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THE WASHINGTONIAN:!
AUGUSTA, SEPT. 93, 1843.
Washington Total .Ihs’tnencs Pledge.
li t, ■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 j
families, do pledge ourselves as Gentlemen, j
not to drink any
Splritous or Malt Liquors, Wine or Cider.
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE.
Rev. W. T. Biuxyly, Dr. F. M. Robertson,
“ W. J. Hard, Dr. D. Hook,
" C. S. Dod, S. T Chapman, Esq.
“ Gko. F. Pierce, James Harper, Esq,
Col. John Mii.i.eikie,
a -r. • ■
(XP To Distant Scbacriseiis.—Post Masters are au-|
thuri/.eJ by law to remit money to the publishers of
newspapers and periodicals in payment of subscrip,
tions. Subscribers to the Washingtonian can therefore
pay for their papers without subjecting themselves or
the publisher to the expense of postage, by handing the
amount to the Post Master, with a request to remit it.
Temperance Statistics.
Will our friends aid us in procuring
statistics of the several Temperance So
eieties in Georgia ; thereby enabling us
to extend the table published on our 4th
page, that we may in lime exhibit the
entire strength of the Temperance cause
in our State ? We desire to obtain the
names of societies, number of members,
(designating male and female,) and the
nature of their pledge. Our subscri
bers and friends of temperance generally,
at a distance, will please respond to our
earnest request.
We earnestly invite an attentive
perusal of the communication of our re
spected correspondent, “W. A. L.,” in
our columns of this day: with which
they will no doubt be highly gratified, as
we have been, at learning the progress
which has been made, and still is going '
on, in the good cause of Temperance, at '
Rock Mills , S. C.
It is with the most heart-felt sincerity 1
we greet this and all similar favors, and
would be pleased to have them continued 1
by W. A. L. and other friends of the 1
cause.
u jj
This Paper, conceived by benevo-j 1
lencc, reared and sustained by philanthro- i
phy, has been set apart to do a good work (
among men. It goes forth with a warn- |
mg voice, to those who revel amid the i
scenes of guilt, and would present a pic- |
ture of wretchedness and ruin, produced (
by intemperance, that should affright the
young and innocent, from the gates ot -
hell. It points the afflicted and distressed 1
to tho true source of comfort, in their j
troubles and misfortunes, and would <
snatch the wine cup from their lips ere <
they had tasted the poisonous draught. To (
those who are blessed with health and i
wealth—whose arm is full of strength, i
and whose mind yet reveals the Divinity 1
within—it says, heed not the siren song, «
lest it drown thee in a Hoed of tears. It |
is designed to be the herald ofglad tidings I
to the broken-hearted—to announce to
the patriot the grateful news, that the i
enemy is writhing under the power of re
formed public opinion, and that with i
combined and united exertions in the <
glorious cause, the day of victory will
soon dawn upon the world.
Though it is intended strictly to be the
advocate of Temperance, and a means
by which it can he advanced, yet it is not
to bo restricted in the sphere of its efforts
to counteract any evil or error which may
have a tendency to retard the improve
ment of society, or to vitiate the charac
ter of its members. We wish to do more
than to drag the sot from his wallopings
—more than to place him firmly on his
feet; our aim is to purity his affections,
restore self-respect, and to replace the lost |
dignity of his nature ; to refine and pol-;
ish by elevated association his conversa
tion and tastes, and to exterminate those
habits and vices contracted from low and
Jamiliar intercourse, which detract from
respectability,and which are criminal in'
the sight of God.
And we would in the present number,
call the attention of our readers to one
evu. which is rife in the laud, and which;
j
jis calculated to pain the true gentlemanj
—not to say the Christian. We allude to
! the little respect that many pay to the
institutions of God. Os course our re
marks will not apply to those who have:
made a public profession of his name—j
but to those W'ho not having made such,
are yet constrained to acknowledge to
jthemselvcs, that there is a Supreme Gov
ernor of the world, to whom they are and
must be accountable. Os the first class
wc have nothing to say—wo leave them
in the care of those who are appointed to
watch over their spiritual state —it is of
j the latter we complain, and are compelled
■to notice on their part a lack of respect
I for the immediate presence of God, and a
Iwant of reverence for his holy will.
Why is this ? Does the peculiar form of
our government invest one with such a
of sovereignty, as to check in the
infant mind of its subject, the growth of
[that principle which in after life Vouid
make him a happier man, a more loyal
citizen of his country? Certainly not.
