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■aiywwMpMWM—n. "i i' -mw >i ‘ mwmragKi~ii^r - the" WASHINGTONIAN:! - .; AUGUSTA. SEPT. 2, 1843. X' zaz.\.: ■■, , . , .:s;,;y^r. , ■ -■-?==■ .-rrr WaehUglon Total JJbeUntnct PUdge. IIV, t chose names art hereunto annexed, desirmts of forming a Society for our mutual benefit, and to guard against a pernicious practice vitich it injurious to our heajth, standing and families, do pledge ourselves as Gentlemen, not to drink any Splritous or Malt liiquors, Wine or Cider. i ii"n' 1 l i' r '' >im ' '"■ .. 1.1.-I■" r — ~ EDITORIAL COMMITTEE.. Rev. W. T. Bhantut, Dr. F. M. RoBBBTiOK, “ W J.H»hd, Dr. D. Hook, C.jS. Dod, S.T Chapman, Esq. " GBo F. Pience, James Harper, Esq. CM. John Mieeewie, CUb To Dutakt Subscribers.—Post Masters are au thSrhed by law to remit mousy to th* publishers of newspapers end periodicals in payment of subscrip tions. "Subscribers to the H’askingttmian can therefore pay for their papers without subjecting themselves or the publisher to tho expense of postage, by handing the amount to the Post Master, with a request to remit it. TO CORRESPONDENTS. _ , ?V The communication of “ R. W. E.” la on hind. Wo commend the spirit of the writer, but think his manner of treating hw subject rather too common plaeo. ?,2p Correspondents generally are requested to contract their communications to about half a column, as our paper is limited in size, and as this; course will enable us to give greater variety to our columns, and accommodato all of those who are good enough to favor us with the productions of their pen* The election for the year 1843 is at tend, in the result of which every good citizen of both parties must feel a deep and commendable interest; but wo are happy to have reason to believe that a great majority of the citizens of Georgia are at present not only opposed to the practice of attempting to influence the voters, by treating them to intoxicating drinks, but are disposed to frown upon it, and discourage it by every means in their power. A knowledge of this fact will have duo weight with all intelligoat party leaders. If principle does not restrain them from a practice so degrading to the voter, and so dishonorable to those who resort to it, policy at least will induce them to avoid a course by which they will lose more than they will gain. We hope and trust that Washingtonians will turn their attention to this cheering fact, which will prove how much the cause of free republican government has gained by the advance ol their cause, and thu3 secure tho co-operation of every patriot, of all parties, with thorn, in com pleting tho good work which they have undertaken. Then will tho aspirations of the great and good Washington be rc alized by those who live to see that day— the enjoyment of liberty under good laws well administered. If some foreign army were to enter our country, and, alter partially or totally de priving 500,000 of our citizens of their reason, should calmly and openly doom 30,000 of that number annually to an ignominious and cruel death, what would be the efleet upon the public mind ? Would the survivors contend that there was no danger in tho land ? If some fatal malady were to break out at once in every section of the country, producing similar results, would no sensation be produced 1 cupposo a sudden madness, a wild insan ity, to prevail, leveling that number of our citizens with the beasts themselves— arousing all tho baser passions of their nature—filling our cities and domains with lamentations—our prisons with criminals, our asylums with maniacs, and the graves with vjetims destitute of the slightest hope of human happiness,—would our blooc ; circulate coolly in our veins ?—would not. rathor, every face be palid with excite ment—every heart be throbbing with anxiety ? Would not every arm be nervet and every hand extended to grasp tht weapons ofdefence 1 Would not our high est powers be exerted to discover tht romedy, or guard against the fee? Yet there is an enemy in the land tha has produced all these results, and stii some men feign indifference. We hav s 500,000 drunkards, 30,000 of whom di< annually, leaving their places to be sup plied from the ranks of the moderate hin m -mmjjmumm ■*— tmi— •drinkers! From the same source spring I two-thirds of the crimes, the miseries, and like degradations of our species, and yet, strange to say, we daily hear men avow that they hare no interest in this matter, and will take no measures either to secure! jthemselves against danger, or to relieve! their fellow creatures from the grasp of a ; destroyer! If we had power to summon “spirits I from the vasty deep,” and could call up jthe haggard ghosts of but one year’s oper : ation3, we might produce 30,000 of the strongest arguments that could be present s ed to the human mind in favor of the cause ■of temperance. What a host would be f 'that? Nor friends, nor companions, nor > kindred, would be necessary to convince . men of their folly and their wretched fate. : The cqualiid hosts would plead in terms not to be resisted, the cause of bleeding, ’ suffering humanity on earth. ?