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THE WAS H lI\ r GTON IA AUGUSTA, AUGUST 19, IS4B. Washington Total .Abstinence Pledge. 4Y, i those names are hereunto a ruicjcd. desirous Os forming a Society for our mutual benefit, and to guard against a pernicious practice, tokich is injurious to our health, standing and families, do pledge ourstltes as, Gentlemen, not to drink any Sptrltous or Malt Liquors, Wlue or Ct*cr. EDITORIAL COMMITTEE. Rev. W. T. Biuxtly, Dr. F. M. Robertson, •• NV.J.HaRD, Dr. D. Hook, " C. 8. Doo, S.T Chapman, fisq Geo. F. Pierce, lOames Harper, Esq. Col. John Miu-edoe, Encouraging Prospects. Our enterprise is still gaining ground,— about fifteen new subscribers have greet ed us during the last two weeks. Let our friends in the country do their best for us and the Augusta Washingtonian will be established at once on a comfortable and stable footing. Our table of Prices Current. We call the attention of our subscri bers, especially in the country, to the ta ble of prices current at Augusta, regularly i publishdHn this paper. We can speak with great confidence of its correctness. It is weekly submitted to the careful in spection of some of the best informed mer chants of the place, and is, we are sure, 1 equal in all respects to any similar tables published in the city. To “the Committee appointed to report bu siness" for the late Temperance Con-' venlion at Penjield: Gentlemen— ( There was one resolution offered by | you to the Convention which has seemed f to many persons to contain a covert impu- ( tation upon the Augusta Washingtonian, ( though we cannot bring ourselves to be lieve that any such imputation was intend ed. “ Resolved, That the members of this Convention be requested to act us agents tor the Temperance Banner, and become ’ subscribers themselves; and also to aid < in the circulation of all other temperance i papers published in our state that may be , deemed worthy.” Now, we say most sincerely, that we , would rejoice in the increased circulation ( ofthe Banner, for wo consider it a labori ous and able co-worker in our good cause, and wO regard the means proposed for ( that end in the resolution as in every res- | poet legitimate and suitable. It is the latter part of tho resolution to which the , objection lies. The gentlemen of the , Convention are requested “to aid in the , circulation of all other temperance papers • published in our state that may be deemed t toorthy .” Now it so happens that the A l - f gusta Washingtonian is the only other temperance paper published in the state. j The language of the resolution amounts, ( therefore, to a declaration by the Conven tion that it is a doubtful matter whether this paper is worthy of the patronage of temperance men. We cannot, fora mo- ( ment, suppose that the resolution was framed with any such design, and we are * sure that the excellent and honorable ( gentlemen of the committee that drafted it, , will not delay to disclaim so unprovoked ! und insidious an attack upon our fair name. We request, therefore, gentlemen, an explanation of the ambiguous language to which wc have referred. We will be glad to hear from you by communication through this paper, or through the next ••Temperance Banner.” In behalf of the Editorial Committee ol the “Augusta Washingtonian,” yours, &c. C. S. JDod, Chairman. ' & Our Paper. W 0 have some things to cncourago us in our editorial labors amid all the toils and vexations incident to such an under taking. Our cause is hated by some, it is unpopular with others, it is wearisome to others still; —but to not a few it is very dear. A well sustained spirit of philan thropy is the exponent of a character of nobler traits than we commonly meet Among men, and nothing but this spirit * will make one a steady Adherent to the ! temperance cause, and a uniformly active; of its progress. Yet there are Uuch in our city and state, and we rejoice in jthe encouragement which they give us by [good wishes, and, occasionally, by some more substantial proofs of friendliness, j A good word from a brother editor now and then helps us on amazingly. Our subscription list, too, is slowly enlarging. All we have to complain of, or to fear from, is the tardiness of our friends to come ;up to our help. Every reader must see that this paper is no money-making con cern. There is no paper of its size pub -1 lished in Georgia or Carolina for less than ! two dollars per annum, and the enter ' prising publisher must suffer a considerable 1 loss by the year’s operations unless the friends of the undertaking will promptly patronize it, and send in their subscrip tions. We believe that few families could expend a dollar more advantageously than by procuring with it the “ Augusta Wash ingtonian.” And this the writer can say without laying himself open to the charge ' of self-adulation, for it is said with a just confidence in the eight gentlemen with whom he is associated rather than in him self, and it is said, also, in reference to the goodness of the cause which this pnpcr[ espouses, and the value of the principles w hich it advocates. The State Convention. “ Resolved, That the propriety of holding another Convention at some central place in the State, some time nest fall, be submitted to the Committee