The Washingtonian, or, Total abstinence advocate. (Augusta, Ga.) 1842-1843, November 19, 1842, Image 1

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THE W A g ' :: tII6 T 0 WMAS t VOL. I.] | TIIE WASHINGTONIAN. PUBLISHED BY JAMES McCAFFERTY, <TW!CE EVERY MOXTH. Office on Macintosh street—opposite the Post Office . TERMS. For a lingle copy, for one year, One Dollar; for six ■copies, to one address, Five Dollars ; for ten copies, to •one address, Eight Dollars—and so in proportion. (XP Payment in allcases to be made in advance. (g?- All communications by mail, must be post paid, to receive attention. List of Agents for the Washingtonian. (JI J - The following gentlemen are respectfully re [ quested and fully authorised by us, to act as agents for [ the Washingtonian, in extending its circulation : ci.,tooo-j Dalohntga—C. B. Leitner. Covington— C. Pace. Dtcatur —L. Willard. JUhtns —E L. Newton. Marietta —James F. Cooper. Columbus— R. Boyd. ■ San/1 crsvillt —A. G. Ware. Social Circle —J. L. Gresham. Lincolnian— Henry J. Lang. Crsicfordeille —Rev. John W. Wilson. Warrcnto’i —Eliphalei Hale. Culbrcath's— Rev. C. ollins. Sparta —N’. C. Sayre. McDonough —Wm. L. Gordon. Cassville—Ruv. Mr. Howard. Rockbridge— John W. Fowler. Old Church P O—J A Bell. Hamburg, (S. C.) —C. 11. Lindsev, P. M Baneell C.H. (S. C.)—o. D. Allen. Rock Mills, (S. C)—W. A. Lewis. R ichlands, (JV. C.)—Bryan H. Koouc e . Tuskegec,(Jlla.) —Rev. O. P. Sparks. From the New-York Washingtonian. Intemperance in Congress. The Hqn. MryS****, independently of all his 'Other qualities, brought with him to Washington a private character (Unsullied, and a code of mor als and of habit-t totally unexceptionable. He was freei from the sin of intemperance, and was equally alooratfT beyond the reach .of tiiat licen tiousness which stalks at noon-day in Washing ton. tie appeared to be determined to lead a life 'of unsullied virtue and probity -and, if possible, to reach the topmost round in ambition's ladder, by means the most honorable. W As 1 knew the man well, and had cause to de plore his melancholy fate, I may well exclaim with his late friend—“ Happy, happy were it in deed had the Hon. Mr. S***‘ never visited ’Washington. A year or two’s residence at the capital of the United States undetermined his principles, initia ted him to scenes of sensuality, and corruption, and licentiousness; and finally, led to a most melancholy and fatal end! He became fashionably intemperate—that is to say, he contracted the habit of getting what is called most “ gentlemanly merry”—and thus laid a foundation for those other vices, which fall to the lot of even the more moderate of the disciples of the jolly god. Indulgence at the festive board was but the precursor of general inebriety, and the Hon. Mr. was speedily precipitated into the vortex of licentiousness and sensuality. In the year 1826, I think it was, at a time when he was in the very hey-day of his fame in the “proud meridian of his glory,” he fella victim to the stiletto of the assassin; and fell, too, under circumstances peculiarly atrocious and re volting. And yet, the world was called upon, and called upon successfully, to sympathize with the assassin. At the time he entered Congress he was be-, trothed to a young lady, every way his equal, possessing great personal beauty and intellectual resources’of the highest order. He did intend to ! marry her; but, contracting licentious habits at Washington, he forgot his lather, his home, his plighted vows—every thing—and abandoned her to whom he had sworn eternal constancy and love! His abandonment was not a common carte or character, but was attended by perfidy, and all its associate and kindred crimes. He had abandoned the lady after he had seduced her af fections and robbed her of her honor, and left her and her infant to share the world’s heartlessness and disgrace. The wrong thus inflicted was not to be endur ed ; it was to be revenged; and deeply, most san guinely was it revenged. The lady told not the tale of her sufferings to a cold and scornful world. She stifled her sorrows, -and wept in silence over her dishonor, and dream ed of revenge. After the lapse of some three or four years, an offer of matrimony was made by a young gentleman of character and wealth, who vowed eternal constancy and truth. The offer was rejected at the very threshold. “lama disgraced, a violated woman,” said the lady, “ and you know me not. If you were ap prised of the story of my wrongs, you would not -wed one whose virtue has been defiled.” TOTAL ABSTINENCE ADVOCATE. AUGUSTA, GA. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1842. “ You mistake me lady,” replied the suitor, “ 11 know every thing, and the wrorrgs vou have en dured, only renders you the more interesting, and draws me still nearer your heart.” " I wed no man,” replied the lady, “ unless he pledge himsclt before God and me, io revenge me of mine injustice.” “ Demand of me what you will,” responded the suitor, “and l pledge myself you shall be obey ed.” “ Pledge me, then, that the seducer of my vir gin fame shall be destroyed—shall he murdered.” “ Agreed, with all my heart. The deed shall be done—command me as you will.” “ This very night one year.” “ You shall he obeyed.” Then take my hand, and accept and keep a broken heart.” The twain were forthwith made one, by the ordinances of God and man, and precisely one year after the pledge was given, the deed was ; done—a ruined woman was revenged, and her I guilty seducer was hurried into a premature grave “ with all his imperfections on his head.” It was on a cold and dreary night ofthe month | of December, that the Hon. Mr. S*‘»* was uwa ; kened from his reverie, as he sat by his fire side, l by a loud knocking at his street door. | “ Who’s there V’ he exclaimed, j “A friend, who would see you on important I business,” was the reply; “ let me in.” # j As the hour was late, and the servants had re-! , tired, the Hon. Mr. S**** attended the hell him-j j sell. lie opened the door, and a man masked and muffled stood before him. “ What business have you with me, friend,” S said Mr. S****, “ that you call at this unusual hour.” “ Business of vast importance," was the reply, i “I come to send you to the hell you merit, and 1 which you shall not escape.” Thus saying, he plunged the dagger into the heart of the Hon. Mr. S****, who feebly ex claim nl, “ I am a lost man”—and fell a dead and bloody corpse upon the floor.”* * The reader will readily recognize in this sketch a real tragedy, that was enacted at Frankfort, Ky., in the year lSgfl. There is no fiction about it. From the South-Carolina Temperance Advocate. To the different Temperance Societies In South-Carolina. The Anqual Meeting ofthe State Temperance Society will take place in Columbia, on Wednes day, the 30th of November next. It is expected to be more than usually interesting, from the fact that the Executive Committee were charged at the last meeting with the duty of procuring the services of Col. J. 11. Lumpkin, of Georgia,’and the Rev. Messrs. Sewell and Barnwell, of this State, to deliver Addresses. This duty, it is pre sumed, has been, or will be performed; and it is hoped, those gentlemen will be in attendance to delight us with their eloquence, instruct us with their ripe knowledge, and cheer us in the good work in which wc are engaged, by their counsel and encouragement. Business of great importance may necessarily come before the Society, whose duty it is, con stantly to watch over the affairs of Temperance in the State. Much was done at Greenville to place the Temperance Reformation in South- Carolina on a sure basis: still it is necessary for its friends to be vigilant, ac'ivo and united. To accomplish this, there must be frequent opportu nities of interchanging views. The annual,and possibly, semi-annual meetings ofthe State Tem-! pcrancc Society, will be the means of bringing ! tltnon n iaiil those about. The deeply to be regretted fact, that the accom- ] plished Editor of the Advocate, Mr. Du Bose, 1 has resigned, was announced by himself, in the ; Advocate of the 6th. To remedy this misfortune, j will be one matter which ought to seriously oc cupy the thoughts of every friend of Temperance j in the State; and it is hoped that by the union of! thought, and the prayer of the good, something | may yet be done to prevent injury from it to the I cause in which we all are so deeply interested. It is, possibly, enougli thus to turn your atten tion to the ensuing meeting ofthe State Temper-! ance Society. For it is to be presumed, that when ! it is recalled to the recollection of the friends of! i Temperance, every Society will not fail to be re- \ presented. The Presidents of the different Temperance ! Societies are requested as soon after the receipt of j | this circular as convenient, to convene their So- j | cieties, and appoint delegates to represent them ! in the State Society. JOHN BELTON O’NEALE, President of the State Temperance Society 7 . Springfield, Oct. 7, 1842. A false friend, is like a shadow on a dial, it ap pears in clear weather, but vanishes as soon as it | is cloudy. OR For the Washingtonian. ADDRESS, Delivered before the Washington Total Absti nence Society of Augusta, in. the Presbyterian Church, at their Anniversary meeting, on the 31 st October, 1842-*-l>y Col. John Milledge. Though having much to occupy my mind and to engage my time, yet I did not feel at liberty to decline the invitation which had been extended to me to address you on this very interesting occasion; and for this reason, I say to you, with out any affectation, that