;Of all human institutions it is the most
dependant upon morality for its stability,
requiring tho continued influence of vir
tue. It was so organized as to encourage
and foster their growth, and facilitate
their diffusion among the people. Aware
of the effect of example, our forefathers
sought the blessing of Godin their delib
erations, and invoked their posterity in
all their documents of council and advice,
to remember in the days of their man
hood and strength the hand that deliver
ed them in infancy. We deny that there
is any thing in the peculiar construction
of our government that discourages a pub
lic manifestation of respect at all times
for the Deity. Why is it then that those
who are not willing to deny the existence
of God, or to question the divine origin
of his word, hesitate not unfrequently to
violate his law, by taking hissacred name
in vain, and by desecrating the Sabbath,
the day he has set apart for rest unto all
mankind? Why is it that those who are
forced by public opinion, to enter his sa
cred temples, act as though they were not
in a solemn place, consecrated to the
Almighty, and in a manner more becom
ing infidels? Why is it that those who
aro not professors of religion allow others
to scoff, profane and ridicule sacred mat
ters, in their presence, and yet in that as
sembly no voice is heard to say, “thou shalt
; not take tho name of the Lord thv God in
*
vain.” Men do not hesitate to hush the
mouth ofslfmder when it is uttered against
a friend, and he who would silently listen
to such abuse, is justly regarded as being
mean and dastardly. God and his insti
tutions can be abused, and honor and
courage, come not to his defence.
The Mahomedau hows down to Mecca
—the deluded Hindoo prostrates himself
before the car of Juggernaut—the savage
invocation is heard in his native wilds,
calling upon the Great Spirit—yet in this
enlightened, liberal, Christian country,
there are those who countenance profani
ty, and who throw the burden of rebuke
upon those who are weak enough to ac
knowledge his authority. It would really ,
seem, in the eyes of some, nay, of many,
that it was unmanly and dishonorable to
be the champion of a God.
The cause of this silence, to condemn
that which is prohibited by revelation, and
which conscience tells them is wrong,
arises from a lack of moral courage—a
deficiency of that cardinal principle which
proper education can alone produce.
Parents who do not early instil into
the minds of their children a deep rever
ence for sacred things, and show, by ex
ample, an abhorrence for profanity, may
be certain that their offsprings will grow
up too cowardly to resept an insult offer
ed to their Maker. Let them remember,
if they wish their country to improve—
its institutions to flourish—their children
to be respectable and happy, they should
teach them in early life that the fear of
the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
For the Washingtonian. .
Messrs. Editors —Amidst the numer
ous sources of argument and contention,
with which the world is rife at the
present day, as evinced by the jour
; nals from every point of the compass, on
the subjects of arts, sciences, govern
ment, political economy, &c., each with
its advocates on the one hand, adducing
ievidence in support of some new inven-
Ition, proposition or calculation, and in de
i monstration of the respective theorys or
subjects advanced^—with others in denun
ciation of these, and the propagation of
i others diametrically opposite; all appar
ently, if not really, striving to enlighten
Jthe public mind, and advance the good of
i mankind, by their devotion and enthusi
. asm in the cause. It is a consolitarv re
-1 flection to the philanthropist, that there is
; at least one subject, last though not least,
i on which all the discordant sentimentsj
) entertained in relation to the subjects be-'
f fore adverted to, seem to be merged in
|to a universal acquiescence. One point
t on which all men, however diversified as
! to talent or opinion, (on other subjects,)
, are united and agreed,
r Temperance may now be fairly rank-
L ed by acclamation, as being the promo
, ter and forerunner of moral reform, and
p a cause in which there are none so high
I advanced on the pinnacle of tame, as to
I disregard; and which all may vie, not in
opposition to,but in emulating each other
in efforts to advance the cause.
Each successive day brings forth new
champions, enlisted in the support and
heartily espousing Temperance; going
forth marfully, determined to battle with
the monster, not only on the outskirts
of the field, but determined to carry
destruction to the very citadel of his
camp. To all who throw the weight of
their influence into the scale, the friends
of Temperance are truly indebted ; but
to none *o much, as those individuals,
who front endowments of nature, aided
by a proper cultivation of intellect, are
eminently qualified properly to advance
and defend the principles for which they
contend; especially when they happen
to be, (and many such there arc,) one of
those whe from a too scrupulous observ
ance of the false etiquet of former times,
have been so far overcome by indulgence
as to bcon the verge ofdestruction, but who
have fortunately been reclaimed by the in
fluence abroad—and w ho after being con
vinced of the error of their course, have
been possessed of that moral courage and
firmness, so truly characteristic of the
true gentleman and evincing the very
soul ofhonor, as magnanimously to throw
themselves in the breach, inculcating in
the community, by precept as well as ex
ample, the virtuous tendencies of tem
perance, and denouncing the vices of an
opposite course.
