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N^^"^^ I , -'gJiS^'--"***^^ ' !■ '- ■ >.i. ^. % I'j.iitr >ai^ "J«»kN:* ■«>4NR "-'"' "■ " ■-'"^ •"•-li' iiTTTi'i 11 r ilii PROHIBITORY LIQUOR LAW. ADDRESS Delivered in the Temperance Hall, Halifax, on Thursday, February 23, 1854, by the Rev. J. M. Cramp, D.D., G. W. P. of the Sons of Temperance of the Province of Nova Scotia. Gentlemen — The delegates composing the Temperance Convention, who have been sent to this city from every part of the Province, in order to adopt such measures as shall tend to secure the enactment of a Prohibitory Liquor Law, have unanimously resolved that the law re- quired must prohibit the importation, manu- facture, and sale of intoxicating liquors of all kinds, except for certain purposes, to be distinctly provided for. It is now my duty to present to you a statement of the princi- ples on which this demand is founded, and of the reasonings by which it is sustained. I ob.^erve, in the first place, that t/ie use of intoxicating liquors is extensively injurious to society- Thirty years ago, it would have been ne- cessary to argue the point. It is not neces- sary now. It is now universally acknow- ledged that no healthy man stands in need of these liquors — that they stimulate, but do not nourish — that tneir habitual use pro- duces many diseases, aggravates all disfc;»i,cs. and in innumerable instances prevento the possibility r.i cure — and that tens of th'>u- sands die every year in consequence. It is now universally confessed, thct the habitual use of these liquors stupifies the intellect, hardens the heart, destroys all delicacy of feeling, and reduces the victim below the level of the brute. Take a single case. Yonder goes a miser- able man, besotted, befooled by strong drink. Listen to his incoherent ravings. See the children mocking at him as he attempts to thread his crooked course along, or struggles ineffectually in his kindred gutter. Whajt eight so melancholy, so humiliating? That man has children at home — and a wife, whom long ago he promised to love and to cherish. Why does that wife now ehudder at h's approach ? Why do his chil- drea ran and hide themselves ? It was not 80 once. Strong drink haa done the mis- chief. It has turned the husband and father into a demon. He is a man no more. — Natural affection has died out of him. Th« lion will provide for its mate ; — the tiger will take care of its young ; — but the drunk- ard abandons both, and gives the price of their bread to the rumseller, while the wife pines away in wretchedness, and the children, half clad, squalid, dirty, ignorant and un- controlled, are rising up to be outcasts and pests in society, and probably future intnates of the jail. That man had character ; — it is lost. He had friends ; — they disown him. He enjoy- ed comforts ; — they are handed over to the keeper of the groggery. He possessed health ; — it is fast failing. He was once happy ; — happiness has long since fled. — Hope then encouraged him ; — but all now il a cheerless blank. His body is corrupted ; his mind is a wreck ; he is hasting down to ruin — a lost man— lost in both worlds. This is the case of myriads of the humaa race in all countries. Wherever we turn our eyes we see strong drink in connection with misery, suffering, and evil of every kind. What is if that sinks the proprietor into a tenant ? What is it that sinks the tenant into a labourer? What is it that sinks the labourer into a pauper ? What is it that cheats children out of their inheri- tances ? What is it that dashes many a no- ble ship against the rocks, hurling passen- gers and crew into eternity ? Perhaps some of yourselves remember the officer who left this harbour in charge of a government ves- sel, and never returned to it, he and all his crew, (they were all drunk), being lost with the vessel, within a few hours after their de- parture. How many similar losses, involv- ing the destruction of an immense amount o£ property, are continually occurring, from the aame cause— justifying the obserratiw BMle i.DlJRES4. flomo yearflBgo by Capl. Erenton, whangiv- in the most horril»le manner, are the fruiie ing his evidence before the Committee on of intoxioution. Is it an atrocious highway Drunkenness, that "spirits are more dan_assion8 of human natu'*e — and periietraied I'ritain and hr-r C^loni'^s — an'' ?vrt(»rwards must beg liini,' they say, ' to takt away tb« brandy ; we are most of ns lost drunkards, and wiien the rich proprietors and ihrmer.1 force upon us brandy, as payment for onr labour, then v/e have not strength to with- stand the temptation.' This thought ha* occurred to the jioor men themselves. Theiv words seem tu me iiiexpressibly afTecting, It is an awakened conscience v/hieh crita out loud during the intervals between tbn iits 01 int,cx:c!.iion. It btgs for nirrcy and' deliverance from the evil. I could weeo t j I irriiiMiiiiBitfMMaiiiiijB !