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Extract from an Oration by I„ L. Witticlu
[ We are indebted to our friend Hanleiter, of
the Southern 'tisnellanv. for a printed copy of
the Oration delivered in Madison, on the 4th July
by L. L. Wittieh, which we should he glad to
publish entire, but its length would compel us to
leave out several articles of a light nature, which
we design giving in each No. of our paper.]
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“ One of the important instruments employed
hy our statesmen to perpetuate the institutions of
thecountry, is the diffusion of knowledge. They
judge, and rightly judge, that ignorance, univer
sally existing amongst the pe|ple, is a foe to liber
ty, and might be made the instrument of some
designing demagogue to upset the government.
Therefore, they have made provision for the wide
dissemination of knowledge; knowing full well,
that this is the proper wea|>on, with which to
drive ignorance from the land. So likewise now,
that intemperance is demonstrated to be a foe to
human life, to human liberty, to the pursuit of
happiness and to self-government; that it tends
to the entire extinction of all these great truths
of the declaration; it is the act of patriotism to
employ that weapon which shall drive back this
destroyer from our borders. This weapon is not
the glittering sword, the measured tread of the
disciplined hattallions, nor the musketry of the
soldiery—it is not the enactment of law, which
lays its coercive hand upon the dealer and arrests
him in the prosecution of his business—but it is
the universal practice of total abstinence. In
temperance is the enemy of our rights—total ab
stinence is the instrument of repulse. Intem
perance is a foul blot upon Ihe face of our social
existence—total abstinence is the purifier of this
stain. And is not the weapon f resistance suf
ficient to repel this foe of our country’s rights ?
Let every man cease to drink—that very cessa
tion makes us a sober people. That very absti
nence re asserts anew every principle of the de
claration, and furnishes another guarantee for
the perpetuity of our institutions. Who then,
will withhold his assistance in this great cause '!
Who will not rush to the rescue 1 In the days
of ’76-—yes, on the day of ’76—the day of days "in
that memorable year, on the anniversary of which
we are now met to read and meditate upon the
great chart of social and political principles then
declared—declared by our patriot fathers to he
our rights—rights, which no human government
might interfere with and invade, but hy the as
sertion of a despotism—on that day, in thatsame
instrument which announced these truths—
these patriot fathers pledged their lives, their
fortunes, and their sacred honor to maintain
them. They flung their country’s banner to the
breeze, with these hallowed principles inscribed
thereon, and that country rallied around it and
maintained it. And now, on this day of rejoic
ing and commemoration—when we have met to
hug these principles still closer to our hearts - to
cherish and love them afresh—to assert and vin
dicate them anew—when the foe which is steal
thily, yet surely, undermining them, stands re
vealed to our view--and a call is made upon the
patriot sons of the patriot fathers of’76, to gird
them for the contest and save again these glori
ous rights—l ask, where is the man that wifi not
rush to the rescue? Who will not pledge his
honor, as a gentleman, in this cause 1 °Thnt
pledge, instead of signing away his liberties, is
like the pledge of’76—it is the declaration of his
own personal freedom—and the assertion of a
patriot’s high resolve, to perpetuate the freedom
of his country.
“In the days of'76, notwithstanding the hold
and vigorous stand taken by the signers of the
declaration of independence; there were some,
whose heads and whose hearts, were not then
ready for the decisive act, which sundered the
colonies from the mother country. Yea, there
were some, who preferred the dominion and gov
ernment of the King and Parliament of Great
Britain to the independence of the colonies—and
who, through the long an d bitter contest which
ensued, stood shoulder to shoulder, beside the
British legions, and waged a war of implacable
hostility against the armies ofthc republic.