The friends of Temperance can now
with confidence assume high grounds, in
the advancement of their principles; the
time has arrived when it is not necessary
to seek advocates of the cause, the be
nign influence it has exerted on the com
munity is too palpable to need demon- I
stration ; all see, and seeing can but ac- 1
knowledge it; and there are none who
will so far stem the current of public !
opinion as to oppose its progress. But :
notwithstanding those encouraging cir
cumstances, yet much more remains to
be done ; we have among us many high
minded, honorable citizens, with the good
of the cause at heart, who have as yet de
ferred joining in with us, openly, in the
espousal of Temperance, influenced from
honest, but (as we believe) mistaken
fears, as to the permanency of the re
form ; anticipating that like other ex-i
citements, this too would be evanescent,;
and pass away with the abatement of the
first ehulution of enthusiasm of its friends,
leaving the community to return again,
into more strongly confirmed habits of
intemperance.
To such of the friends of the cause,
fortunately, it may with truth now be
said, their fears are unfounded, that crisis
is past; the excitement has abated, and
now that ample opportunity for sober,cool
and dispassionate reflection on the sub
ject, has elapsed ; the still, steady, onward
progress of the reform, furnishes abundant
evidence of the deep-rooted hold it has
on in the affections of the people, for a
perseverence, a continued perseverence,
in advancing the cause of Temperance.
Therefore, I would hint, to those who
have heretofore been rather skeptical
and doubtful on the subject, that it is high
time they should now come out, and lend
us the weight of their influence ; remem
bering that they cannot much longer hold
neutral ground on the subject; as ere
long it may justly be charged upon those,
that arc not with us, that they are against
us.
And though it would be far from my
desire, in the least degree to blend the 1
subjects of Temperance and Politics ; vet
I would remind gentlemen high in the
confidence of their fellow citizens, of all
parties, that they too should have an eye
to the subject: for, from present indica
tions, public opinion will not long toler
ate any men in high places, unless they'
should be sound to the core on this point, 1
joined and identified with their constitu
ents in the promotion of the Temperance'
i reform. Ergo.
For the Washingtonian.
Messrs. Editors —The “smell of rum”,
has come down upon us from the neigh
boring hills. Yes, from that region
whence we usually get nothing hut re
freshing and healthful breezes, charged
with fragrant odours, have been brought
to us disgusting vapors loaded with the]
sickening stench of rum. Yes, when by
the sword of Temperance we had suc
ceeded in expelling the noxious enemy
from the city, there have been found
those, who, not having the health and
comfort of our citizens at heart, nor the
fear of the Washingtonian before their
eyes, have had the audacity to come!
among us with their bodies fuming with!
this proscribed smell. Oh ! shocking out-l
rage! Who can hear it ?
Justice and law demand the punish
ment of all who introduce nuisances!
among us; but as mercy should be the.
charactic attribute of our citizens, and;
as it is possible our proscription of this;
smell has not been published in the ele-;
vated regions whence this annoyance has 1
now come, I would, Messrs. Editors, pro
pose, before resorting to severe measures, !
that your papers announcing our wishes
on this subject, be put into the hands of
our friends for distribution in that quar
ter. It is useless to designate the per
sons to whom they should be given—the
nose will do this at ten yards distance.
In the same benevolent spirit, I would ,
also recommend, that visits from persons
whose approach is thus offensively ad
umbrated, be prohibited in future, unless
preceded by at least three days sobriety
and purifying ablutions.
This measure is commended to our'
adoption by the hope, that the occasional i
taste of the sweets of temperance, may; 1
result in the entire reformation of ouri
visiters; and all objections to# on their i
part, would give way at once, if they ,
would only notice how their acquaintance i
bear up to the windward of them now, i
when business or politeness compels mo-
mentary contiguity to their persons.
And finally, in excess of mercy, I would (
propose before total and lasting ostracism ;
from decent society, he resorted to, that, i
for the purpose of showing our extreme!
and unalterable repugnance to this hated
smell, no one shall, from this lime for- !
ward, be considered guilty of a breach of !
politeness, who refuses parlance with its i
conducters at less than fifteen paces.— 1
We must protect ourselves.
Am as. :
i
For the Washingtonian.
—1
In a government like ours, where all i
power is derived from the people, it be
comes a solemn enquiry how the perpe
tuity of our free institutions shall be best
secured.
In examining the changes that have ;
I taken place, in the political condition of 1
| past ages, we find, that whenever there
existed a general diffusion of intelligence
among the people, and a high moral ,
standard, there teas to he found the great
i cst amount of civil and religious liberty,
j The reason is obvious: the people under- 1
stand too well their own rights, to become
, fit instruments for Tyrrany and Despo
| tism.