£&• .j^e^ ii^- »i'»m«i«ttMiiliBtgj >'t" Al>DRIISfl. *p almost GTcry part of the civiliaod world. IJoj^inning wiih a plcili^o of abstinence from nrdent spirit.^, the pledge was .'iftcrwiirds extended — and that ir. its prcfeiU form — to every kind of intoxicatinjr drinlc. AVe bind tuleul and povfcr in T&riuUB fuima, we arail ourselves of the advantage, and secure the results. Tlie cliaracteriotics of differing, and even opposite parties are harmoniously uni- ted in this glorious cause. The prudence ourselves by a promise (T total abstinence ; and caution of one — the dashing energy of wo labour to induce others to do so — e?peci ally those who Iiave fallen under temptation ; and we combine for mutual encouragement and aid, and t,!ie effecfive employment of effort. Such is our t iniple plan of operation. The object obtained at once the advocacy of a lar;re number of the wi.-e and gooJ, of all classes, and of every variety of thought and profession. Talent, learning, benevo- lence, and piety, consecrated their energies to (he cause, with zeal aiid perseverance another — the business tact of a third, aro happily combined. Logic comes from this side, rhetoric from that ; here, is enthusiasm ; there, is persevering diligence. This honest fellowship is doubtless the great secret of our success. May it ever remain unbroken ! Eut we arc checked, if not disheartened, by the appalling extension of the tralTic.— We reclaim one, and the drunkard-manu- factories send out two in his place. So powerful is the temptation, and so contagious iinexam>;Ied. True, there has been opposi- is the habit, that the establishment of a grog- tion — for evcrytliing good, especially if it wears tiie appearance of novelty, is sure to \}e opposed, liidicule, sarcasju, and argu- ment have been by tui-ns employed. Many have stood aloof, who ought to have given in their adhesion, and the friends of temper- anco iiave b^en sometimes taunted with the qiiixoticand hopeless nature of the enterprise. But they have held on. And now the Tem- gery is inevitably followed by the slaughter of its victims, and the consequent wretched- ness of those who are dependent on them. Contemplating these effects, we cannot but wonder that men bearing the christiar} name should engage in the traffic — and thak they should continue in it after the effects have been ascertained. For those effects arc not occasional. They are not accidents. peranco reform is a " grcit fact," and the; which may or may not occur. They are the Temperance power in the ccin:;:unity is ainatural and necessary results of the trafFc ia power that cannot be safely slighted. Wei intoxicating drinks. Plant a grog-shop any- bave been accustomed to hoar oftlje " lliree! where, and you have founded a nursery of Estates" of l!ie realm — the Queen, tlie Lords, poverty and a school for crime. jiiid Tae Commons ; our brethren ofthe press All this has long been mournfully evident, contend (hat they constitr.te a "fourth Es-j Vv' hat is the proposed /emedy ? Itislicense! t.iia" — ai;d truly great is the power of the | The sale shall be regulated, controlled, placed press — lis Claims may be conceded. The under supervision ! Now what is this but legalising it—giving it a place and a stand- Ini:— making it form part ofthe government T«n)-,)erar.cc power may sis reascnably be f.ailcd the " fluli Eilate"; it will inilucnce Uie rest, a!i I a!