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CAMBRIDG ePORT. SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH 20, 1652. Boston, as If WILL BE—wuHeEx? Some of our newspaper neighbors are in ecstacies at the prospect that at some day, not far distant, Boston will swallow up in its capacious laws, all that now constitutes its delightful environs, including the cities of Cambridge, Roxbury, and Charles town, and the pleasant town of Chelsea. It is a glorious idea to contemplate a city covering the broad space, now occupied by those cities, and possessing all the combined advantages now en joyed by each. The prospect of being thus ab sorbed is, of course, perfectly delightful, and some possibly may think it passing strange there should be any to oppose the scheme. From present appearances, it would seem that Boston itself is in a pretty fair way of being ab sorbed by the surrounding cities. Hundreds after hundreds of her citizens, are leaving for the more congenial air and fairer scenes of the rural vicini ty. This perhaps is natural enough under the circumstances. The increase of business creates a demand for business marts, and dwelling houses find themselves soon in unpleasant prox imity to the whirl and bustle of trade. Railroad trains go crowded as they leave the city at night, to return again crowded in the morning. How this state of things will be remedied by the ab sorption above referred to, we cannot see. Those who now live in Chelsea, will live in Chelsea still, although the name should be changed, un less they move still farther from the din of business. What benefit Boston can hope to derive from any increase of her territory from the surrounding places, we cannot conceive. It strikes us that a more appropriate move would be, since so many of her business men reside in the places adjoin ing, to apportion her territory according to some fixed valuation, and divide it among the respec tive cities and towns which is said, will one day be united under the same municipality. A ‘union will thus be formed, which if it be not ex actly what is contemplated by our neighbors, will at least prove full as agreeable to those with whom she proposes to unite. Proximity of location can give no right of property ; otherwise after Boston has extended her limits to Dorchester and Brookline and Water town and Malden, she would still need and have a right to appropriate those towns, and so on through the State. Business relations and fre quency of communications can give no claim to territory, otherwise the world belongs to Boston. Our friends are too uneasy, and too ambitious.— The cities surrounding Boston enjoy their rights and their ancient immunities, and these they will not be likely to throw readily away. This portion of the citizens of Roxbury have said in their refusal to be annexed to the metropolis. Let us rather have a free communication with the city for business purposes; and our ample lands are ready to welcome those who wish a quiet and pleasant residence, which will be none the less delightful because it is located in Cam bride, Roxbury, Charlestown, or Chelsea. Rev. Mr. Lovesor’s Station—On Sunday s evening last the Rev. Mr. Lovejoy delivered a discourse in opposition to the Maine Liquor Law. He selected for a text the words in Romans, ith chapter and 20th verse—* Moreover the law en tered that the offence might abound.” ‘This was affirmed to be the invariable influence of law upon the corrupt mind. The remedy which the gospel provides was exhibited in contrast to that of the law. The preacher remarked that he would have avoided the presentation of this subject if he could have done so without losing his self res pert; truth would not suffer by the most searching examination—and as there were enough who were ready to defend this particular law, he felt the more willing to present his views in oppo sition to it. He gave a short history of his con nection with the temperance reformation. It commenced some twenty-five years ago by the delivery of a gratuitous lecture while in Bowdoin College. It was continued for some years by frequent conversation with drinkers as well as sellers, and by lecturing on the topic as oppor tunity offered. The subject of a prohibitory law was discussed in Maine in 1841. In 1827, the motto of temperance men everywhere was ‘ light and love,” and never were the labors of the friends of temperance more productive of good. All political action on this subject was disavowed. The cause advanced slower than could have been desired, but it gained everywhere. The discussion of the wine question in 1831 was noticed, and also the efforts to secure the patronage of temperance men to public houses conducted on temperance principles. Then came the Washingtonian movement—from whence no one knows. Many who stood up to relate theirh experience, seemed to glory in their shame; they poured forth corruption enough to pollute half the young men of the land. Now comes the prohibitory law, and this is to be the great rectifier of all the evils arising from intemperance. The result aimed at is desirable, but cannot be reached by legislation. It is just as absurd as would be the effort of a man with a broom to sweep the stars from the sky. All past experience of the operation of laws of this nature is against them. They have been passed in Mis sissippi, Tennessee, Illinois and some other States, but have failed to accomplish what was expected of them. A large number of minds has been directed to this subject, but as yet it has been comprised by none. It is found to be a very dif ficult thing to make laws to govern mind. With regard to the Maine law, the question was asked, what are nine months in the history of the law? Its character and utility can no more be judged than can that of a child nine months old. The statistics in relation to its operation have been gathered for a purpose. A letter was read from a gentleman in Maine who had been engaged in efforts to enforce the law in a town where the officers, Justice of the Peace, and almost all whose services were neces sary to execute the law, were opposed to it. Sta _ workings, under such unfavorable circumstances, were commented on. The preacher went on to show what this law has to do, and how it attempts to do it. The operation of the United States laws were noticed, it was asserted, that should Congreas enact a law of a similar character it could not be enforced. Nature is full of alcohol, and since the days of Adam man has had it, he always will have it. Every family would distill for self—as family apparatus for the purpose would probably be furnished for from $1 to $5 each. =p a “The preacher referred to the arena of the liquor drinker as a moral agent. © If be ne’ he does it at his own peril; he sees the yawing gulf, and should avoid it. He noticed the prac tical workings of the law, and the various ex pedients to which resort would be had—the false lying—the chemical experiments —the mechanical purposes, and the medical uses to which it would be said to be applied. These at tempts will be made, and successfully—and thus lying and deception encouraged. He spoke of the effects of the law on the farmer, whose cider can be taken to market, when it is first made, and regally sold; while after thirty days it cannot be thus sold without subjecting the seller to a fine of $100. The policy was questioned of allowing one agent to destroy the liquor in one street, while, perhaps, another agent was at the same time making a purchase of a similar article to be sold by him as the agent of the town. The manufacture of the article is al lowed when it is to be sent out of the State. Is this doing as we would be done by ¢ The preacher contended with considerable ear nestness that this law was a practical violation of the pledges of temperance men, often reiterated against all political action on this subject. He complimented very warmly the course taken on this subject by the Honorable Senator from Cambridge, Anson Burlingame, and insisted that the Legislature have no moral right to pass this law. We have only given a few of the ideas advanced by the preacher, as may be understood, when it is known that he was somewhat over an hour and a half in the delivery of the discourse. We un derstand, however, that it is to be printed, and our readers will be able to procure the entire ar gument, and “ read, ponder and inwardly digest it,” if they desire to do so.
Newspaper Details
Cambridge Chronicle
Cambridge, Massachusetts, US
Sat, Mar 20, 1852
Page 2
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USA 25 Aug 2026
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