~V The Treasurer of the Augusta Benevo lent Society gratefully acknowledges, on behalf -of that institution, the following generous bene .l factions:— fjFrotn the Special Jury of the Court of Common Fleas, now in Session, ' - S 9 00 e ! From Isaac S. Tuttle, Esq. - 100 00 f From the Ladies’ Wotking Society of the Presbyterian Church of Augusta, 100 00 JOHN W. WIGHTMAN. | We take this opportunity of again call r ing the attention of our readers to thisj excellent institution. Its object is “to! > relieve the sick poor of Augusta and vicini -1 ty.” For this purpose the whole city is divided into sections—one visitor or more , being appointed for each section ; —and i every case is investigated before relief is extended. This appears to us the only : way of providing efficiently and regularly, f and, we add, economically , for the proper , care ol the sick poor. They cannot come i from the sick room to make their wants known—they must be sought out. They should not receive benefactions from this, : and that, and the other individual, at one time in profusion—at other times in sad ; deficiency, and almost always injudicious ly. Their wants must be inquired into, • before they can be suitably and wisely [ supplied. We think that the benevolent ’ citizens of Augusta can render their bene i factions thrice valuable by conveying i them through the Benevolent Society, i whose operation is systematic, regulaf. i and thorough. It is the best possible I safeguard of the community against the impositions of the shameless beggar, while i it searches out retiring, uncomplaining ; want, and extends seasonable reliof.— • When one comes complaining of sickness ; and privation, the member of the Benevo- I lent Society, instead of giving money, which would be almost to a certainty mis ■ applied, inquires the residence of the ! petitioner, and by reporting the case to 1 any of the officers of tho society, frees himself from annoyance, while he secures ' to the applicant a regular and adequate ' supply of wants ascertained by actual investigation. We would recommend that all such cases bo thus provided tor, rather than by the precarious and undis criminatinggifts of private charity [Ed. Tho following letter from a friend ofthe good cause breathes a spirit, and presents an example, worthy of admiration and . imitation by the advocates of Temperance in other sections of the State. If our friends and supporters would furnish us full and accurate information of this sort, in reference to the condition and prospects of the respective societies, w 6 could act more and cActively our own part in th® work before us. Next’ week we propose to publish a list of some seventy or eighty societies, with the num ber of members, and for which we shall be indebted to our industrious brother ofthe r Banner. ’ That list will be enlarged from time to time with such particulars as we may be able to collect from our respec tive correspondents—and continued until it shall exhibit the entire strength ofthe Cold Water Army in the State. Brothersville, Richmond Co.. Ga.,) August -26th, lMb. j Messrs. Editors—Seeing an effort made n your valuable paper to procure statistics if the different temperance societies in the ■ State, I have concluded to furnish you with a short account of the Berlin tem perance society. A tew ofthe friends oftemperanee, wish ng to unite their efforts in this good cause, organized a society in Oct., 1835. At ; first they met with violent opposition from I come, and a cold indifference from others; , but this did not deter them froth persever r ing in their efforts: prejudices gave way , from time to time, until very few will now • have the hardihood to oppose the cause ; openly. A vast change has been wrought lin public opinion on this subject. We seldom see the side-board sparkling with 5 the ruby wine, or the more potent brandy. >j The society generally meets quarterly. . and elects its officers annually; and al ? though it is called “ The Berlin Temper ance Society,” it does not confine its 3 : operations exclusively to the vicinity of ; Berlin Church, but is rather itinerent in r its mode of operations—holding meetings ; at Newhope,Bethesda, Liberty and Union, .as well as at Beflfs. # 5 Thfe society numbers at this time 174 ;, females and 134 males, making an aggre gate of 30$. You perceive in this, as in most benevolent enterprises of the day. f that the fair sex leads the van. At the - last meeting it was proposed to extend the privilege of membership to the colored j friends. An invitation was accordingly j given, which was responded to by ten coming forward and giving their names, ) and they were entered on a separate list. Where the interests of the society have been advocated by so many, it might ap , pear invidious to mention the names of t some without naming all. But I cannot forbear to mention the names of Bishop ( Andrew, Dr. Milton Antony, Herschel V. Johnson, Esq. and the Rov’d. Nicholas I Murphey—tho latter of whom is the great apostle of temperance among us. For, while others have given us an occasional address, he has been the constant advocate ’ and defender of the temperance cause. Many others, not so prominent as those just mentioned, have nevertheless been „ very successful in promoting the interests of the society. S. B. C. ' EDITORIAL COMMUNICATIONS] - ! Treating at Ejections. We have learned with pleasure that our political friends, of all parties, have . abandoned the use of spirits at their Bar . becues and other public assemblages.