(i.'natfc!y leaven all society, arrangements of the country? And be it The .succesi of our t^iiaeavours has great-j borne in mind that it is legalizing that which ly encour^iged us. ilow many have been i^> ?Mre to produce poverty and crime, and to restored to themselves — to their families — idenioralize society. Was it imaginable that to llicir social posidon ? Ilow many morejby this means the trafTic would be lessened? )uive been turiiod back, oven when they had| Was this the way to put down drunkenness? reached the very edge ot' the precipice I — j As well might you attempt to tie up the How many iiave been p"c.:erved, vvho would, whi-.lwind with a thread, or to put out the have otherwise fallen ! and how delightful isj light ofthe sun with an extinguisher ! Tlip the union of men of all parLie.?, sinking fori history of the license system speaks volume?, the time their dii^erenco'-^, iil order to promote' II; demonstrates most clearly and convincing- the common good ! la our Temperance ly tlie futility and folly of the attempt, organizations wq admit no recognition of each other's religious or political opinions ; but as our respective priueiples and objects. l«Iid to promote tho further dcvelopraf^nt of No ! 2l'i3 suppression of tho traffic, in intoxicat/'ny liquors, except for mr..df'c.tur' iiig, r.icchanical, or medicinal purposes^ and for i'lc gr.rricos nf rch'r/ion, is (he onty mm IDDHMI. -«tbat such excess, though not strictly unlawful, may b« made more ditficult. But the use of those things which are cimply hurtful in their own nature, and ,n every decree, is to be PuoniB- ITED. None, my lords, ever heard, in any nation, of a tax upon thft or adultery, because a tax implies a license granted for the use of that which is taxed, to all who are willing to- pay for it. Drunkenness, my lords, is universally, and in all circumstances, an EVIL, and therefore ought not to be taxed, but punished. The noble lord has been pleased kindly to inform us, that the trade of distilling is very extensive — that it employs great numbers — and that they hare arrived at exquisite skill — and therefore the trade of distilling is not to be discouraged I Once more, my lords, allow me to wonder at the different conceptions of differ?int un- derstandings. It appears to me that since the spirits which distillers produce are allow- ed to enfeehle the livihs, ritiute the blood, per- vert the heart, and ohscure the intellect, that the number of distillers should be no argu- ment in their favor, — for I never heard that a law against theft was repealed or delayed because thieves were numerous ! It appears to me, my lords, that really, if so formidable a body are confederate against the virtue or the lives of their fellow citizens, it is time ta put an end to the havoc, and to interpose^ whilst it is yet in our power, to stop the des- truction. So little, my lords, am I affected with the merit of that wonderful skill which distillers are said to have att-iined, that it is, in my opinion, no faculty of great use to mankind to prepare palatable poison ; nor shall I ever contribute my interest foF the reprieve of a murderer, because he has, by long practice, obtained great dexterity in his trade. If their liqnors are so delicious that the people are terai)ted to their own destruction, let us, at least, my lords, secure them from their /a/'r;/ draught, by bursting i,hc vials that 'contain them. Let us crush AT ONCE THESE ARTISTS IN HUMAN SLAUGHTER, AVHO HAVE RECONCILED THEIR Countrymen to sickness and RUIN, AND SPREAD OVER THE PITFALLS OP DEBAUCHERY SUCU BAIT AS CANNOT BE RESISTED !" In 1833, it was resolved by the American Temperance Union — and the resolution was adopted in various partts of the United States -tm-t^ ' - 'r-ti -ilntr^^^-Pi JUi .^ijiiij: -.T ADDRESf. spirits is mo- be abandoned — '• that the traffic in ardent rally wrong, and ought to througliout the world." A select committte was appointed by the House of Commons on the 3d of June, 1834, on the motion of J. S. Buckingham, P]sq., " to inquire into the extent, causes, and conse- quences of the prevailing vice of intoxica- tion among the labouring classes of the United Kingdom, in order to ascertain whether any legislative measures can bede- rised to prevent the further spread of so great a national evil." The following pas- sages are extracted from the Report of that Committee :— " The ultimate and prospective remedies which have been strongly urged by several witnesses, and which they think, when pub- lic opinion shall be sufficiently awakened to the great national importance of the subject, may be safely recomaiended, include the fol- lowing: — " The absolute prohibition of