mourn.

jflyoeiaish’

VOL. 22.

TEMPERANCE.

THE VOICE OF l33.5l9 PETITIONERS FOR THE “ MAINE L.-KW" IN M.‘\SSAClIUSET'I'S.

In compliance with an official call from the Massachusetts Temperance “ Central Executive Board." for that purpose. a Great Mass Temperance Convention was held in Tromunt Temple in Boston on Wednesday. Jan. Stet. I859. to present to the Legislature the " Msmrnouth Petition" of l33.5l2 cit- ilens of Massachusetts. for the abolition of“ drinking houses and tippling shops" within their borders. The Convention was called to order at ten o‘c|oclt, A. at. by Rev. Mr. Otheman. the Chairman of said " Board.”

A very appropriate and impressive prayer having been of- fered by that venerable pioneer ofTemperance. the Rev. Dr. Lyman Beecher. Mr. Huntington, the President. on taking the Chair. addressed the Convention at some length elo uently viridicatirigtlie ptinr:iples,and provisions ofthe “ l nine w," and conirneurliinz the speedy enactment ofa similar statute in Massar-linsetis. as a trieasure absolutely iiecessnry for the law- less rum traffic. and for the protection ofthe coinrnuuity against the couotlr-.ss and costly assaults. He had been for many years District Attorney ofa portion ofthe State, and well knew. lie said. the many defects ol'the ulIf,IIttl the great and urgent need ofthe proposed new law. (Great (‘In-ering.)

The “ Mammou/Ii Pcti!iori,”—cscortcd by twelve of the city police. who. as teetotalers on members of the Temple of Honor, voluriteerml their services on the occasion,—i\'as then brought into the Tr-mplo. and placed upon the rostrum with the greetirig of three spontaneous and hearty cheers of the vvhole assrernhly. It was rolled on an axis, so suspended on it wooden frantic, as to rotate freely, and was about three feet in diarrr--ter. bearing the names of l33.5l2 petitioners. of which 57,067 were thoseof legal voters ofthe wholetfomtnonwcultli, ttlthougzli about one tliitd of the towns in the State had nottheti sent in their returns.

After a short, but stirring address from Professor Stowe. of Brunswick, Me.. in which he con-_vratulated the Convention on the broad diameter of the “ tllanimuulli Roll" before him. and assured the people that the “ Maine Law" continued to work beautifully and perfectly in Maine. and would not, and could not be repealed. the procession was formed undertho direction of R. Cowdoti. as Chief Marshal. and at about It o'clock began to move on its “ wending way" to the State llouse.

The procession was headed by the large “ J('Il7ll/ 1.51141" sleigh. tIr.twu by four SplI‘llt‘tl steeds. and bearing the l’clition. and the pI’t‘8'_‘llI'.llltIII coirrrrrittcc, with it banner waving aloft, announcing: in large capitals-—

"THE VOICE ()l" i\l.\SS.\ClIllSl‘)'l"I‘S.-—l30.000

PI’. l‘I'I‘l0.\' Ella‘ FOR TH I’. MAINE LA W’-‘

Then followed Bond's Cornet Band, whose sweet music. was harsh discord to the runisellt-r's cars.—the “ Central Exec- utive o:ird,"—Grand Divisinrr Sorts of'l‘etnperatrcc,—subor- dinate Divisions, of which Shakespeare Division of Boston bore ofi the paint in regalia banners. and nurnbers,—-other tem- perance orgnni1..itions.—tnembers of the Mass Convention. and other citizens, making in all a long and solid coltrmn, four a breast. of about 5000 itionera.that roads the spiritmongers. as it moved along in front oftlieir stores, feel. and _look muc more sober. and blue, than their " b'9m'dfirc:" were in the habit of making their cristomcrs victims.