appointed to write the Address, and they arc hereby authorized to iix upon the time and place ot holding said Convention.” “ The above of Prof. P. H. Mell, of Penfield, John M. Ashurst. Esq., of Pnlnam; Rev. J. H. Campbell, of Jones; tj. L. Smith, Esq , of Oxford, and G. M. Paine, Kiq., of Watkinsville." We arc glad the Penfield Convention has taken this subject into serious consid oration; and with all due respect would urge upon the Committee the propriety 01 designating Milledgeville as the place, and the 2nd week of November as the time. Our reasons for this were offered in the last number of the Washingtonian, and in ] a previous number we specified a variety of topics on which information might be collected and forwarded to that body. We also called upon our co-laborer ot the “Banner” to publish that article, and second our efforts in the good work. As this request has not been complied with, we must presume that the article has cs caped the eye of our usually prompt and , vigilant brother. We doubt not he will , redouble his efforts and fire up his zeal 1 afresh in this truly benevolent and praise-' worthy undertaking. True, wc are considerably the junior, and should conse quently treat our senior with due defer ence and becoming respect; still we hope ' that the story of Joseph and his elder brethren will not be found applicable in the 1 present case. Though our sheet is deci-1 dedly larger and much cheaper than that 1 of our cotemporary, and though it has been 1 received with great favor by the friends of ! Temperance, we are not ambitious 01 | taking the lead in this or any other mat- < ter. Our object is to do good—not to 1 gain either gold or glory. Our desire is to see the greatest possible results from ‘ the means used to promote sobriety and good order in the community. Our con viction is, that ifMilledgeville were select ed, and a general call made by the Com- . mittec of the Penfield Convention upon < all the Societies, and the proper means taken to give publicity to the matter, a 1 Convention could be assembled in the State which would result in groat and I lasting good. Under that conviction we < have acted, and still act, and with the as-1 sistancc and concurrence ofthe numerous 1 friends ofthe cause wc hope to succeed. Frequency of Temperance Meetings. It is often a question of interest, and of great practical importance, how often temperance meetings should be held. It is a question on which there is room for difference of opinion, and on which, also, zealots may angrily dispute so as to cause alienation and division. On the one hand, if meetings arc too frequent they become burdensome, and nobody will attend them: on the other hand, if they occur too seldom, interest declines, and the temperance so ciety is forgotten. It is no easy matter here to get exactly midway between Scylla and Charybdis. We are decidedly of opinion that meet ings as often as once a week are advisable only when there is special excitement on — » ■■■. J=J the subject; in tfiis case they answer an i admirable purpose, and have been exceed ingly useful in this city. Unless there is i quite a lively state of feeling, meetings ■ every fortnight are too frequent. Month • ly meetings, with particular care to have them well attended, and with equal care • to have the audience not disappointed by • a meager entertainment, are in our opin* . ion far better than more frequent meet r ings, unless, as before observed, there be s some special call for them. And if it be s difficult to get up a spirited temperance ■ meeting a3 often as once a month, (and in ■ many places it is not only difficult, but i impossible,) it would be better to lay out ■ the whole strength upon quarterly meet ! ings, one of these being the anniversary sos the society. Far better have four good, • lively, interesting meetings, than a hun ■ dred that are embarrassed, meager and 1 unsatisfactory. A temperance meeting i that is a failure, does more harm than a ■ little. In Augusta perhaps the following plan ! for a year’s campaign would be as wise as any that could be adopted,—at least it i may not be deemed unworthy of consider ation : 1. July 4th—Anniversary. | 2. October—2d week. 3. Christmas Holidays. 4. March—lst week. 5. May do. A larger number of meetings we do not think could be i cdl sustained under pre sent circumstances in Augusta ; and as to a real stiff, awkward temperance meeting, it is an awfully tiresome affair. Give a smart fire and then withdraw for a while if need be—but sluggish, doZing, half hearted attacks only strengthen the enemy by persuading him of your weakness. Religion and Washing ouianlsm. The fears of tome excellent people have been, we hope unnecessarily, exci ted at what they deemed an opposition to religion on the part of men engaged in the Washingtonian movement. Indeed these fears have in some instances assum ed shape and voice. A writer in a North ern paper holds the following language ; “The proposal to divorce the cause of religion from that of temperance has been repeatedly and distinctly urged by speakers and writers for the last two years. The witty things, and the silly things, the good things, and the bad things, arguments in favor of temper ance, and flings at religion, have, like a compound potion, descended