the importa- tion from any foreign country, or from our own Colonies, of distilled spirits in any shape. " The equally absolute prohibition of all distillation of ardent spirits from grain, the naost important part of the food of man in our own country. "The restriction of distillation from all other materials, to the purposes of the arts, manufactures and medicine ; and the confln ing the wholesale and retail dealing in such articles to chemists, druggists, and dispensa ries alone." Sufficient evidence has now been produced to show J;hat, in asking for a prohibitory liquor law, we are not bringing forward a novel and unheard-of project. But it will be asked, " 7s it right to enact a Imo that will interfere to so great an extent with property V Let that question be met by another — " Is the traffic right ?" Is it right to sell, for drinking purposes, an arti- cle the use of which is followed by such des- truction ? Is it right for a man to derive his living from that which spreads disease, poverty, and death ? Is it right for a man to derive his living from that which debases men's minds and ruins men's souls ? Is it right for a man to derive his living from that which destroys for ever the happiness of the domestic circle ? Is it right for a man to derive his living from that which brings upon society three-fourths of the crime and pauperism which distress it ? Is it right for a man to derive his living from that which does all this at once, and does it continually ? I have quoted, in substance, the language of Dr. Wayland, TresiiJent of Brown Uni- versity. He adds—" If any man think other- wise, and choose to continue it, I have but one word to say. My brother, when you order a cargo of intoxicating drink, think how much misery you are importing into the community. As you store it up, think how many curses you are heaping together against yourself. As you roll it out of your ware- house, think of how many families each cask will ruin. Let your thoughts then re- vert to your own fire-side, your wife and your little ones •, look upward to him who judgeih righteously, and ask yourself, my brother, is Tins kigiit?" Nearly a century ago, the great John Wesley, whose authority is justly held in high esteem by many in this assembly, wrote these words :— " The men who traffic in ardent spirit, and sell to all who buy, are poisoners general ; they murder his majes- ty's subjects by wholesale ; neither doth their eye pity or spare. And what is their gain? Is it not the blood of these men ? Who would envy their large estates and sumptu- ous palaces ? A curse is in the midst of them. The curse of Gnd is on their gar- dens, their walks, their groves ; a fire " that burns to the nethermost hell. Blood, blood, is there ; the foundation, the floor, the wails,, • the roof, are stained with blood." This is strong language- But it may nok be reasonably diluted, unless it can be shown that the facts are not as they are alleged. And that cannot be. The facts are not to be denied. Admit them, and the conclusion follows. That conclusion is, that the traffic, except for the purposes whicb have been mentioned, is morally wrong.— Now, that cannot be politically expedient or right, which is morally wrong. Consequent- ly, it becomes the duty of the State to inter- fere and remove the evih The right of the State to interfere can- not be fairly questioned. '* The right," say the Committee of the House of Commons, to whose Report I have already referred, " The right to exercise legislative interfer- ence for the correctioa of any eTil whi«k^ *H i i m t ■ ▲ PDaiu. lifFecls the public weal cannot bf: quoetionediopcrnling prospeclivt;!}-, may Je.termine that wilhout dissolving hot:ii.ty into its priiiiitive'aTticks injurious to the public hcal(h ur elements, aiid going btitU from the corabiiit.