— r l his is right—it is moral and patriotic. Though temperance societies are not in tended to be used as political engines, and , though their interference with partizan , struggles would be, as it should, the signal , fortheirdissolution—still they are intended , to operate on public opinion for the pur pose of accomplishing a great moral refor , mation. Their influence to that effect may be powerfully exerted without the slightest impropriety, or the most distant danger of its abuse. The known and ex pressed disapproval of the use of intoxica ting drinks in connexion with the ballot jbox, by more than thirteen hundred of the good people of Richmond, is of itself calculated to excite the respect and con , sideration of every discreet and upright citizen. It is therefore matter of con gratulation that this influence has already operated so silently, and yet So powerftilhf | lor the public good. The disuse ofintoti- | eating drinks at the pubifc meefings, is indeed a great and glorious reform; but more yet may be done. The evil ofpri vate treating by candidates and their friend* may be eradicated with equal ease, and perhaps with equal benefit to all I classes. It is therefore suggested, most respectfully, to the candidates of all par ties, that they mutually agree and pledge j themselves to each other, that they will | not, under any circumstances, either treat on their own account, or suffer their friends to do so with their approbation ; and that they will discountenance the practice by all prudent and honorable means. Is not this request reasonable ? Need we remind those intelligent gentle men of the nature of the oath which they are bound to take, if elected to a seat in our State Legislature ? Need we remind them of the degradation of their race the ruin and distress, both individual and j social, which too often result from this j very cause? Need we tell them of the j wounds inflicted on their Country and her institutions—the death-blow which is ; struck at their system of free suffrage, by i tho too frequent practice of drowning both ■ the sense and sensibility of the voter in spirits, and then dragging him in solemn - mockery to the ballot box to exercise the , precious rights of a freeman ? They must t all be too familiar with the scenes ofthe - -UJJJ-i-JSILAIU- i past, and we trust have the good of their. ; Country too much at heart to need suchj - admonitions. It is therefore hoped, evenj 7 if there can be no specific agreement to 7 that effect, that each candidate will act ; upon these suggestions, and under the firm t conviction, that neither his individual nor ; parly triumph will weigh a feather in- I comparison with the purity and elevation . of' the elective franchise. Philo. ■ Dialogue between a Washingtonian and a - _ 15 um Seiler. (Continued from our last.) Rum Seller. Well, friend W., having p met you again, I will silence you, and j perhaps cure you of your folly by showing s you the fruits of the wise course I have pursued :—in these deeds and bank-books [you will see what selling rum has done for II me. Look, and be wise! Washingtonian. Have you considered 5 the cost of this wealth?—that you have lost your self-respect!—that you have sa ’ crificed all rational hope of heaven ! , that you have surrounded yourself with j miserable wretches, suffering children and , broken hearted wives f—that you have se ( duced your neighbors and countrymen into habits of idleness, dissipation and ’ crime. R. S. I seduce them!—they seduce themselves, and I only take advantage of . their known propensities! If I did not do ( it, another would. ( W. Ah! precious confession! Where is now the innocence of social enjoyment | around the flowing bowl? But, sir, you | are deceiving yourself; do you not add every pleasing flavor to your liquors to J whet and madden the appetites of your customers ? Do you not lure them to you : by every amusement and game calculated, to please, and detain them around you? ( Have you neglected any means which I ingenuity could desire to convert your tel-; low men into wine bibbers and mm drinkers ? R. S. But, sir, you allow nothing for competition. If I did not hold out these inducements, my competitors would take : all the custom. These are tricks of the > trade, common and allowable in all busi . ness.—You might as well blame the mer - chant for decking his doors and windows , with his most showy goods. W. And I would do so, if it was done I to lure men to moral, temporal, and eter i nal death—and to sap the very foundations lof society. Do you not know that it is I your traffic that fills the world with pau perism, misery and crime ?—that to it, . society owes the necessity ofthe enormous t expense of jails, alms-houses, penitentia ; ries and hospitals ? Who but your frater t nity, people these gloomy abodes with . vice and despair—suffering and death ? R. S. The half of what you say cannot t be true—for many find their way to these > public institutions without passing through ’ the groggeries. IF. Examine for yourself, and if you t do n<g find that nine-tenths of them find , their way there, directly or indirectly • through the influence of rum, I will make :;the recantation truth shall require. But . if one half only of what I have said be ; true, what an enormous evil to society is t your traffic!