my offering is not such as under more favorable circumstances it should have been. I desire von will therefore esteem it for the motives and feelings which induced me to make it—the love 1 have for the cause we have espous ed. Anniversary celebrations have become very common in our country —they have lost their novelty ; therefore these entertainments are re garded as common-place and insipid, and little or no interest is paid to th.ise institutions and socie ties which haveeffccted the most sublime achieve ments ofthe age in which we live. Wo have come to night to celebrate the Anniversary of a Society: hut, tell me, as you approached this sa- | ered temple, did you analyze the nature of its or- j ganization, and philosophize upon the character j of that material upon which it acts —did you at-' tempt to fathom the depth of that true benevo- 1 lence and philanthropy upon which it is based— did you contemplate with joy and enthusiasm the good it had already accomplished —or, did you , look with fear and sorrow upon the boundless 1 field o’er which it is to throw its wonder-working power;—if these came with you hither, you have come prepared to do honor to this occasion ; for it is one to be honored. Immediately after the Declaration of our Inde- j pendcnce, an assembly of the wisest, the most; iionest and patriotic men known to the history of! our country, convened for the purpose of deciding upon that form of government, under which they could best enjoy and transmit the freedom they had obtained. It was a momentous undertak ing, and hope and fear were mingled with the patriots prayer. A political contrivance was sub mitted : beautiful, yet sublime—gentle, yet tre mendous in its power —simple, yet passingly intricate—in order, yet easily confused and de ranged—wonderfully and fearfully made, it was the most transcendant conception of Genius! Do you not recognize by this description, the Consti tutionof our Government. And, doyou enquire, why 1 have presented such a blending of system and disorder—such an union of safety and dan ger —such an apparent mingling of discordant ] elements. I answer, because it was made by i man to govern man, and it therefore partakes of the nature of its inventor. The consideration, whether it would answer the ends to be attained —the greatest good of the greatest number, was decided in the affirmative, upon the supposition, ! that those whom it was to govern were capable of working out and maintaining their own political salvation. Accordingly a new and totally dis tinct government from anv thing then in exist- 1 ence was proclaimed to the world, deriving its creation from, and dependant for its duration up- j ion the pimple. You will perceive that it was an j | experiment—and a magnificent experiment—and | conclusions as to its results, epuld only be infer red from assumed premises could alone decide its practicability. It is true, the causes existed then, that would destroy its harmonious ! j action, and they were known to all, yet no one | would willingly have presaged the time when they would produce its derangement. For sixty-six years, a kind Providence has protected us from our own powers of destruction, and under that Constitution which was adopted upon hypothesis, wc are still enjoying liberty and protection, and an equal share in all its rights, privileges and distinctions. Wc bounded off in ! our without a history of our own, to curb I the impetuosity of youth which was urging us onward, full of hope—full of confidence. But ; we have a history of our own now, replete with wisdom and instruction, and we will be regarded | as condemned criminals in the eyes of posterity, ! if we allow those lessons to pass unheeded and unlearned —IS'or will the mercy of God hold us | guiltless, if unmindful of the future, we heed not the warning voice of the past. Let us, therefore, fellow-citizens, notice one of j the most prominent evils to which our govern ; ment is exposed, and endeavor to suggest a reme dy—l allude-to the abuse of the Elective Fran chise; and I wish you to understand me distinctly, when I say, to its abuse!