-dj morals shall not constitute properLj, Mithiii nnd co-operative stati; oi* f;i\ilii:atlon, v\iih|it3 jurisdiction. It maj' come to the condu- all its wholesome and lawfully-imposed re-jsion that spirituous liquors, when used as ft Ftraint?, 'o the i.uilat'd and lawless condition i beverage, arc productive of :x jTcat variety of savage and .solitary niiiure-" of ills and evils to the people, both in their Nor can it be ii.irly alleged that theindividual and social relations. That the State has no right to intciierc with a man'sleast use of tliein for such a purpose is inju- use of his property. lit; may use it as heirious, and suited to proiTuce, by a greater pleases, nio&t ctrtaiuly, but not fo as to in-! use, serious iniiiry to the comfurt, mural:', jure his neighbour ur psejudiee the interests;and health ; that tlie common use vi them of society at larg'\ V»'lien that use becomes for such a purpor-o, operates to dlmi..i. li tho an injury, a mischief, a nuif.ance, societyjproductivenessof labor ; to injure the health ; interferes and puts a ttop to it. Tills is|to impose upon the people additional and done continually. LoUeries have been abo- unnecessary burdens ; to produce waste of lished, though once they yielded considera- time and of property ; to introduce disorder bio revenue to the government: they wer^and disobedience to law; to disturb the found injurious to f^cclety, and were put! peace, atjd to multiply crimes of every grade, down. Gambling houses are declared; Such conclusions would be justified by tho nuisances. An unwholesome manufacture,! experience and history of man, ]j a Leyls- «5tablished in an inhabited place, is held ioHnliwe should declare that no pernon should he a nuisance, and the proprietor may he^acqilre ani/ property in them, for such a • compelled to remove it, at waatever incon-jp?:, tuiv.ik avould bb no occasion venience and cost. Intia-raural cumeteriesiFoi: any coJirLAiNTTiiAT it uad viokat- are now regarded as nuisances, and the|ED any provision of the Constitution." State shuts them up. Whatever a manj Another question is anxiously asked — Is does, that is proved to be annoying to hi? i/^^jraci/caWc ? It may be answered by an neighbours, or detrimental to their j.Toperty appeal to facts. In tiie youngest-born of or health, he may I '^- forcibly prevented |eivili:;ed nations (the Sandwich Lslands) tho from continuing to do, by the strong arm of manufacture and sale of ardent spirits were *he law. When the cholera was r;tg'ng in prohibiLed by law more than twenty years 4.he city of Washington, tbo authorities pas,?- ago, under a he.avy penalty, and the prohibi- ed the following resolution: — " 7i'M&/ri:^/. lion remains in full force. When permission \rhat the vending of ardent spirits, in what- was asked to sell to foreigners only, not to ever quantity, is considered a nuisance, and,, natives, the Governor's reply was, " To fls such, is hereby directed to be discontinu- horses, cattle, and hogs you raay^ sell rum, ed for the space of 90 days from this date." buttoreal men you must not on tliosc shores." In the opinion of some, this was a high- Tho sale of intoxicating liquors is prohibited handed interference with private rights ; in the State of Maine. It is prohibited in but the necessity of tlio case justiiied it, for •the authorities had discovered that ardent spirits were to the cholera as fuel to the VerraopL It is prohibited in llhode Lslartd. It is prohibited in ?,Iassachusetts. It is pro- hibited in I\Iichifran. It is prohibited In the fire. The only wonder is, that they werej Territory of Minnesota. It will soon be not induced, by the good eiTccts of the mea-j prohibited in the State of NewYork.inPenn- sure, to declare the vending of ardent spirits a perpetual nuisance. Their successors, 1 am happy to say, are preparing to do it BOW. The following decision of the . Chief Jus- tice of the State of Maine, which v/as con- •curred in by the full bench, places the mat- ter in a clear and satisfactory point of view : " The 4Stato, by its legislative enactment?, ylvania, and in Nov/ Jersey. The South- ern States are waking up. The Western States arc roused. In a i'aw years time tho " Maine Liquor Law" will become a " United States Liquor Law," nnd that vast country will be delivered from the abomina- tion of the tralFic. The deliverance will be shortly accomplished in Canada (I know sorao of the Temperance men of that ProY* mnm jnim4>*mmi /^f:. A.DDIES9. infe — riiej aro resolute, persevering men — iinil they will not bo balked), anj in New Brunswick. Shiill it not be fiiuiultaneously ucconiplished here ? As to the praclioahility and cfTcct of the measure, taiie the Hon. N. 1 Dow's testi- mony, given at tlie last An.ut;! fleeting ol the American Temperance I'uion. '• You may go up and down the State of I^Iaine, and not find a place