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MM—— j— ■— 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.] ******* “ 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.