—do not mistake my object in this matter: it is far from mv purpose to assimilate two subjects so entirely distinct in their nature, as Temperance and Politics —they live and move, and have their being, in opposite re ! gions; it is true the one can, and often does, in fluence, refine and exalt the designs and desires of the other; but politics cannot reciprocate— Temperancc moves in its own independent sphere, deriving none of its benevolence or power cither from Church or from estate. And it should be the desire ot every philanthropist, whose object is to benefit suffering humanity, that Temper ance should be kept free from all extraneous in fluence. It acts upon the principle that it is the duty of every man not to destroy or brutalize him self, and the effect of this determination and con viction, acted out in his life, takes hold of others, and by ttiis means reform is produced. But l have reflected so much on the effect of temperance upon our republican institutions— how much it will remedy the evils alluded to, that I cannot refrain from dwelling somewhat at length on the subject at this time. And now let me ask you, have you reflected upon the importance, and calculated the value, of that simple little act of vot ing ? How much power is thus ignorantl v, care lessly, and often criminally wielded 1 Abused, inasmuch as the burdens and oppressions of un wise and party legislation rebound back upon the innocent and unoffending, without redress—the virtuous and patriotic doomed to bear the ignomy and reproach the vile and ambitious bring upon the country. If Legislators are pronounced as unprincipled, for having repudiated and violated solemn contracts—if they are charged as being a disgrace to the national councils—they are ac quitted of dishonesty, and their acts sanctioned at the next election. If the resources and reve nues of the country are neglected and squander ed—if the government is fraudulently and uncon stitutionally managed—parties rise up at once to prevent impartial investigation, and endeavor to avert the just indignation of the people. Pitiful subterfuges, temporary expedients, cheating and swindling, are substituted for truth and simplid ty. Anu when art and deception are no longer available, the laws of the land , established to pro tect life and pro|icrty, to defend the weak against the strong, to uphold society, and to administer justice and equity between man and man,— they are stopped or checked in their regular course of operation. And the executioner of these laws look to the people for justification, and they are sustained. See the effect of public opinion—notice the machinery, devices and inventions, that are now used to keep up excitement, and to prevent a reaction be fore the day ot election—Behold it collecting po litical power, gathering each scattered particle into a mass, until at length increased to a mon strous body, it is ready to proclaim itself the law of the land—the will of the people. Thus the body politic has often been made to become like a maniac—distracted, tortured, punished, even to madness. Society well nigh disorganized, and i shattered into fragments; and chaos made to rule, where order loved to reign—Every ques tion, from the most important to the most insigni ficant, connected with our government, are sub i jects for the legitimate action of the people. The spirit and genius of our formation, recognizes no other umpire—Examine its anatomy—study the i relationship which one organ bears to the other, j and to the whole body—and you will discover that the Ballot Box is its heart —the great foun tain both ot life and of death—not only giving siicngth, health and vigor, to all the otherco-ordf ; nate members, but it can also send out a stream of poison to the most distant extremity, paralyzing to death. All Assemblies, Legislatures an 3 Conventions, therefore, arc reflectors of the will of the people,—if wisdom, virtue and patriotism unite and centre in them, the beauty of their re i flections will be seen in tbe happiness and pros ! perity of the country. But, unfortunately this has not been the case, and from our own know ledge we can testify, that the evils to which I have adverted, arising from the abuse of the elec tive franchise, do exist at this time to an alarming and mortifying extent in our country. Where is the remedy I Our Constitution offers none, that makes a free and unqualified tender of this right to every citizen; and as Americans, we prize it as one of the most cherished legacies of our honored fore-fathers: It is perfect—that can not be altered—Nor can you find in that instru ment any solemn penalties—personal or pecunia ry liabilities, incurred by the abuse of this prero gative. Unlike all the institutions and customs that exist among men, it demands no bonds, it requires no security, to ensure the faithful and honest discharge of this paramount duty. There is a moral obligation imposed upon every man, as soon as he becomes a citizen, which should con strain him, above all other considerations, to vote for the honor and glory of his country —It calls upon him with a voice louder thaSfcthunder, to crucify self, and to exalt virtue, justice and liber ty. But is this moral obligation regarded I—Can it be enforced I I answer, it cannot. And grieved with present troubles, and depressed by a dread of the future, raethinks I can hear the pa triot exclaim from his sorrow-stricken heart— when shall virtue and patriotism prevail among [No. 12.