The procession. in passing through Bowdoin. Mt. Vernon. Charles. and Be.-it-on streets, having completely surrounded the State House. arrived in frotit ofthe some about half-past 12. when the Petition, accompanied by the Comniittee, am greeted by the clicers ofthe thousands. who tlirongcd the b:il- conies. porches. and spacious yard of the State House, was borne through tl-e dense multitude. into the Representatives Hall. and placed in the open area in front ofthe Speaker's Desk. “ Illo/t.v(«:r" as it wits. this huge " Iloll" was evident- ly. neither an unexpected. nor an unwelcome guest to the House. It coriiteoosly suspended its business. and unanim- ouslv granted leave for the immediate presentation ofthc pr!- iition, which was very liandsornely done by Mr. Horace E. Smith. a member ofthe House from Chelsea, in the following address. viz:

. r. K -rr:—Leavs has been asked and granted to intro- duce a petition.--may I not say the petition,—ofa large por- tion ofthe irilialiitants of the State, and it seems proper to make at least a brief statement of the character ofthe petition- ers, and the nature ofthcir prayer. It will be seen at a glance, that the pctitinri is one of no ordinary magnitude. I believe that in int of numbers. it has never been equalled in this country. and Iconfideutly affirm. that. in point of character and respectability. it has never been surpassed in any country. It enrolls the names of more than l30.000 ofthe beat citizens and inhabitants of the Commonwealth. among whom more than 57.000 are ltnovvn to be legal voters. And it is believed, also. that many more of the signers arc ofthis nature, though owing to various circumstances that fact is not stated. Stand- ing at the head of all the names is the honored one of George N. Briggs, and following his are those representing all clas- ses, all professions, all tradcs in theCommonwetilth. VVoman also is represented. and rightly too, for she has peculiar claims to the sympathy and protection ofthe Legislature. as being the subject of laws in whose enactment she has no voice—but more as the peculiar subject of the dire evils which the traiiic in intoxicating drinks has brortght upon comrnnnity. It is right. therefore. that her voice should be hear .

'l‘he petitioners ask for no class legislation. no act of incor- poration. no protection for commerce, agriculture or manufac- tures. but l'or protection to man. to religion, to our halls of learning. our temples of legislation. our courts ofjusticc. and

bove all to our domestic ulters.—Tlve_v believe that the trafllc in ardent spitits has peopled our houses ofcorrection. our jails, our lunatic asylstns, our grave yards.—-with uricounted num- bers of premature victirns.—They further believe that the

Legislature has the power to remedy the evil. and having that power. it ought to exercise it. The boon they ask is no sel- ii,-iti one. and this petition oftlieirs is the result ofthe pulsation of the great heart of the Commonwealth. And. sir. I trust may be permitted to express the hope that their prayer will find s res nse here. present. Mr. Speaker, the petition of George . Briggs, and 133.519 others. for a law prohibiting the indie in intoxicating liqtrors. An lso these several other petitions ofthe male and female teachers of the Wes- leysn Academy in Wilbrnhiim; ofthe teachers and pupils of Amherst Academy; of the officers and students of Amherst College; of the town oflicers of North Bridgewriter, and the 9 rs of the Normal School there; of 30 prisoners of the Norfolk County Jail; of 98 prisoners in the lfousn of Correc- tion at Dedhsvn—ell for the same object. And I move their ratcrsriee to a Joint Special Committee.

This motion was unanimously adopted, and the " Joint Special Committee." has nce been appointed in com pliance with it.

The petition having been thus appropriately presented. and the enunnittse having returned from the Hall. and rescaled themselves in the “Jenny Lind" sleigh. the roccssiori re- turned directly to 'I'mnont Temple. where the President re-

to the reassembled cttvtvcntiomtlts van seesptable man- age in which the petition at the State House been present- .d;ad received. Short and spirited addresses ‘were then indds. ‘Phi has been set in motion a vehrrsstsvy balhthatwill roll trlfihlntly and Beneflestttl th the ssd oftbosnuusnweslth, from aw reptile to ' ,

r

CIIARLOTTETOWN, PRINCE EDWAR D ISLAND,

and from Cape Cod to Berlrshire;—-and thus too. on the ills of.lanusry. I852. was achieved “ glory enough for one day.” in rolling on the ears ofthe legislative servants ofthe people. the longest. and the loudest peal of petitionary, instructional. and sdrnonitory thunder, that has ever yet been heard in any legislative Hall on the continent of AuiericaI—If it

heeded. well will it be. both for people. and for their proxies; —hot ifuot. the fiery and retributionary ball: will inevitably follow, and launched from the electric, and murky cloud of ballot boxes, will fall in due time upon those. who. in refusing the long needed, and now unequivocally demanded legislative protection against the rum traffic, shall have sacrified the great, leading, and paramount interests of the Commonwealth or the mousing, paltry. contemptible. and as we think, surely fallaciuus hope of riding into political power and place. upon the back ot'ir barrel of New Eirgland Rum, or upon the should- ers of a dernijolm of bramly.'—-.lla.t.racIiu.re!ts Cataract.

