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THE WASHINGTONIAN:
AUGUSTA, FEBRUARY »*, 1844.
U'ashiuglon Total JbsUnrnet Fledge.
Wt, Ttkote name* are hereunto annexed, desirous
of farming 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 a* Gentlemen,
not to drink any
Spirltous or Malt Liquors, Wine or Cider.
EDITORIAL COMMITTEEJ ~
Rev. W. T. Brantlv, Dr. P. M. Robertaon
*• W,J.H»hd, Dr, D. Hook,
“ C. S. Dod, S. T Chapaun, Esq.
I Geo. F. Pierce, Jame* Harper, Esq.
Col. John Millehoe,
(dy* To Dim art Subscribers.—Post Masters are au
thorized by lsw to remit money to the publishers of
uewtpapert and periodicals, in payment of subscrip
tions. Subscribers to the Washingtonian cm therefore
psy for their papers without subjecting themselves or
the publisher to the expense of postage, by handing the
amonnt to the Post Master, with a request to remit it.
03“ In declining the communication
of “ J. M. R.” we tender him our thanks
for the effort he has made. The princi
pie faults of the piece are want of con
nection, and diffuseness. Wo would say
to R. try again, and seek the criticism of
some judicious friend.
OCT We are obliged to our nttentive
correspondent of Savnnnah, for the cheer
ing accounts he has given us of the pro
gress of the good cause. We hope that
Savannah, so long in the rear of her sister
cities in the State, will take that position
which she ought to hold. We would
suggest to cur correspondent the proprie
ty of introducing some temperance paper
to the notice of the people, byway of
confirming those, who have recently join
ed the ranks. We would feel indebted to I
him for an additional list to our paper.
• Celebration of the 22d. ,
This has been a very interesting day ,
to our citizens. At 9 o’clock, the cere- i
mony of presenting a banner by the ladies
of the lower ward, to the firemen of En
gine (M. M. Dye) No. 0, took place.
Miss Sarah Sibley acted as the represen- ,
tative of her fair associates, ami presented
the Standard with a chaste and beautiful
address. Dr. Campbell, on the part of•
the firemen, made quite a happy reply.
At 10 o’clock, a procession was formed ,
in front of the United States Hotel. Wc ,
missed the green uniforms of the Clinch j
Riflemen, and on enquiry, learned with <
regret, that the compahy was dissolved. '
The Horse and the Guards looked well.
The energetic firemen of the city made
a very fine appearance. Arrived at the
Church, after an appropriate prayer by
Rev. Mr. Dod, and some exquisite sing- .
ing by the Choir, the Farewell Address
of the father of his country, was well
read by W. Walton, Esq. S. T. Chap- J
man, Esq. then pronounced an Oration, (
excellent both for its matter and its chaste
and classic finish.
\
03r We understand that Mr. Haw- |
kins has been engaged by the State t
Temperance Society of South Carolina j
to lecture on Temperance for one year. [
Mr.H. is to receive the liberal remunera- t
tionof SIOOO. (
Evidence of Reformation.— The Sher- 1
iff of Charleston District reports, that *
there is not a prisoner at present confined 1
in the' Charleston Jail for a criminal of- '
fence. , * '
i
(KrTho Organ of the State Temper
ance Society of South Carolina, contains
tho proceedings of the Convention re
cently held m Charleston. The Minutes ,
are exceedingly interesting, and had we ,
room, we would give them place. Ad- j
dresses were prepared on the part of tha
Convention, to the importers and Whole- .
sale Venders of intoxicating liquors in the
State—to the Officers of tne Militia —to ,
Ministers of the Gospel—and to Con- (
gress, requesting the substitution of mo- l
ney instead of the spirit ration. Tiiey .
are able and eloquent documents. We (
think the following extract, a very happ\ ,
reply to those, who give as sufficient rea- j
sons, why they refuse to abandon the trat
iic, that others will engage in it if they do (
not, and that commerce wduld be injured. t
“ We are aware that others might take
ycur places, but those others would not
be you, and the moral weight of your
high respectability and deserved influence
would be all on our side. We know that
our produce is exchanged for these arti
cles, and non-importation may diminish
the value of our staples. But the best
and most valuable staples of a common
wealth are, men—virtuous, intelligent,
honest, sober, pious men, —and any ex
: changes which injuriously effect these
r must be disadvantageous. The misery
and degradation, and positive pecuniary
loss, of which these articles are the pro
lific seed, are but poorly compensated for
e by the highest prices for the most abun
| dant harvests. Crowned heads, as well
i as free republics, are beginning to count
■ the cost of intemperance ; and if the au
t tocrat of Russia has been willing, at the
solicitation of an American friend of tem
perance, to abolish an immense number
' of his stills, the emolument of which went
directly into the imperial coffers, we will
hot permit ourselves to suppose that the
highly intelligent and patriotic merchants
: of South Carolina, will turn a deaf ear to
■ a respectable body of their fellow citizens,
( who, engaged in a confessedly good, but
l arduous enterprize, solicit their co-opera
r tion, by the abandonment of the compar
[• atively small profit derived from the trade
. in these noxious stimulants.’’
