1886.] '^ i [Rothrock. 



then rose and said he was not willing that this motion should 

 prevail, and continued, "But I have been educated in certain 

 sturdy notions of the rights and liberties of the people, inherited 

 from the common law of our ancestors, and embodied in our 

 State Constitution. It is therein declared that among the in- 

 herent and indefeasible rights of all men is that ' of acquiring, 

 possessing and protecting property,' and also, 'that the people 

 shall be secure in their persons, houses, and possessions from 

 unreasonable searches and seizures.' Both of these above pro- 

 visions, bulwarks of our rights and liberties, are invaded by 

 this bill — unnecessarily and unwisely invaded by it." This 

 of course provoked the bitter hostility of extreme temper- 

 ance men. The North American and United States Gazette, in 

 commenting upon Mr. Price's conduct, said: "Still there is an 

 intrepidity of disinterestedness in his course, which is as unu- 

 sual as it is heroic, and which must challenge the respect and 

 confidence even of those who differ with him." Farther on the 

 same article said of this eighth section: "For the usual rule is 

 reversed and the accused must prove his innocence instead of 

 standing guiltless till proved otherwise." What wonder then 

 that a man of Mr. Price's loyalty to law and individual rights 

 refused his sanction to so atrocious a measure. 



The "Temperance Committee," on February 16th, 1854, sent 

 a letter to Mr. Price. They felt aggrieved at his action concern- 

 ing the eighth section, and also at the suggestion that he pre- 

 ferred to support a modified and more stringent license law, 

 rather than their prohibition bill. The committee also reminded 

 Mr. Price that but for the efforts of the temperance party he 

 would have failed of his election " by more than two thousand 

 votes." Rather an intemperate suggestion one might well ad- 

 mit on remembering that in so far from seeking or desirino- 

 election he was more than indifferent about it, and only con- 

 sented to abandon his more congenial duties because the public 

 without regard to party, requested it. 



PROC. AMER. PHILOS SOC. XXIII. 124. 3w. PRINTED DEC. 17, 188G. 