TESIPERANCE ANNIVERSARY.

The anniversary of the Murrtt Harbor Benevol' tTotttl Absti- nence Soctety. wits held in the Salem Chapel. on rriday evening, January 3tIIli.riud was very respectnbl attended, the Rev. Mr. Butcher, Preitideut of the Social . preiritlling on the occasion. Alter writs appropriate observations froiii the Chairman, relative to the objects of the rneetirig. the Secretary read the Report for the past year. of which the following is a copy:

tu:t>oit'r:

In accordance with the rules of this Societ . the time has arrived when your Committee nre called upon to su tnit their first Annual Report; which. by the Divine blessing. they nre enabled to do. with :_linnlrfu|nesa for the pnst,nnd horrible but cheering hope for the

uture.

The meetings of the Society. durin the past year. have been respectnlily attended. and the thanks o your Committee are due to the Rev. lllr. Wliitlock. \rVil|i rrn Sanderson. .. and Mr. Archibald M-Neill, for the valuable nasistitnrre they have nlforded in delivering several highly interesting iirid deeply irnprossiveleclureiv. on the nul-ject of ti.-niperuiice; on your Coriitnittee indulge in the hope. that their “ work of faith, and labour 0 love." have extended a liighly beneficial influence over tit! community, resulting in the ori- rolim.-rit of I19 riierrihers of society, who have joined the ranks of the iioblo army enlisted under the bnnner of temperance; whose object is to nrrest the progreu-. and counteract the influence of the demon-foe intemperunce. Whilst. therefore. this Report demands gratitude for the past. it also supplies motives of encouragement for the future; that instead of deripondency being created by a view of the greatness of the work to he done. nntl the feehlcneas of the in, iniuino-riiiiliiy ernployed for elfecting ii, faith irliuuldbe strengthened hops enlivened. and love eri urged.

'l'he cnusc of 'I‘cnIperniice is so great a cause, that it must prevail. “'li:itever ditlicultieir it may be called upon to endure. it cart never fiiil of overcoming tlierrr all. Can the social nnd triornl condition of the people be elevated. and inleniperance remain unchecked? Can the youthful niinrl be early iriibued with sound and religious know- lodge, and intetupi-runce rctnain uni-liecked? Can the Gospel spread its holy influence on till I c passions and pursuits of iiinn, and foil to uell the demon of intsrnperauce? It is impos-

' e 'I‘ e eye r reason can almost percsive that n being so glo- rious in his capabilities as man. will not for ever gruvel in the ways of pollution. and can be in to trace some nymptunis of u cumin ressnlsliou; but thseye faith beholdrt iutbu fair pageof revelation, such s-urunecs of the Suviour’s unuchieved conquests of victories slill future. and triumphs still unseen. as to have no rooru for doubt or despondency. lie who went forth alone. but conquering and to conquer, will ere long return with every mark of victory and tri- umph. and upon his head “litany crowns;" and amongst the rest. there shall he one among the brightest and fairest. to grace the linnl aulijugution of intempcrance.

ll

loved by James Richards. I-!sq.. Vice President ofthe Society:

That the report be adopted and publish . whit: was carried unanimously. er which the nruierribly was addressed by Rev. Mr. Whirlock. in an unimnled and highly interesting speech. which was listened to with profound attention; and I3 members were eit- rulled ut the close of the meeting. Signed on behalf of the Meeting.

JOHN BROOKS. Secretary.

Murray Ilarbor, Feb. 7, 1852.

To -run INHABITANT8 or P. E. ISLAND ;—

I beg to call your attention to an important subject; Viz: the putting down the trade in strong drinks. You all know what a curse it has been to the Island. The means proposed for re- moving this vice are legislative enactments, in order to obtain uliich, it will be nl-ct-ssiiry to petition the Legislature.

There are many and weighty considerations which will in- duce you to exert yourselves in this humane and good cause. Religion. humanity, justice and mercy call on you; the widows’ tears and orphans’ cries, whose husbands and fathers have gone to a drunkirid's grave, call on you. The blood of those who have been murdered by drunkards, crieth to you.

Sunk in poverty, misery and crime. the poor, debased and wretched tII't.t‘lllIl'tI calls on you.

The fruitless wuilinga of the lost through strong drink, where there is not one drop of water to cool their tongue. in thrilling and awful accents, cry to you simultaneously to arise purl banish the accursod traffic in intoxicating liquor! from the

sland.