“ So now, when those who have long been ab
ject to the dominion of intemperance, and wore
his galling chains, have aroused themselves to
shake off' his iron despotism—when those who
have watched the progress of this mighty tyrant,
and marked his relentless exercise of power over
his subjects, and have beheld the steadiness with
which, step by stop, he Ims advanced in his inva
sions of the principles of the declaration; have
united together to prosecute a war of hostility
against this foe to their personal and national
freedom and have sent forth to the world the de
claration of their independence, and pledged
their honors to its inaintainance; there are some
whose heads and whose hearts are not vet ready
to assist in this work of revolution. Amongst
these, are those who have so entangled them
selves with fashion, that they prefer to yield a
tame and quiescent obedience to the commands
of this imperious and haughty queen, rather than
assert their independence; though this obedience
may result ultimately, either in their own ban
ishment, or the banishment of some of their rela
tives or friends from the empire of fashion, into
the land where intemperance is monarch of all.
This fashion is a naughty ruler. She is a capri
cious Glueen. Her sceptre is overlaid with glit
,ter, but still it is a rod of iron. Her audience
chamber is hung with festoons and flowers— her
throne is amidst pearls and jewels—her face is |
wreathed in smiles and beaming with the light of
benignity—but then, her subject, as he approach-1
I rs into the presence of this Goddess of the earth’s I
. | devo’ions—this plaything of the earth's vanity, l
. i must yield his reason and his conscience to her
; keeping; or her rod i 3 upon him, and the frown
j of excommunication drives him from her pre
; sence. There is so much that is winning and
| ensnaring in her smiles—so much that is fascin
ating and overpowering in the charm and splen
: dor of her empire—that many a man will not
break away from the chains, which she has upon
him, though his "conscience and his judgment
both war against her exactions. That class of
our fellow-citizens, who are controlled hy this
• mistress of social intercourse, are some of those
whose heads and whose hearts are not yet ready
for the act which sunders their allegiance. Still
their heads admit, and it is to be hoped their
hearts feel, the benefits which have resulted to
the country from this movement—but yet, the j
injunctions of fashion—the restraints of well
bred and polite society arc such, that they can- I
not, no, they cannot, he so impolite as to refuseto i
pledge in a. glass of wine, though theory Os a I
thousand drunkards from the ditch should’ peal
upon their cars and call for help--though the
sighs of broken-hearted wives and the sobs of
suffering children should mingle their plaintive
and beseeching tones about them, and beg for
assistance. Far he it from me to inculcate that
which is boorish and impolite. And yet no law
of fashion—no requirement, of vvhat is termed
genteel society, should l>e so obligatory upon any
man, as to bind back his influence from a cause
Aik this. No, no. The war has begun—liberty !
To the drunkard—happiness to his wife and chil
dren must lie won. Let us break these fetters of
fashion, and strike a blow for the regeneration of
our race.
11 But there is another class. They arc those,
who look upon the wine when it is red, and smile
when they look—who drink from the sparkling
howl, and love the draught they drink; and who
have so habituated themselves to its use. either
moderately or immoderately, that their apatites
have attained the victory over their minds and :
hearts. And now, they pre cr the dominion of a j
relentless and unsatisfied habit, to the freedom j
and independence of total abstinence. That !
man, whoever he be, who thus yields himself up
to the indulgence of his appetites, is a bond-mail;
and every effort he makes against this great
movement, is a blow struck for his King, against
the great principles of the declaration.”
[From theTcc.totalcr.]
Declaration ol' Principles.
I. We aim to cure as well as to prevent intern- j
pc ranee. Our main efforts are directed to effect J
the reformation ofthc inebriate, that he and his '
family may be restored to health, prosperity, use- |
fulness, and respectability. Next in urgency, :
and important as aiding in this, we aim at the re
formation of what are termed the moderate and
occasional drinkers, and in securing the influtnee
of the temperate portion ofthe community.
. If. Believing precept to be most cfficaaous
when united with example, we pledge oursdves
to total and perpetual abstinence from all intoxi
cating liquors as a beverage, as the onlv sureand
efficacious remedy for, and preservation fron in
temperance in every grade ambdegref.
111. Our only reliance to induce othris to
unite witli us, is in morsl sunsion—reason,
in aspirit of love and kindness to all, and enforc
ed, when practicable, by deeds of active berevo
lence, We utterly disavow and reject the u* of
allor any denunciation, compulsion, or abua- in
any form; and effectually and entirely exclude all
intermeddling with any person’s religious or po
litical opinions or feelings, from all our meeings
and proceedings as Washingtonians.