where liquorti ure exposed for sale mere than two-thirds of any given number *>r men, because the remainder would be uwuy drinking, they can now depend ou from 4.3 to 48 out of oO. 1$ taxation the object of inquiry? At Fairfield, Maine, a tov\nof 2100 mlmbitants, there were eigliit<;n di^in-siinps. Fourteen of them were closed as soon as the law went into operation ; the constables u^ed their pe- culiar method,-? of persuasion in closing the The wholesale trade 'others. And t;ow for the fruit;'. Tiie puu- per-tax has been reduced from ^1100 to $300. And what Imvo the men of Fai: field done with this tavinp 'f Tliey have added $fiOO to their fchool-fimd. Tho peoph) of Fairfield are " wi-e in their f^eneration." Once more. Is it asked, what have been tlio ellccts on peace and crdirl Tiie ex- perience of tho town of Augusta may be ad- duced. Tlie police of that town used to be called out a hundred nigiits in tho year. la in ]\laine stopped instantly, upon the passage cf this law." i may remark here, that one cf the distil- lers, wiiose estaulishment was thus closed was ttlterwards so pleased with the benelicial ope- ration of the law, that ho declared, if he had ten distilleries, each worth SIO.OOO, he would willingly give them up, to secure such excel- lent results. That man dc^ervts a niche in the temple of Fame I Let us hear Hslw Dow furiher. " irAe;six mouths after the law taking effect, they relail IraU isnoiv as disrcputallc n$ picJdtig'Xv^vl not been called out ci:ce. pocktto or atcaliiKj sJieij). An action for li-l At Agricultural A;^^■ociatio^. and j)ublio bel would lie against a man for culling ano-igatheriiigs in general, intemperance former- :her ' rumseller,' as quickly as for the other. [ly prevailed to a great extent. Governor Intemperance ceased almost immediately,! Wright of rndiana attended the last State and the begging ar.d wretchedness conse-'Faii- in Vermont, and expressed his great quent upon H. They fined the rumsellerlsurprise that during the two days of the fair instead of the drunkard, and filled tho Iock-{he had not seen one man drunk. How was ups, of wliich there are eighteen in Portland Jthat? TJie Vermot.t Liquor Lav/ had rc- vvhich were full under the old law, with bar-jcently taken eliect. rels and demijohns, instead of men. Every These few cases aro specimens of hun- respectable man quit the bu^Iuess when iticlreds of the like kind that might Lave been became unlawful." / ! produced. It may be said that Jlr. Dow is a parti- Vr'e do not say that the race of drunkards ?an, and that he will necessarily speak in i will be altogether abolished by a prohibitory favour of his own scheme. We eaa obtain irdormation from otlier quarters. Do you ask, what have been tho elTects of the law in reference to crime 'i Crime has been reduced 38 per cent in Lowell, 30 jper cent in Springfield, and even three liquor law. "We do not say that there will not be found men determined to perpetuate that race, at all risk, whatever it may cost, and whatever ruin it may bring down upon their fellow creatures. We do not say that rum will not find its way into certain boles fourths in sonic other places. At Burling- and corners, and that depraved beings will ton, and olher places iu Vermont, the jails I not creep into those holes and corners to have been emptied. drink it — even as thieves and murderers Does your intjuiry relate to pauperism ? perpetrate their deeds of infamy under cover At Portland, the amount levied for the re- of the darkness. But we do say that, it will lief of the poor has been lowered from five be a great thing to drive intoxicating liquors dollars to one — or in that proportion. into concealment, and to make it disgraceful Do you ask about industry ?■ The con- tractors on t'lc St. Lawrence and Atlantic 10 use them. As one has justly remarked — *' Take away the lawfulness of the tralTic, Railroad inform us tliat whereas before the and that moment it6 respectability goes passing of tlfj Iav: th?(y could not rely onJalong with it. te ..k liiiiwi ■wriiiiiii - i, Ji^muMMiiimmmm- ▲X>DBB8t. Take away llie Iawfllln.