—What community would . bear such heavy burdens from any other • single branch of business ? , R. S. Oh! this is only the dark side 1 ofthe picture, and every dauber can give t gloomy shades to the brightest and most . lively pictures! ! W. But there is no bright side to this 1 picture, and however painful it may be, t your eyes must bo kept on its gloomy •darkness. Look now at your children!! ; What have they learned, but idleness and ; disregard for virtue. Will not the result : be, that they will waste in extravagance ? and vice what you have amassed by cn . couraging vice and extravagance in oth • ers ? You are not blind. Others have i left their children as rich as you will leave 1 yours. How long has it taken you to - transfer their wealth into your pockets. 1 and them into the ditch, or the prison ? 5 Will you have no successors in this work ? ? And still worse, will not your children 1 sacrifice their hopes of heaven in wasting ? this money, in the accumulation of which 7 you have sacrificed yours ? i R. S. Well, if it will be any comfort to i you, I will acknowledge that I am uneasy i about my children, and would much prefer 6 their being of your way of thinking and t acting. I wish you could get them to 3 take the pledge. ...—j IV. It does comfort me, and to get more comfort I must show you still more iof truths painting. Some time back there was quite a panic in your ranks from our successes, and you made strong efforts to regain the vassals yon had lost. In one (case, now before us, you and your myrmi ■ dons succeeded. Look now at him—see his bloated form—hear his delirious ra vings—fed his quivering, dying limbs, and know that they are to fasten upon his destroyers forever and ever! Will your wealth “deliver you from the body of this death ?” Will your victory over us, loosen* the “loathed embraces” of this your vic tim for time and eternity? R. S. Come sir, this is carrying mat ters too far—this is bringing upon us the blood of every" vagabond drunkard in the land ? This is dreadful! W. Not more dreadful than true. But if I have gained my point I am willing to desist. Do you now appreciate the wealth of virtue and humanity? Do vou under stand how poor, poor indeed, is the man who for gold has sacrificed every enno bling sentiment—every cheering hope, and every god-like principle of action?— how poor, how mean the man, who is neglecting the purposes of his creation, and failing in every particular to imitate his Saviour in “doing good?” R. S. I give it up—Virtue and its re wards are greater riches than vice with all tffi gold on earth; but I must have time for reflection before I can continue this discussion further. Os one thing, however, be assured, that thinking as you do, you are not to blame, and I do not blame you, for the severity of your reproofs, against any and all who entice men to drink. For the Washingtonian. To the Lawyers! Messrs. Editors —l beg you to allow me, through the Washingtonian, to say a few words to our respected and very re spectable lawyers, and as I confidently expect you will give me this privilege, I append hereunto what I desire to say to. them. Gentlemen! Although fully assured that the temperance reformation must finally triumph, whether or not your able advo cacy be obtained, yet the laborers in this good work, frankly confer they greatly need the assistance of your talents, elo quence and influence, and therefore, as suming to represent them, I now appeal to you—“to come over and help as.” This appeal, it is thought, should bo irresistible for two reasons— -Ist. Because the reform being in itself good and necessary, merits the services ol ail who wish to promote what is good and necessary; and, 2diy. Because if it triumphs, as it certainly must, it will re flect just and serious opprobrium upon so able and respectable a class of society, that so glorious a victory for the good of man, should be suffered to be achieved without its countenance and support. a Gentlemen! this reform will triumph ! You remember well, that spectacles of drunkenness, accompanied by the most disgusting conduct, and the most obscene and blasphemous language, were formerly so common as hardly to excite attention ; and you saw the other day at the Court House, that one case of this kind, so as tounded and shocked the moral sense of those present, as to suspend business, and to becloud most countenances with signs of grief, injury and insult. Whence this change ?—this improvement of the morals of the people—this elevation of their mor al sentiments ? To the temperance reform we owe all this good!—And if the labor ers in this cause could effect so much without your aid, under the unpropitious circumstances of the past, will they not, under the more cheering circumstances of the present and the future, go on to final and complete success ? And if all this has been done without your aid—what would they not be able to effect with your pow erful help ? We know that we already have the aid of many who adorn the Bar— but we love and respect you all, and we want you all to participate in the glory of emancipating the world from a vice i which has enslaved it, and embittered its ■ enjoyments in every age. “ Come over,” • then, Gentlemen, “ and help us”—imitate 1 the noble, the immortal Mathew, who, in > response to the suggestions of selfishness: . gloriously said—s“lt is more importakt