os the cara arrived, vo steppe into the Methodist Church, and found tln Teraperance meeting in ñill opcration.- We were gratified lo find thai that grea and vital point - the legal suppresslon o, the Rum Trajic-was the subject of dis cussion. Remarks were made by Messrs Denison, Moody, Dexter, Stewart, anc 8everal gentlemen unknown to us. Mr, Emmons, of Detroit, being called for, tooli the stand and went into a discussion o sevcral important positions. One was, substantially, that all laws not in accordance with the sympathies and ieelings oi the public executive officers, would not bo execüted, however much the great majority of the people might be in favor oí their enforcement. In proof of this, he quoted the laws on Lotteries, Sabbath Breaking, Swearing, Cruelty to Animáis, Gambling, Horse Racing, &c. All these rices abounded in Detroit, and elsewhere, yet a vast majority of the people were utterly opposed to their existence. Even the Iadies violated the Revised Stalutes with impunity. He gave instances of this in certain Detroit ladies, who got up lotteries to help build their church ; and one lady sold whiskey punch for the ame purposes; and though it was no áoubt done delicately, it was entirely illegal. He referred lo Detroit to show how small a minority of the p'eople rule the remainder. In that city the No-license vote was carried by a majority of 7 to 1, and yet illegal rumselling prevailed about s extensively as ever. Why was this so i Because the oflicers would not enforce the law. The temperance men had a lawyer under pay to act as a prosecuting attorney. He believed the condition of things was similar all over the State. - The reason was because the great maiority of the people- the moral, the religious, nnd the substantial tax-pnyers - rarely, if ever, attended the political caucuses, tohilc they were sure to vote tha resalar ticket, which was nominated by the worst part of community to get the support of that portion of the voters. As for the betler part, the politicians were sure of them in advanco. Henee a very small minority, by nomioating eandidates of their own number and elass, coulddcfeat the will of the great majority. What was the retnedy ? Not by forming a new Temperance party, for that is unnecessary ; but byihe botter portion of community attending the caucuses, and getting Tempenince men nominated, and where it could not be done, by striking from the tickets the names of all antitemperance men. In this way their infiuence would be brought to bear most cfTectually, and it would become the interest of politieians lo consult their wishes instead of those of an artful minority. - The practice of the Abolitionists on this point he admittcd to ba already right. Mr. E. gave the politieians a terrible dressing out. Upon referring to some beastly and disgraceful transactions of the legislators at the Capítol, upon the Sabbath day, tho audience nll cried out - "shame! sharae Í " Upon which Air. Emmons retorted upon them with great truth - " You cry " shamo " now, but you will go and vote for the same men, or fur others just lik e them." Mr. Emmons acquitted himself very ! well. He israther an interesting i er, but as he is a young man, we trust ho will improve still more by being more concise in his stvle, and spoak less of self. Wednesday Morning. ' We were not present at the opening of , the session in the morning, but we arrived ( time enough to listen to a two hours talk about the place of next meeting, and whether Prof. Wheedon, or E. C. Seamans, a lawyer of Detroit, should bc the President. Aftkrnook Session. 1 The same subjects continued by ministers and lawyers, greatly to their own J gratification no doubt : but :o the uttter ( disgust of a large part of the audience. - J The cause of the whole discussion was ' attributed by the speakers to asort of sec1 tarian jealousy. Several young gentlel men rendered themselves quite ridiculous ( by their forwardness andpertinacity upon minor points. One young man, a cler{ gyman,assured us that he was nol agoing c to make a speech, and yet spoke at least c ten times on these poinls alone! ( Gentlemen who make a practise of weaying out public moetings by their un necessary and ridiculous garrulity, will ÜW1 in the long run, that it will infallibly ] sink their professiens in tho estimation of , the public. t Mr. Söamans was appointed the next President of the society, and Ann Arbor ' the placp of mepting, A lengthy discussion respecting the Sons of Tomperance tooit plaoe yesterday, but receivod the go-b,y to-day.