^?s of the traffic, and that moraer.t its morality deserts it. Take away the lawfulness of the traffic, and tbat instant its guilt and criminality be- come strangely apparent. Take away the lawfi'Iness of ;iie traffic, and the outiawod vender holds rank with tlie smuggler in an illicit trade," It has been said that we are not prepared for the law, and that, if passed, it will not be kept. I deny the faci — and I repel the insinuation. Temperance men have been long prepared, and, as has been already ob- served, they are iio insign.ificant power in the community. Pa?s the law, and you will at once find a people prepared to carry it out through all its issues. Tliof.e who are indifferent now will take their stand by the law then, because it is law. A bad la\ cannot be sustained ; but who will dare to say that a Prohibitory Liquor Law is a bad Jaw ? Who will venture to plead for drunk- ard-manufactories .'' Who will be so far forgetful of himself, and so lost to all sen of honour and right as to maintain that it is a violation of freedom to deprive a man of the power of impoverishing and ruining his neighbour — body and goods — mind and heart — for time and eternity ? No ! All honourable and true-hearted men will pro- claim it a good law, and will watch over it and secure its observance. 1 have not so mean an opinion of the people of Nova Sco- tia as to fear a contrary restilt. This, Gentlemen,, is our case We main- tain, that the use of intoxicating liquors is extensively injurious to society — that the attempt to regulate and control the sale of those liquors by legislative enactments has proved an utter failure — and that the sup- pression of the traffic, except for certain spe- cified purposes, is the only sure remedy. Gentlemen of the Legislature, — petitions for the suppression of this traffic are about to be presented to you, containing upwards of thirty thousand signatures of the people of Nova Scotia; and we could tell yoiiofmany thousands more, who, though their names are not appended to the petitions, desire from their inmost souls the success of the cause. The petitioners are of all ranks, and of every profession calling, and religious denomination in the province. Among them aro many drankarda, who, whiU they confess their inability to resist the tempta- tion, will hail the passage of the law as the harbinger of their deliverance. Some of thera are actually engaged in tl:e 'raffic. So general is the desire for a prohibitory law, that in so.ne places only one in ten in others only one in twenty-five have declined to sign the petitions. There has not been shown such unanimity before in this country, on any subject whatever. These, then, are the pe- titions of the people — not of a few, nor of the minority. We are assured that nine-tenths of the adult population of Nova Scotia are in favour of the proposed law. Public opi- nion was never so loudly, so generallv ex- pressed. Surely, the old adage is now veri- fied — vox popi H, vox Dei : — we trust that you will reverently obey. This is not the first time your interference has been sought. Again and ajrain have the friends of Temperance entreated you to in- terpose — though as yet without success. We approach you once more — in greater fium- bers — and in full confidence that we shall at length prevail. The request we prefer is no selfish one. We ask for no grant of pub- lic money ; — we ask for no favour — no monopoly — no exclusive rights — no prefer- ence over others. But we ask you to do a patriotic deed ; — to free your country from an intolerable nuisance ;— to hear tb'- prayers of the wretched ones who implore your aid; -and to promote the health and happiness of the people, the general prosperity of the country, and the interests of knowledge, morality, and religion, by giving the sanction of law to a measure which is as just as it is generous, — which will benefit all, and do harm to none. What is our desire for Nova Scotia and its inhabitants ? We long to see our coun- try freed, wholly freed from the bondage and curse of intemperance:— her statesmen, and judges, and magistrates, free — her "halls of legislation and her civic cotincils, 'ree — her clergy, and physicians, and lawyers, free — her merchants, free — her yeomen, and all the people, f, ee — all free ! And that this our desire may be accom- plished, we ask you, Gentlemen, to grant the prayer of tie petitions which will be pre- sented to you, and to give the country a sound, unmistakeablef ejfficacioui Prokibi- TORT Liquor Latt. t' \^u -i ^m \ 1 r . — - JT* ,_;j^^a^ig^iLmjm^^^^^