Volume I Part 42 (1/2)
_Resolved_, That we offer the proceedings of this meeting for publication in the County papers and _Temperance Standard_.
_Resolved_, That we adjourn to meet in Kennett Square, on Sat.u.r.day, the 3d of February, 1849.
MARTHA HAYHURST, _President_.
SIDNEY PEIRCE } } _Secretaries_.
HANNAH PENNOCK }
At their next Convention in Kennett Square, another stirring appeal was issued, and the following resolutions adopted:
WHEREAS, The peace of our homes, the security of our property, and our inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, are all jeoparded by intemperance; and whereas, this monstrous vice, with all its attendant train of evils, will continue to spread its ravages over our fair country so long as the traffic in intoxicating drinks is supported and sanctioned by law; and,
WHEREAS, The people have the same right to be protected from the desolations of this vice, that they have to be protected from the depredations of the incendiary, the robber, and the murderer, whose deeds are but too often instigated by it; therefore,
_Resolved_, That we demand of the Representatives of the people, at the next session, a law for the total prohibition of the traffic in intoxicating drinks as a beverage, within the limits of Chester County.
_Resolved_, That we see neither reason nor consistency in the conduct of our law-makers in restraining the thief, the burglar, the counterfeiter, and the robber, while they let loose upon society the legalized rum-seller.
”Will they the felon fox restrain, And yet take oft the tiger's chain?”
_Resolved_, That we hail with joy the appearance of a recent pastoral letter issued by the Synod of the Free Church of Cincinnati, containing sentiments in regard to the advancement of this reform, which meet our hearty approval, and which, if adopted by all religious bodies, would insure the speedy triumph of temperance, with all the blessings that follow in its train.
_Resolved_, That we adjourn to meet at Old Kennett, on Sat.u.r.day, the 8th of December, 1849.
HANNAH M. DARLINGTON, _President_.
ALICE LEWIS } }_Secretaries_.
MARY S. AGNEW, }
NORTH AMERICAN AND UNITED STATE GAZETTE, FEB. 6, 1852.
The ladies of the City and County of Philadelphia, and all other persons who feel impressed with the importance of PEt.i.tIONING THE LEGISLATURE TO ENACT A LAW PROHIBITING THE USE OF ALL INTOXICATING DRINKS as a beverage, are earnestly requested to attend a meeting to be held at the CHINESE MUSEUM, corner of NINTH and GEORGE STREETS, on SAt.u.r.dAY EVENING, Feb. 7th, at 7-1/2 o'clock.
The meeting will be addressed by the REV. ALBERT BARNES, REV.
JOHN CHAMBERS, JUDGE KELLEY, DR. JAS. BRYAN, and WM. J. MULLEN.
JUDGE ALLISON will preside. The LADIES' TEMPERANCE UNION is particularly invited to attend. Admittance five cents, to defray expenses.
Two weeks after this, Feb. 21st, a Woman's Temperance Ma.s.s Meeting was held in Philadelphia; an immense a.s.semblage of both s.e.xes.
_The Pennsylvania Freeman_ of March 4, 1852, says: ”A large number of pet.i.tions from various parts of the State, most of them numerously signed, asking for the pa.s.sage of the Maine Anti-Liquor Law, have been presented in both Houses. On Tuesday, in the Senate, one was presented from this city signed by 15,580 ladies; and another in the House, signed by 14,241 ladies. What the Legislature will do we shall not venture to predict.”
It is interesting to note the same successive steps in every State, and how naturally, in laboring for anti-slavery and temperance, women have at last in each case demanded freedom for themselves. In the anti-slavery school, 'mid violence and persecution they learned the a, b, c of individual rights; in the temperance struggle they learned that the ultimate power in moral movements is found in wise legislation, and in graduating on the woman suffrage platform, they have learned that prayers and tears are worth little until coined into law, and that to command the attention of legislators, pet.i.tioners must represent votes.
A moral power that has no direct influence on the legislation of a nation, is an abstraction, and might as well be expended in the clouds as outside of codes and const.i.tutions, and this has too long been the realm where women have spent their energies fighting shadows. The power that makes laws, and baptizes them as divine at every church altar, is the power for woman to demand now and forever.
WESTCHESTER CONVENTION. _June 2, 1852_.