into the sto mach of the multitude together, and ne cessarily produced more harm than good.” Upon this the editor of the Worcester Waterfall remarks: “ Such things, it is possible, may have come under the immediate observation of the writer. He may have been in such meetings. But we can assure that gen tleman, that in all our experience, so far as the Washingtonian cause has been adopted, it has been different; our meet ings have been opened by prayer, and the solemnities of religion and its joyful prin ciples have borne a conspicuous part in the exercises, and have been fostered with utmost care. Our teachers of religion have adopted the Washingtonian principles. The Washingtonians, many of them, in thankfulness to God, have raised their hands before the multitude in praise to him, as the author of this great and noble wqrk.” We believe the“ Waterfall” is right.— A few may, perhaps, have spoken lightly of religion in temperance addresses ; but we hold that temperance meetings gener ally, and always [among have been composed in the main, of persons too respectable and right minded to allow so great a breach of propriety, not to speak of any higher principle. Our meet ings, too, have been opened with prayer, the Great God has been recognized as ruler in the earth, and religion has never Ibeen proscribed in our meetings. And so ought it to be. While the Washing tonian movement is not in any proprie ty of speech a religious movement, yet religion harmonizes with it. Having for its object a moral reformation, proposing to itself such great and beneficient ends, religion must regard it as an ally. The true and intelligent friends of religion, if rightly informed on the subject, will al ways'be found the true and ardent advo • cates of the Washingtonian movement; i “ on, on with it,” is their cry. Washingtonianism invites the co-oper ation of all, whether they be religious or s not; but it would be very unfair on this i account, to say that it is* an irrefighvs » 1 ""1 1 ■■■'! ' - i j movement. Men may lawfully and wise -ily associate for the suppression of a par ticular vice, or the carrying forward ot a b‘particular work of benevolence, without .!being agreed upon any other point what ever. We consider the case exactly analagous r to that of the building of a hospital by . private benevolent enterprise : it is per . fectly proper to appeal to the community » in its behalf, on the ground of Christian ? duty, and many will be moved by the ap > peal, for they recognise the principles on i which it is based. Upon others it would t have no effect, and to them, you would t appeal on the ground of philanthropy, . economical principles, &c. Would the most scrupulous Christian hesitate to pur , sue such a course 1 Both grounds of ap - peal are just and true, —and we 'are at i full liberty to urge that which promises r to be most effective with the particular i individual. So with the W T ashingtonian principles;—they are not contrary to re i ligion, they do not renounce religion.— ! Those who can be reached, and they are ; many, by showing the bearing of intem . perance, as a sin against God, upon the present character and the future destiny of the immortal soul, may be and should be thus reached. By presenting such considerations no man is harmed, no feel ings are hurt, no insult is offered to what any man holds sacred. Bkit there are some who are not to be thus reached : well, go to them, and tell them of the in i jury to health, the waste of money, the loss of character, and the domestic mis ery that are all involved m the habitual use of intoxicating drinks, and you thus gain them. It would be a great wrong to Washingtonianism to call it an '‘irreli gious enterprise. Should it ever become so, its deterioration, decay and dissolu tion would be inevitable. Not only the ministers and professors of religion, bul also the large and influential body of re specters of religion would stand aloof from it, and its kite would be sealed. The only thing that looked like oppo sition to religion that we have observed in the Washingtonian movement in Au ■ gusta, was a remark or two thnt fell from the lips of a popular lecturer last Fall.— We attributed this to carelessness, or in advertence, and had scarcely a suspicion of design against religion on the part of the lecturer. It was rather a remark ca pable of being understood, and we believe misunderstood that way, than a real at tack upon what the great mass of this community, and of every audience at a temperance meeting, hold sacred. The Washingtonian movement, like , the building of the hospital in the above illustration, is a philanthropic underta king, and all true philanthropy religion sanctions, and encourages, and aids.— The basis of Washingtonian principles is not religion, it is simply a worldly regard for our own temporal interests, and a be nevolent regard for the interests of our neighbors. The religious man may most conscientiously unite with the man of the world in promoting these great ends, and rejoice to do so, glad that men should re form from this vile habit, even if it be on the low ground of expediency and self interest. The truly pious and enlight ened Christian will be delighted to ac complish thus much, though he cannot get men to be all that he would wish.