Whom will you diaplease by uniting to put down this evil l I answer; The Devil. He. knowing that the trade in Rum, &c.. &c., has greatly assisted him in propliog his dark domain. will rage furiously. while “ he grins horribly a ghastly grin,” stid perchance will send a reinforcement of fiends to assist those trusty ones, who have had the supervision of tits trafiie for so long a time. You may also dtsplease some human beings. but you will be commended by all right-minded and right-hearted men and women.

Hoping that you will be shortly addressed on this momentous ruhject by much sbler persons,

I remaln your true frisnd,J

Charlottetown, Feb. 23. 1852.

lcntnlattttt liltntwttifilkttlfifl.

Turruauav. 19th. MORNING SITTING. The appointed for time receivipg Petitions being nearly expired. a great number were again present . nuns of which were rejected. Lroirr Horn: AT 1'!!! Non-rir Cara.

Ilon. Mr. WARRBUTON laid before the House, several arches, and other documents. soncsrntn the erection of is Light was at the North Cape. which wsrso red to be submitted to

. Committee of the whole House on Thursday nest. Baum. Dsu'rs' Bran. On motion of the Ilon. Mr. COLES. the Small Debts‘ Bill was read a third time; and on further rnotion. the Bill was passed. AFTERNOON SITTING.

Tin: Foo Ananuar Brr.r.. and the Btu. to provide a sum-

mary remedy llir Ssuucsn I"sasAt.us, were read a third time, and

pnTlte.ACcIDll‘l'l by Pins Bran. was read a second time. sub- mitted to a Committee. reported agreed to. and ordered to be en-

nosed. ‘' Mr. IIAVILAND intvodueeda Bill. to r ulats the service of Non-Bailirbls Process. in cause when canals are not within the jurisdiction ofthe Courts of lavr sfthls Island. which was read a tlrst time. and its ordered fir ts-marrow.

Hen. Mr. POPE moved. that a fetitlofl ntedtstho House

this lssvlon. ralptlvs ts Beads, Bridges and herb, be referred to

the several Members. from whose districts they sminated. to be provided for as they may deem proper. out of the Bond Monty. which was a res to.

Hon. Mr. L LES moved. that the over due Notes of “and. for Seed Grain. &e.. advanced by Government in I8-I8. to be handed to the Cornuiisaioners of Roads; and. after sortie diaeuauton. the follow- ing Resolution. moved b the honorable Member was agreed I0-

Resolocd. 'l‘hut the otes of Hand. taken by the dilferent Com- missioners for the distribution ofseed Grain and Meal be sent to Road Comnriuioners for the collection of the same; puyntent to I30 demanded. and taken in vlurk on the Roads at live Shiliinga per day, or by Contract. and that the Commissioners be allowed to appoint vsvssers to superintsnd the same. and to pay each Over- seer Six Shillings. per day. for superintendiug the work so to be done out of tlu Notes placed in his hands for collection : And that all Petitioners having just claims on the Government. be pntd In

~ their own Notes, as far as they go. in liquidation of the said claims.

MORNING SITTING. Fnrusir, 20th.

This being the last day appointed by the House for the receiving of Petitions, the Morning Sitting was principally consumed in their reception and disposal.

Mr. HAVILAND presented a Petition from Georgetown, raying the re-enactment of an Act to prevent the running at large 0 Swine and Geese in the Streets and Squares of Georgetown. e eti- tiuns having been received and read. the honorable member asked leave to introduce tl Bill on the subject.

On motion, by Mr. Montgomery, the Bill to amend the Act for compelling persons owning lands adjoining each other to their share 0 Fencing. was re a second time. and committ to e um- rnittee of the whole House; and some tirrre having been spent there- in, the Cliiiirrnau reported progress. and asked leave to sit again.

Satusuav 2lst. MORNING SII"I‘ll\'G. Suauutinr.

Mr. MOONEY moved. that the time for receiving Petitions be extended to this day only. which being agreed to. several were pre- sented. received. read. and referred to the Committees appointed to report.

Avon-rivo or Panic ACcoI1!l1'I.

