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THE WASHINGTONIAN: AUGUSTA, SEPTEMBER 17, 1842. IVashUglon Total .Jbstinence Pledge. We, whose names are hereunto annexed, desirous of forming a Society for our mutual benefit, and to guard against a pernicious practice, which is injurious to our health, standing and families, do pledge ourselves as Gentlemen, not to drink any Splritous or Malt Liquors, Wine or Cider. {£?” Mr. Wm Haines, Jr. Secre tary of the Washington T. A. Society in this City, (who will '>e absent, on a tour throughout the state, for a short time,) has kindly offered to receive subscriptions to our paper and collect any money that may be due us in the following places: Decatur, Marietta, Cassville, Dahlonega, Clarksville, Gainesville, Athens, Salem and Ma dison. Those of our subscribers who have not remitted tons, and any person who may desire to subscribe, will please do so through Mr. Haines. To Correspondents. “J. E.” is on file. We should like to see the author, before publishing his communication. “ A Washingtonian's" selection for us, enti tled ‘Jam Free,' by the ‘Milford Bard,’ has al ready been inserter! in No. 5 of our paper. “ Enigma," No. 2, in our next. More ot It urn’s Doings. Mr. Allen Melton, an industrious and peacea ble citizen, was found dead, about a mile and a half below Hamburg, a short time sincf. The Journal says, he had been partaking freely of his cups before he left the town. It is supposed that he fell off the rail road, in endeavoring to cross a culvert, and dislocated his neck. Mr. Melton was past the middle ago of life, and has left a family to deplore his loss. About half a mile beyond Camden, (says the U. S. Gazette,) the train of cars ran over the bo dy of a man who was stretched across the rail road, in a beastly state of intoxication, his bottle lying beside him. The Wilmington (N. C.) Chronicle says, that an old man named Sadburv, while Bitting in the passage of his own house, about dusk, a few eve nings since, had the contents of a shot gun tired into his breast, which caused his instant death. There is good reason to believe that the deed was committed by his oten son I The coroner’s in quest declared him to be the murderer. The supposed murderer is an intemperato man. Patrick Casey, of Madison (Ind.) while in a state of drunkenness, brutally cut and stabbed his wife with a knife, and struck her several blows with an axe, breaking one arm and other wise cutting and bruising her in a most shocking manner. At Marietta (Pa.) G. W, Doak, aged about3s years, while in a state of intoxication, in attempt ing to walk across the beams of the gates ot the outlet lock of the basin in Columbia, fell into the lock and was drowned. Near Allentown (Pa.) a father and son-in law who were mowing in tho field, both drunk, com menced quarrelling, in their dispute one gave the other a push, who fell upon the scythe, cut him self dreadfully and is not expected to live. A Mrs. Phelps, of Amherst, Mass, was burn ed to death in consequence of her clothes taking fire, while she was preparing to go to bed. She was a woman addicted to habits of intemperance. Near Madison (Pa.) four Germans, who had been enjoying themselves by drinking whiskey, : fell in with an insane man named Brant, whom j they taunted until he turned upon them, and seizing a gun fired among them, wounding three, one very dangerously. A man by the name of Batcheller, in Cumber land (R. I.) while under the influence of Rum, a short time since, committed a most dreadful murder upon the body of his wife, literally pound ing her head to pieces with an axe. It was stated some time since, by Mr. Buck ingham, before the British Parliament, that he had taken the pains to ascertain the quantity of liquor drank at one tavern in London, for whjch purpose he placed himself during one day in a tavern in that city, he says that he saw enter there for liquor, 2800 men, 1855 women, and 289 children. 'I he proprietor of the establishment assured him that he sold liquor weekly to 269,450 men, 103,500 women, and 142,450 children. “ I have drank a gallon of beer daily, for the last thirty years," once boasted an opponent of total abstinence, “and I never was in better health than lam now,” The next day a fit of apoplexy laid him dead. The whole number of reformed drunkards in | the United States, is estimated to exceed 50,000. Extract of a letter from a correspondent, dated Sparta, Ga. Sept. 8, 1342. “ On the sth August, 1842, under the minis tration of Mr. Johnson, a society was formed in this place, styled the Hancock Total Abstinence Society. The members number at this time one hundred and five. The officers are— N. C. Sayre, President; Joseph R. Sarsnet, Ist Vice-President; Jacob McCall, 2d do.; L. | S. Stewart, 3d do; J. II Burnett, Secretary; J. j B. Edwards, Treasurer. Proceedings of the Augusta Washington Total Abstinence Society. Unitarian Church, Sept. 2, 1842. The Society met this evening according to ad journment. The meeting being organized with prayer by Dr. Daniel Hook. The President in the chair, and L. D. Lallerstedt, Secretary pro. tern, the minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. The following resolution, passed at a late meeting of the Society, was taken up by the re commendation of the Board of Managers, and after some discussion, repealed. Resolved, That when any member (hall de sire to withdraw his or her name from the list attached to the Pledge adopted by the Society, such desire shall be signified in writing, address ed to the President, which shall be retd at the regular meeting next ensuing, and hii, or her name shall therefrom be erased by the Secretary. The mceeting was then addressed in a very appropriate manner, by Dr. Daniel Hook, and