IV We confine our efforts strictlv to one sin
gleobject—the promotion of total abstinence rom
all intoxicating liquors, as a beverage. However
beneficial or necessary in our views, as individu
als, or as members ofother societies, may be anv
other legal, moral, religious, social, or poltica’l
movements or reforms, as temperance men ■nr
Washingtonians , weeannot mingle them,o’ ..
ofthem, with our single object. Temperanae, in
our view, is a cause good cnoughtostand witiout
amalgamating them with it; and we trust tint all
engaged in them believe them good enougi to
stand without the aid ot the Temperance catse
V. Washingtonian Temperance Societies are
distinct, separate, and entirely independent cf all
other Temperance organizations and movemtnts.
It began with the poor inebriate himself, when
nearly all other organizations had failed in tffec
ting his reformation—it assumed a distinct form
and began its action independently— it has been
continued without uniting itself to any other or
ganization ; and independent, distinct anti sepa
rate, we desire to see it remain—standingor fall
ing on its own principles of moral suasi*i. love
and kindness; and operating, by its measures of
active benevolence, and the exclusion of all sec
tarianism and party politics from its neetinos
and proceedings. D
These five principal and distinguishedfeatures
of all real Washingtonian Temperance Societies,
we consider essential and fundamental They
should be indelibly engraven in the constitutions
that form our social compacts Wc cannot con
sistently fellowship any society as Wishingto
nian, wffich excludes, or refuse’s to recognize any
one ofthem; however, we may fellowshft it as a
temperance society; for we believe that, in every
section of this mighty land of States—fnm north
to south, and from east to west—whetever the
j Washingtonian banner has been reared aloft
; amid gathering thousands, these five principles
| and measures have b«en recognized and set forth
las peculiar to the Washingtonian reform. Let
mammmKmmamsmammmmmKmamamßmmmmmmmmmrnmmmmmm
them, then, be ingrafted into all our constitu
tions, and woven into all our proceedings as
W ashingtonians.
Twtjwyqyf Circular. i
Ju.bilce.of the Washington T'emptrance Socitly i
of Baltimore*.
We have been appointed by the Washington
Temperance Society of Baltimore, to address the
Temperance men oi'the country. Bv the com
mon judgement of public sentiment every where, j
that great revival of temperance, which has been I
spreading over the land for two years past, and:
blessing our country with the reformation of at:
least, one hu-.d red thousand drunkards, has been
attributed, under the blessing of Divine Provi
dence, to the influence of this Society, founded
on the sth of April, 1840.
i A hew impulse, such ns was never known be
fore, has been given to the Temperance cause in j
j general. Thousands and tens of thousands of!
I our members and your members, two years ago j
I ware intemperate ur?n. Who can estimate the'
i good that has been done! How many mothers r
and wives have been blessed by the reformation
of an intemperate husband or son! How many
parents and children have wept together for jov
over the return ofthe prodigal! How many biec
ding, and even broken hearts have been healed !
To now many firesides, and to how many hearts,
have been brought peace and joy!
All great and successful enterprises of this j
kind should be celebrated in all suitable ways so
as to perpetuate their blessings anil the recollec
tion of them to posterity, and to confirm what has
already been accomplished.
We propose, therefore, to celebrate our third
anniversary, the sth of April, 1843, in Baltimore,
by a general Procession, and a Grand Jubilee,
in which we wish all the true temperance men
ofthe Union to participate. We wish to see, on
that occasion, reformed men from .Maine meet
those from Louisiana, and strike hands- in Balti
more —the Head Quarters of the Washingtonian
System. Let the delegates from Georgia meet
! his brut her Irom Michigan, and greet hint with
I the friendly smileand the warmgraspof a Wash
ingtonian ! \\ c hope to see, coming from every
j section of the country, at least fifty thousand
temperance men, who shall stand in solid column
around the base of Washington Monument in
Baltimore, on the sth of April. 1843—and there,
beneath the statue of the •* Father of his Coun
try," and in the presence of God, vow together
| eternal enmity against intemperance. The idea
lis not visionary. So largo a number of men have
| met together before, for purposes in which far
i less moral interests were at stake. The thine
j can bo done again. Shall it be so ’ With you
j it remains to decide the matter.