If then, intelligence and virtue, are ab
i solutely necessary for the understanding
and maintaining of our rights, how ira
portant is it, in a Country like this, where
each man (irrespective of his intelligence
i or moral worth) wields the same amount ;
of political power, that the people should :
be intelligent and virtuous; that they
should understand the great questions
brought before them, and not become by
their ignorance, the dupes of designing
demagogues, who only seek power, and
care not by what means it is attained.
It is a cheering sight to the patriot, to
see the various plans that are now in op
eration for the mental and moral im. i
! provement of the rising generation; but
great as is the good that will result from
these plans, much can be accomplished bv
individual effort. It is not necessary that
a man should be familiar with the clas
jsics, or be the graduate of a college,
(although desirable.) to be intelligent.—
Let him determine that he will improve
his mind, and let him spend the hours that
he now spends idly, in reading books of
instruction, and he will soon be astonish
ed at the amount of knowledge he has
obtained, and at the increased clearness
and comprehensiveness of his views. Let
each man in this great Nation, pursue
this plan but for one year, and a change
will have been produced that will astonish
the most incredulous.
Among the private efforts for mental
improvement, is that of a little society in
our own city. A few* young gentlemen
associated for mutual encouragement in
writing and speaking, have gone on
quietly, but progressively, for about two
:yeats. They now desire to extend their
usefulness, and are making arrangements
'to have lectures delivered by competent
gentlemen, who have kindly consented to
do so, for the public benefit. Let the
citizens encourage this effort, and aid
the society by their countenance. There
are young gentlemen in that association
who will at no distant day, be an honor
|to their native State. Come then, friends
:of youth, encourage this enterprise, and
by your example lead other young men
to associate with them, and soon shall the
haunts ot vice that they now frequent be
deserted, and they be found in the more
honorable employment of preparing them
selves to become faithful sentinels on the
watch-tower of Freedom. G.
Fur the Washingtonian.
Messrs. Editors —Were the effects of
intemperance confined exclusively to
those who are its willing subjects, we
would have less cause to deprecate the
evil, for the miseries entailed on them
would be the legitimate reward of their
misdoings. Jlut as “man liveth not to
himself alone,” there arc others involved
in his fortunes w ho must ever share with
him in his joys and sorrow s, and if those
who are so frequently seduced from the
'paths of sobriety were to consider the rc
dation they sustain to others, they would
certainly prize their own privileges and
the welfare of others more, than to yit Id
themselves slaves to so hard a master.—
We frequently form inadequate concep
tions oi' the extent of the ravages of
intemperance, even when we see the
most abandoned of its subjects struggling
beneath its most severe inflictions, and
are ready to shed a tear of sympaty, and
exert our efforts to the utmost to rescue
them ; but could we always follow them
from the more public thoroughfares to the
retirement of the family circle, what
would be the feelings aroused while be
| holding the destitution of those who are
not only dependent on, but identified in
I feeling and interest with them. No
matter what the external circumstances
of a man may be, if all is right at home
he still has sources of pleasure that no
woes can embitter nor afflictions dero
gate. If the angry surge of mislortune
sweep the stores of wealth that years
have accumulated, and on which the
i heart delights to feast—if ambition in its
eager chase see the bright scenes that
fancy paints overspread with clouds
whose presaging shadows fling a death
like chill upon the spirit’s pride—if hope,
cheered by the promises that in the dis
tance smile, fade and leave no trace
amidst disaster’s gloom—and if friend
ship, unrequited, meet a stern repulse
from a heartless world, —then, even then,
when all else shall fail, the weary spirit
finds a quiet refuge from the ills of life
amidst the endearments that crowd about
its home.
It has always been a matter of surprise
to me, how a man can forfeit the digni
ty that belongs to him, and yield up the
independence of a man to the control of
so servile a passion.—But I am still more
astonished, to see him violate the most
sacred obligations that are incumbent on
him in life, not only in the want and ruin
he brings upon his family, but in the neg
ligence of her who often pines the mid
night hour away, marked only by the
loneliness of her desolation, while he is
spent amidst the scenes of revelry; when
she should be—
His glory and delight, the cherished one
Around whom his heart’s affections cluster—
-1 he fountain of every pleasant thought—
The sweet embodiment of all that’s dear;
Her smile the halo that begirts his joy,
And gilds his pathway thiough the’world of care
For she will linger round when all have gone,
And left him wreck’d,deserted and forlorn ;
And he should,in return.protect and shield
Her, as his life, his soul, his all, —
And about her, be willing here to spend
Ten thousand livesin ecstacy complete,
Delighted—charmed—and think the time spent loon
And notwithstanding this, there are ma
ny who still partake of that cup that