Messrs. J. L. Minims and W. H. Platt, Esq’rs. Mr. Chapman then offered the following reso lution, which was adopted by the Society. Resolved , That a Committee of five be appoint ed by the President to examine the list, and clas sify the members of this Society, according to age, sex, &c.; also, to report upon the publishing the same, with such facts as in the view of the committee may best tend to promote the objects of the friends of temperance. The following gentlemen were appointed that committee, by the President: Messrs. S. T. Chapman, J. G. Dunlap, W. W. Tremhley, W F. Pemberton, J. L. Mimms. An invitation being extended to those desirous to take the pledge, four names were added as new members. On motion, the meeting adjourned to meet on next Friday evening, at this place. L. D. LALLERSTEDT, Secretary pro tern. Unitarian Church, Sept. 9th, 1842. The Society convened according to adjourn ment, tho President in the Chair, organized with singing a temperance ode. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. The Committee appointed at the last meeting, presented the following REPORT: The Committee appointed to examine the list and classify the members of the Washington Total Abstinence Society, respectfully report— That they have performed that duty, by dividing the Society into four classes and preparing dis tinct lists of the same, which are herewith sub mitted. The investigations of your Committee, have developed the following gratifying facts, viz; The Washington Society, which has been in existence only a few months, now numbers— 1. Males over 18 years of age, 451 2. Males under 18 “ “ 76 3. Females over 14 “ “ 222 4. Females under 14 “ 24 Making in all seven hundred and seventy three members -about sixty of whom were what is technically termed “ hard cases but who have thus far, it is believed, strictly and honorably ad hered to the pledge! Since the organization of the Society, onlv thirteen persons have withdrawn their member ship; and four have died. In addition to the above, your Committee have discovered on the list of the original Total Absti nence Society, the names of about 100 persons who coincide with the Washingtonians in opin ion and practice, and some ot whom are active co-opcrators in the good cause and even officers in this Society, whose names are nevertheless not upon its list. There are also upon the roll of that Society, the names of about 170 persons, who are either unknown to your committee, or absent from the place. These added to the Washingtonian list, proper, give an aggregate of One Thousand and Forty-three 1 Your Committee recotSßjepd that some meas ures be taken *c add ‘hp *bo-e referred♦«. to the list of this Society, so that complete har mony and unity may be attained in its operation*. Your Committee does not deem it advisable to publish, at present, the names of members sub mitted ; but would recommend the passage of the following resolution, viz: Resolved, That the accompanying Lists, pre pared by the Committee, be copied into a book procured for the purpose, and that the Secretary be directed to transfer the name of each person, hereafter signing the Pledge, to its appropriate class; and to have published quarterly a summa ry statement, shewing — 1. The number in each class. 2. The number withdrawn. 3. The number who may have violated the Pledge. 4. The number of Reformed Drunkards. 5. The aggregate number belonging to the Society. All of which is respectfully submitted. S. T. CHAPMAN, Chair’n Com. On motion of Dr. D. Hook, the Report was re ceived, adopted, and ordered to be published. On motion of Wm. F. Pemberton, Resolved, That a Committee of three be ap pointed by the President, whose duty it shall be to wait upon those members of the Total Absti nence Society who reside in this city, and have not signed the pledge of the Washington Total Abstinence Society, for the purpose of obtaining their signatures thereto; and that after this duty has been performed, the roll of this Society be deposited in a central part of the city, in charge of said Committee, and a public invitation be giv en to members of the former Society disposed to co-operate with us, to do so, by attaching their names to our pledge. The Chair appointed as such Committc»—L. D. Lallerstedt, James S. Hook, Jesse Walton. The meeting was then addressed by Mr. Chapman, who exhibited ably, eloquently and effectually, the origin and rapid progress of tem perance, and the happy results consequent upon its success—followed by Col. John-Milledge and Dr. D. Hook, in their usual interesting and im pressive manner. Cards were then circulated, and two names were added to the list. On motion, the meeting adjourned to meet on next Friday evening, in this place L. D. LALLERSTEDT, Secretary pro tern. For the Washingtonian. Decatur, DeKalb Co., Sept. 9th, 1842. Mr. Editor —ln one short letter, I can give but an imperfect sketch of my intemperate course. I shall, without apology, adopt the Washingto nian plan of relating my own experience. As 1 had long been known as Capt. Parr, of the Light Horse Company, I told Mr. Taylor, when I signed the pledge, that I had also been a Captain in the ranks of intemperance. Not byway of boasting, however, for it is mortifying to me, to reflect how much I have injured fnyself and fami ly by my course.