I Our object in thus early addressing you, is to j
! prepare your minds for the event in time. Look i
| forward from this time to next April, with the
! design of being with us then cn masse. And
i when you do come, come with cheerful hearts to
: enjov the Jubilee ; and let us all unite in a gene
: ral thanksgiving to the Ruler of all, for his bless
: ings on the labors of the past.
I This invitation is extended not only for all
Washingtonians, hut for all true temperance
i men. We extend the right hand of fellowship
;to all. Make your arrangements to he with us
i by hundreds and thousands, and we promiseyou
a hearty Baltimore welcome on the sth of April.
John Zug, Geo. K. Quail, Wm. K. Mitchell.
Wm. Tumbleson, Charles B. Purnell, Commit
tee ofthe Washington Temperance Society of
Baltimore.
Baltimore, June, 1842.
'tVc call the attention of Temperance papers and
brethren of the press generally, to the above Circular. ]
They will confer en obligation by copying it, including
this note, that the “move” may become universally
know n.—Ed. Balt. Sat. Vis.
Alt lucideut.
It is five weeks since I lectured in a town thir
ty miles away from Portland, to the Washingto
nians. It was my second lecture there. The
lecture commenced at 5 o’clock in the afternoon;
and I continued the discourse till it grew dark—
when I began to give some evidence of a conclu
sion, but was informed by the president that they
were‘preparingto light up.’ The lecture was
continued an hour longer, and then an invitation
was given to all, who were not already Washing
tonians, to sign the pledge. The first man who
came forward was a man of fifty years. It was
something to shock a man to see him. He was
on fire. Alcohol had clothed him in rags—had
taken his good name away—his farm away—bis
heart away—had taken every good thing away
from him, and left him a poor cast away upon
whom worms would feed too soon. That broken
down old man tottered up and signed the pledge.
Soon an unusual stir and giving back was noticed j
among the crowd that thronged to the desk.
The cause of it all appeared to be a lad not more
than twelve years old. He elbowed his way
with an air that bespoke some noble purpose—on,
on through the mass till he came to the altar,
which, on that occasion certainly, had become an
altar of safety to men. 1 Where is ray father’s
name V inquired the heroic lad— 1 where is mv fa
ther s name V It was pointed out to him—that
drunkard's name. The lad stood a minute, mo
tionless as marble there, gazing upon his father’s
name, till he wet the pledge with his tears.—
1 Then,’ said he, as his young lip did quiver with
a deep emotion at his heart, ‘I must write my
name under my father’s name.’ He did write it
there, and left the house without another word or
look, while the eyes of all were turned on him.
It was a place better than the halls of kings to be
where a scene like that was acted. To me it was
better to hr there.—[ Hcsft. Banner.
imiarauii uni 1 TWW'iMnii ■mu ■ll i«i hiKantga' p'xinnwao
The Cataract.
I stood on the banks of the .Niagara, which
with its world of waters was sweeping iw, as if
in haste to reach the precipice. ami leap into the
gulf below. A man approached, anil launching
a small skiff, gilded and painted in the most eh -
gant manner, leaped into it and pushed from the
shore. Amazed at bis apparent recklessness of
danger, ‘do you not know/ sai4,J, ‘that tliecur
rent Is rapid, and the cataract near 1' ‘Yes, but
I fear no danger; 1 shall not be drawn over the
falls. 1 have a watchful eye, a strong arm, and
a good pair of oars.’ Thus say ng, he sat down
! in the boat, and began to amuse himself with a
quantity of toys which he had provided, while
the current swept him rapidly onward towards
the roaring cataract. Those who stea don the
I shore called to him in alarm tohasten and escape
j while yet there was hope from the certain des
j truction before him, hut his only answer was,
■ ‘take care of yourselves, I can take care of my
, self; I have oars and strength, and can come to
the shore any time 1 please. 1 shall not go over
the falls,’ and the water bore him away. Again
and again his alarmed friends called and entreat
ed, hut the answer was the same. At length he
approached the rapids wherethc dark waves roll,
and roar, and flash. Then indeed he began to
exert his strength, and ply the oar, but too late.