— Gaining this, he has gained more than a little for the good of men, and he rejoices therein while he hopes for more. Washingtonian ism. Mr. Editor, —I would take the liber ty, through the medium of your valuable journal, of making a tew remarks to those 1 who are truly Washingtonians. Being as I trust I am, a Washingtonian to the core,j I should like to express publicly my opin ion as to what I consider Washingtonian ism; and if I am mistaken, would take it! kindly if some brother would show me my error. In the first place, then, it is necessary to sign the pledge of total abstinence and ; thereby become a member of the Society, i Secondly to promote by every means . the interests of the Society to which you - belong. Thereby as a matter of course 1 you are promoting the interests- of your ’ fellow men. Adhere rigidly to the Constitution, and! ; by all means do not neglect attending the: Society meetings,—but by every means in your power endeavor to keep up the or ganization. j Now these I take to tyj the leading 5 points of Washingtonianism; nor can 1 t!consider any one a Washingtonian who' - neglects the smallest of these points, how . ever temperate he may be. But, alas, it j is with regret that I am obliged to say, t that with the exception of the first point mentioned, they are almost totally neg lected in Suffield.— N. Haven Fountain. We commend the above to the Wash s , ingtonians of Georgia, and particularly to our brothers of Augusta. Be not half- Jway Washingtonians—be whole-souled } and energetic in the matter. I _jj ssss^sssseaessk ‘ EDITORIAL COMMUNICATIONS. - ■■■ 1 To tile Friends of Temperance, 1 When pestilence desolates city after , city, what universal jo;* is felt upon the i discovery of a remedy, and how confirm • ed is the joy, when from every quarter ■ comes the news that this remedy is every 1 where certainly successful * Such was 5 the joy among the good upon the discov r ery of an antidote for intemperance. At 1 first the news excited rather joyful hope ‘ than fulness of joy, but when every breeze ' wafted confirmation of its efficacy, hope was swallowed up in soul-cheering, con fident certainty. There was, and there ' continues to be, a jubilee among the good, ’ the patriotic, the virtuous ! Oh ! may it - continue, by the blessing of God, until 1 intemperance ceases to pain their hearts, and alarm their fears for their country, and for religion. But, ns in the physical, so in the inoral world, relapses occasionally occur, and these are instantly seized upon by the enemies of God and man, to injure the reputation ot the remedy ; —hence the necessity of continual recurrence, as thtr ’ politician says, to first principles, to proofs of its efficacy, and hence our present appeal to the friends of Temperance, t o furnish us with every interesting case of cure from the tnOral and mortal pestilence of intemperance. This appeal is render ed equally necessary by theever-change . ing condition of onr population—the young are ever coming upon tie stage cf aartion where malign influenec will meet and overwhelm them, unless unceasingly put upon their guard. Mankind arc, and ever have been, since the days of Cain, divided into- two classes—one endeavor ing to elevate their species to the glory and virtue they were created, • and to which they were iinperitivelv “call ed,” —and the other to degrade them be low the brutes that perish. This thought we trust will make our appeal as success ful as it deserves to be. Another consideration grcntly enhan ces the importance attached to remedies namely :—the mischiefs and mortality of the disease to be remedied. When,- like yellow fever, it -spares neither sex nor age—when, like the plague, it mars all beauty and destroys all humanity and nobility of soul, the remedy which will arrest its deadly march, is justly appre ciated—highly prized. But man is for getful, and unlcssJcept constantly in re membrance of the nature and character of the pestilence from which he has been delivered, the means of his deliverance will be neglected. For this reason we also request to be informed of every case which boldly depicts the evils of intem perance. Fail us not, you friends of temperance. 9 The kind of communications thus so licited, furnishes us with the only certain means of persuading men to take the remedy for intemperance, and yet if they come charged with postage, they would soon disable our publisher and arrest our efforts, while this tax, divided out among all the friends who may be able to com municate important facts, would not be ! felt. A word to the good and wise is suf ficient. Let the name of the writer be always given to assure us of the truth of the case reported—otherwise it will not be published. H. COMMUNICATED. The State Convention. Gentlemen —l have read your sugges tions in reference to a State Convention, and highly approve of them. The time , and place you mention are very proper. It can be held at Milledgeville at less IJexpense than at any other place, particu larly during the session of the Legislature. ! And the second Monday of November is 1 also the best possible time, as at that early . period of the session the Capital is gener. Ally crowded with visitors from all parts • of the State, who arc led thither either bv .