—No abuse of family, however, that did not arise from inattention to business, or lrom spending my earnings for liquor, which should have been appropriated to their support. I have been extensively known as a hard drink er in and about Athens ; also, in the Creek and Cherokee campaigns. My present wish is, that I might be able to counteract the influence I have heretofore exerted. For ten years past I have been in the habit of drinking, or taking sprees, which cost me from $1 to sls each ; and one, with the breakage of decanters, glasses, &c. cost me S3O. lam per suaded, that my loss has been $l5O per annum, for the last ten years. I now owe of grog debts, but S7§ cents. Should my friends inquire, what induced me to quit drinking 1 I answer, that no argument is necessary to convince a drunkard of his evil course. His own thoughts, his own reflections, his own sense of duty to himself, to his family, to the community, all point out to him that he is wrong. Did not the anxious and care-worn ex pression of my wife, on my return from my drunken sprees, tell me 1 was wrong? Had I not promised, before God, and earthly witnesses, to study her peace, happiness and comfort? Does any one who has harbored the thought of committing suicide, as I have done,—even hav ing sent for arsenic, foi the purpose of poisoning myself—any one who has had a fit of delirium tremens, as I have had, being aroused from my bed in the night, with the apprehension that I was pursued by a two-headed snake, by wolves, and dogs—taking shelter in a church which stood not far distant ? Who, under such circum stances, needs any argument to convince him that he is wrong ? I knew I was wrong, and so does every drunkard know; and.nodoub*, manr resolve, as I often did, to quit the use of intoxi cating drinks; but I found, as every drunkard will find, that partial resolutions are of no avail The resolution must be total, final. Thoe&who think that resolutions slid pledge* wiH trot help to keep a man sober, never have tried the; effect, and of course are not competent j udges. They judge from partial plans. I judge from experi ence in the total plan—having taken the pledge, I have no desire to drink. The drunkard who quits only to commence again when he gets rea dy, cannot judge rightly in this matter. At every comer he meets his old comrades, — they know nothing of his resolutions, and urge him to drink. He says, to himself, this once, and then I am done; but as often as the temptation, so often the secret resolution is broken. It has been my case; it has been the case of thousands. One thing is certain, —total abstinence from all that can intoxicate is the only safe course for the drunkard. Let no one say, that the pledge will do no good, till he has tried it. I must throw myself, for ar gument, on my own experience. I know it has done me good. In changing my habits, I have in some measure changed my company, and I find it far more profitable to visit the church on the Sabbath, thao to spend my time in the back room of a grog-shap. I have heard it suggested; that we ought to use all the good things provided for us by our Crea tor. But 1 would ask, if we must for that reason eat tobacco, or make tea of lobelia! Just as much our duty as it is to drink ardent spirits. But one word, as to the return of appetite. By way of experiment, I tasted some temperance beer , and I find it wilL not do for me, however harmless it may be for others, Adam’s ale isthe best beverage to allay thirst. I have filled my sheet, and as I remaaked at first, have done but little, just glanced at a few points in my history. Respectfully, CHARLES D. PARR For the Washingtonian. Tlie Inebriate’s Daughter* Fancy represents me as the only daughter of a reformed inebriate. Memory lingers with fond ness on the seasons of my first recollection—a rosy faced little girl, with flowing ringlets waiv ing to every breeze, as father and I would take our walks together in the fields and lawns. No holiday so sweet—no time so pleasant spent, as that swiftly coursing by in the company of my father. Mine were the dearest, happiest parents! How could wc be otherwise than happy ? My parents took the deepest interest in my education. My father seemed to have himself become again a school-boy, so intensely did he watch my pro gress and assist me in my studies. Never were our seats vacant at church, except when sickness prevented our attendance. The Sabbath school was the delight of us all. Wo were neither gay nor fashiouable, in the common acceptation of those terms; but one practice of almost universal prevalence then obtained in our family—l allude to the custom of offering wine and cordials to friends, and indulging with them in the social glass. Being too young to notice the inroads the love of intoxicating liquors were making upon the peace and happiness of our fa mily, I had wondered why mother was at times sosad. All was mystery to me. Thesilenttear stealing down my mother’s cheek—my father’s late return at night—his neglect of family wor ship, and his coldness toward us were quite appa rent. One cold winter night I determined not to leave my mother while she was so overwhelm ed with grief. When the clock had struck ten — eleven—twelve—one—Father not yet arrived. Fifteen minutes past one, and the door opened. My mother had said to me she feared he would come home intoxicated. Nothing could have shocked me more. What, my father a drunk ard! and spending his time with drunkards'? Mother, I will at once ask him to spend his eve nings home with us. No, no. my child, I have borne in grief and silence all his taunts and re proaches. Why, mother, did father ever speak an unkind word to you? Not when he was so ber. Well mother, I must beg him this very night as he loves us both, not to drink any more. , It was at this time that the door was! opened. My father was the first to speak—“ What the plague is the reason that you are not in bed be fore this time of night ?” I waited, father, said I, to ask you one question, and to keep mother com pany. “Pretty business,” answered he, “to sit up all night to ask me a question. If it is a ques tion of your 01 m" said he. significantly, “ask. it."