Des Moines Courier

State Temperance Convention.

Pursuant to a call made in the public prints, by the "Iowa City Union Temperance Society," a large Convention of the friends of temperance was held in Iowa City on the 18th and 19th of Sept. 1850.

The convention was temporarily organized by the appointment of Hon. Joseph Williams, President, and D. N. Van Dyke Secretary. The names of seventy delegates were enrolled from the counties of Muscatine, Linn, Des Moines, Delaware, Washington, Cedar, Henry, Scott, Dubuque, Lee, Louisa and Johnson.

Messrs. S. H. Hazard, N. L. Stout, L. Washburn, J. Fullerton and Wm. Salter were appointed a committee to nominate officers for the permanent organization of the convention, who, in a short time, reported the following named gentlemen as officers of the convention, to-wit:

Hon. JOSEPH WILLIAMS, Pres.
Hon. Lincoln CLARK, J. A. PARKER, Vice Pres.
Ex. Gov. Robt. Lucas, D. N. Van Dyke, Secretaries.
Wm. Carpenter,

The report was concurred in and the officers took the seats assigned them.

Messrs. John M. Coleman, G. C. Beeman, N. C. Swank, B. Roberts and Robert Lucas were appointed a committee to prepare business for the action of the convention, who reported the following subjects for the consideration of the convention, to-wit:

To take measures for the suppression of the traffic in intoxicating drinks, as now sanctioned by the License Laws of this State.

1st. By the organization of a State Temperance Society, based upon the principle of total abstinence from all intoxicating drinks as a beverage, and having for its special object the entire suppression of the traffic in intoxicating drinks and the securing on the part of the Legislature of this State the repeal of all existing license laws and the enactment of a stringent statute wholly prohibitory of the traffic.

2nd. The formation of auxiliary societies on the same principles.

3rd. By petitions to the Legislature, to be circulated and signed by the people as extensively as possible.

4th. By a Memorial from the State Society to the Legislature, demanding from that body protection against the enormous evils of intemperance.

5th. The employment of an able and efficient Temperance Lecturer, and the circulation of Temperance Documents.

These several subjects were ably argued and adopted when the following committees were appointed:

To draft a Constitution for a State Society, Rev. S. H. Hazard, T. Washburn and Rev. T. H. Archibald.

To draft a bill to submit to the Legislative Assembly, Ex Gov. Robt. Lucas, F. H. Stone, and Rev. G. C. Beeman.

To draw up a memorial to the General Assembly Rev. T. F. Lyon, Rev. W. F. Baird, Hon. Lincoln Clark, Mr. John M. Coleman, Hon. James P. Carlton, and Mr. Jos. T. Fales.

The committee appointed to draft a Constitution reported a Constitution in accordance with their instructions, [to be published next week.]

The Committee appointed to draft a bill to be submitted to the General Assembly presented a bill, which was referred to the Executive committee with instructions to revise and report the same to the Commissioners appointed for the revision of the Statutes of the State.

On motion of Mr. N. L. Stout the Convention then resolved itself into a State Temperance Society, and the following named gentlemen were appointed a committee to nominate officers, to-wit: N. L. Stout, Robert Lucas, Lincoln Clark, and Rev. G. C. Beeman, who reported the following which was unanimously adopted.

For President Ex Gov. Robert Lucas.
For vice Presidents, Mr. T Washburn, Rev J C Holbrook, Rev J Fullerton.
For Treas. and Secretary Jos T Fales.
For Executive committee Mr John M Coleman, Rev S H Hazard, Mr Jos T Fales, Hon Jos Williams, J W Grimes Esq, Hiram Price Esq, Dr J A Parker, Freeman Alger Esq, and John P Cook, Esq.

On motion of Hon L Clark, Resolved that each member of this Society be requested to see that Petitions be drawn up and circulated for signatures in the various sections of the State in which they reside, asking the Legislature to act in accordance with the principles of the report adopted by the convention just held.

The minutes were then directed to be presented for publication, with a request from the Society that the publishers of the several papers within the State give them an insertion.

JOSEPH WILLIAMS, President.
D. N. Van Dyke, Secretaries.
W. Carpenter,