Ifon. lllr. COLES. by command ofHis Excellency. laid before the House Certificates. Reports and other Documents furnished by the Public Auditors. In doing so, the honorable member stated, that the duties of the Auditors new extended to all Otlices receiving Public Money, is practice which had not been adopted. by former (iovernrnents to any siitiitfuctory extent. The documents which he had the lioriur ofuubnritling. it would be seen. were I! complete check upon the Public Otlicerii. and atforded a real security to the public, that no defalc.-rtion could exist without detection. Sir. enr- pli ly exclniuied the honorable member, what now becomes of the assertion in yesterday‘: “ Islander." that n defalcation had been discovered in one otlice. by those Gentlemen. whose Re ort.s and certificates are now before the House. Thess documents give a flat contradiction to that assertion and must satisfactorily prove to all unprejudiced minds. that the article alluded to is only a fair sample of much that nds a lace in that scurrilous Psper—uo— thing less than u malicious, wic ed. and forged assertion.

llon. Mr. WARBUli.'I'ON said, caluuinres were‘ air time, out of ten. as rgensrul rule, treated with ouiil‘ertlTf: oi wicked authors were in the long run, pretty sure to find their slanderous attempts recoil upon their own ea a: yet attacks of too gross a character, such as that which he just been alluded to by his hono- rable friend. ought not to be allowed to pass altogether with irn u- nity; and. if redress could be had in the present instance, be (Mr. Warburton) would not full to seek it.

Mr. FRASER moved that the documents be referred to the House when in Committee on \Vaya and llIerins—u reed to.

Mr. DOUSE appeared at the Bar of the Ifouse in custody of the Sergeant-at-Arrirs. to answer for his non-attendance the day pre- vioui, on a Call of the House. The honorable member pleaded indiaposition as the cause; and.

On rriotion of the Hon. Mr. COLES. his apology was accepted by the I ouire.

Mr. IIAVILAND introduced a Bill to re-enact the Act to pre- vent the runnmg at large of Swine and Geese, in the Streets and Squares of Georgetown. which was read u first time.

Ilon. D r. PE expressed his regret. that the honorable mem- her bad _conliucd it to Georgetown alone. convinced as e was, that tlielruiiiiiug at large of Swine throughout_ the Island, was a great on

REPORTING.

. Illr. DAVIES. subsequently to the presenting of a Petition rela- tive to the Charlottetown Ferry. embraced the opportunity of com- planning of the report. as it appeared in the paper which he held in its hand (the Islander). purporting to be his speech on the debate to the Charlottetown Ferry. in which the Reporter had not only curtailed and misrepresented what he had said on the occasion, but lie was sorry to say, had acted in in partial manner. (both tll res- pected trnaelf and his honorable colleague) on that question. \_Vhnt be (Mr. Davies) hail said was in part left out, and what he did not nay. occupied its place. Ilia constituents were deeply con- cerned. tu the question of the Ferry, and he. as in duty bound, was expected to protect their interests in this. to them. important matter. as well as in all others of a local nature; but this report did not shew. that he kept his promises. but the contrary. Ile should not have brought this under the notice of the House. had it not been for the fact. that he had been questioned by seine of his friends, his supporters, who put unpleasant questions to him. such as, “ What are you about? \Vhat are you doio ? Your speeches appear very short in the papers, while those of other members are long." Al be (Mr. Davies) wanted. was to be fairly and justly represented. which, he would again repeat, he had not been in this IIIINIIICO.

llon. Mr. COLES. Many reasons existed to show, that it was necessary to condense the speeches of honorable members. lfthey were not condensed. it might appear. that the some thing had been repeated twenty times. It seemed from the latter rt of the honorable member's remarks. that the People took an interest in watchin the proceedings of tber Representatives. and he was glad they id. I s did not see what the onoruble member had really to complain of: for his (Mr. Coles') part. he considered the Reporter the very reverse of partial: he had not before. after a month's sitting. been complained of, and be (Mr. Colcs) was uits sure. that he would not intentionally misrepresent any one. I the honorable member had pointed out the error, he was sure the Re- porter would have corrected it. A few lines from him to the Edi- tor, would at once have set the matter in its proper light. In II de- bate of such length as the one referred to, it was utterly impossi- ble to revent trifling discrepancies from cree in in.

Mr. USE could make all reasonable allowances; but he could not help considering. that the report in question had not near to what was said. as it mi t and ought to have been. Ile (Mr. Douse) cored very little about it himself‘. but he could not re- friiin from asserting. that it was it partinl report; and rhnt jui-tics hind not been done to his colleague. It—the apeech—bud neither head nor tail.