Fiem wave to wave the boat was hurried; it
trembled fora moment upon the verge ofthediz
jzy height—in the next the plunge was made, and
the waters closed upon him forever! Such is the
language, and such, alasl too often the end of the
temperate drinkei .—[Ohio Washingtonian Ban
ner.
The First Glass.
A Washingtonian relates the following story ;
A journeyman painter who dearly loved the
critter, went to work one morning, hut took it
into his head that he couldn’t get along without
something to drink. He dropped the brush and
went to the boss, who attempted to persuade him
out of it, “tor, ’ said he, “you will only want
more. But after declaring that lie wxuld’not, he
was supplied. He had not been to work five
minutes, when, as the boss expected, down he
came again. “ That poor fellow” said the jour
neyman, “ is so lonesome that he is erving out
for another to keep him company.” He was fur
nished with another and came again, declaring
that the two had got into a quarrel, and he wan
ted a third immediately to go down and settle the
difficulty. But the judge, as he termed the third,
couidn t got along without witnesses—then law
yers were called tor, who in their turn wanted a
jury. The trial lasted a fortnight, hut then the
jury couldn't agree, and the pointer had to pay;
the cost, — Organ.
Elegant Extract.
Alas, how little do we appreciate a mother's:
tenderness while living! How heedless arc we
in youth of all her anxieties and kindness ! But
when she is dead and gone, when the cares and
coldness of the world come witheringto our hearts,
when we find how hard it is find true sympathy,
ho’.v few loves us for ourselves, how few will be
friend us in our misfortunes, then it is we think
of the mother we have lost. It is true I had al
ways loved my mother, even in my most heedless
days; but 1 felt how inconsiderate and ineffectual 1
had been my love. My heart melted as I retra
ced the days ot my infancy, when 1 was led by a
mother s hand and rocked to slccy in a mother’s
arms, and was without care or sorrow, ‘f Oh, my
mother,” exclaimed 1, burying mv face in the
j grass ot the grave, “ O, that I were once more by
yo«r side, sleeping to wake again on the cares
; and troubles of this world!”
Kirchner.
This great astronomer having a friend who de
nied the existence of a Supreme Being, took the
following method to convince him of his tolly.
Expecting his friend upon a visit, he procured a
very handsome globe of the starry heavens, which
being placed in a situation, where it could no fail
to escape his friend’s observation, the latter seized
the first occasion to ask whence it came, and to
whom it belonged. “It does not belong to me,”
said Kirchner, “ nor was it made bv anv person;
but it came here by mere chance “ T’his,” re
plied his skeptical friend. “ is absolutely impossi
ble—you surely jest.” Kirchner, however, seri
ously persisted in his assertion—but at length,
took occasion to reason with his friend as to "his
atheistical principles. “You will not,” said he,
“ believe that this small body originated in mere
chance; and yet you would contend that those
glorious and immense heavenly bodies, of which
this model is only a faint and diminutive resem
blance came into existence without order and des
ign . His friend was at first confounded and
ashamed and afterwards, as Kirchner followed
up his reasoning, he became convinced ; and ulti
mately joined in a cordial acknowledgement of
the absurdity of denying the existence of an Om
nipotent and Omniscient Being.— Masonic. Reg
ister. ' °
A Just Retort.
An old Roman soldier, being involved in a
lawsuit, implored the protection of Augustus,
who referred him to one of his courtiers, for an
introduction to the judges. On which the brave
veteran, piqued at the emperor’s coolness, ex
claimed, “ I did not use your highness thus,
when you were in danger at the battle of Actium,
but fought for you myself!’’ Disclosing, at the
same time, the wounds he had received on that
memorable occasion. This retort so affected
Augustus, that he is said to have j»rrsonallv
pleaded the soldier’s cause.