Portland Temperance Petition, 1845

Source: Temperance petition, 1845, contributed by the Maine State Archives to the Maine Memory Project.

To the Senate and House of Representatives in Legislature assembled,—

The undersigned, Ladies, Inhabitants of the City of Portland most respectfully represent, that the vice of Intemperance is one of the greatest evils with which society is afflicted. It bears especially with great weight upon the female portion of the community, in the Intemperance of Fathers, Brothers, Husbands and Sons.

The happiness of Women, depends almost entirely upon fire-side enjoyments, and the peace and comfort of Home; and these can never be found under the same roof with Intemperance. Women suffer more, probably, from the Intemperance of those upon whom their happiness depends, than from all other causes combined.

They therefore feel that they have a right to come before the Legislators of our State, to represent to them the terrible evils which they are made to suffer from this vice, and to pray for protection. Without the traffic in Intoxicating Drinks, Intemperance would be unknown among us; but there is a small class of citizens of this State, who persist in this business, for the sake of pecuniary gain, though it carries misery and wretchedness unutterable, home to thousands of their fellowmen.

We therefore come before you, and in the name of heart-broken Wives, Daughters, Sisters, Mothers, of starving Children, entreat you to pass a Law which may effectually suppress that business, which is the cause of all their wretchedness and misery.

Sarah E. Hudson Fanny N. Hayes Maria H. Buttrick Harriet P. Rounds Harriet A. Rounds Sarah Millican Mary Rice Susan S. Beckett Jane Crie Dodge Laura Maddox Betsey Purinton Therene Hayes Adeline Hubbard Dorcas Jones Jane Brackett Susan J. Trott Huldah Persons Adeline Sawyer Lucy Coffin Mary Jane Stevens Betsey Brackett

Caroline Welch S. A. G. Welch Amelia Joseph Emily Sweetser Harriot Chase Lousia Rice Anna J. Dyer M. N. Paine Susan Paine Mary Phillips Lucretia Phillips Mary Parker Jane Hubbard Mary Jane Hubbard Elisabeth Melcher Elizabeth Sterling Maria Reed Louisa Brackett Olive Brackett Julia Ann Shute Clara Shute Harriet Reed