1 The following memorial is from the
* pen of the Hon. John Belton O’Neal,
President of the Convention!
“ THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
• “To the Honorable the Senate and Mem
bers of the House of Representatives,
in Congress assembled :
“ The Memorial of the State Temper
ance Society of the State of South Caro
lina, in Convention, assembled at Char
leston, would respectfully state and shew
that the issuing of the Spirit Ration to
the crews of vessels in the United States
Service, is materially retarding the great
work now so happily uniting all ranks
and classes of society in its support. In
this place, the Washington Total Absti
nence Marine Society numbers at least
two thousand members. Sailors are now
no longer the inmates of tippling shops
and brothels on shore. They are sober
even on land—it is on the sea, when sail
ing under the stars and stripes of our own i
free and happy country, that they are ,
tempted to be drunkards. Every day, a
gill of Spirits is thrust upon the sailor—
and if it is not drunk, it would indeed be
a signal triumph of principle over temp
tation. Rarely is human nature strong i
enough to be so honored. The Ration ,
thus furnished, is weakening the strong (
arms and misguiding the clear heads,
which are every where to direct our Na- 1
tional vessels to safety, honor and glory. I
Justice calls aloud that it should cease, i
In its place let the value of it be paid in
money. It will thus secure sobriety in
Service, and remove anxiety from many i
a trembling heart, which beats in alarm,
as the reformed husband, brother, or fath- '
er leaves the shore, to serve his country i
“in the battle and in the breeze.” (
What ought to be done with Grog-sellers t ]
We were somewhat startled by a i
remark made to us by a friend in refer-
ence to the keepers of negro groggeries ; (
it was this, “they should be hung up by i
the neck, sir, if they did not abandon the
traffic instanter.” The reasons he gave (
for such a summary procedure, were,
that these rumsellers were the occasion
of the death of a very fine servant, and
would probably be the ruin of another
prime young fellow. There is no doubt <
that this owner of slave property, in com- *
mon with others, has just cause of com- 1
plaint against these pests of society, but <
the question arises, have we not law <
enough? We are disposed to believe*
that so far as mere legislation goes, we s
are sufficiently protected. The fault lies f
at the door of those, who do not put the *
laws into execution. In consequence I
of the remissness of the parties concern- 1
ed, the keepers of these shops have be*
come bold in their work of ruin. If the i
officers of the city would act in concert ;
with those whose servants have been cor* i
rupted and injured, some of these gentle- 1
men might be readily detected in the traf- ]
sic. Then make examples promptly— <
put the law in force to the uttermost pen- j
alty.
If this course be not pursued, our slaves ;
will have drink lurnished them, and we
must submit to the consequences. There i
is no odium attached to an informer *
against such characters. They deserve ;
to be placed under the ban of public exe- ,
cration, and no quarters should be shown
them.
We have not the data for making a
correct estimate of the losses sustained
oy masters. There are at least twenty i
shops opened for negroes in the city. It
1 is probable that each shop, every year,
occasions the deaths of two negroes, and
j that each one diminishes the value of two
. slaves one half. The annual loss would
i be—
-1 40 Negroes, worth S2OO per bead, killed, SB,OOO
•40 “ “ “ value diminished
, one half, ----- 4,000
Total, 12,000
’ This we believe to be a small estimate.
f We do not include the probable losses
- sustained by owners from thefts by slaves,
r to procure drink. These would make at
j least $2,000 more. This view of the
t matter gives us but an imperfect con
. ception of what is endured by masters.
1 We have not taken into the account the
• loss oflabor during the year—the work
r imperfectly performed—the doctors bills
| which are to be paid—the vexation am
; trials produced in consequence of the ha
s bits of servants. But we trust enough
J has been exhibited to convince our read
> ers of the propriety of at least agitating
1 the question, what ought to be done ?
To the Christian and philanthropist,
; other views will readily be suggested.
The negro should be saved, if possible,
. from premature death. He should be
> saved, if possible, from the doom which
awaits drunkards in the eternal world.
But in discussing the question, what
• should be done to Grog-sellers, we have
thus far confined ourselves to those, who
ruin our negroes. What ought to be
done to those who are ruining our Sons 1
Treqt them as bad men, who knowingly
engage in a vocation, which destroys
human life, and immortal souls. THIS
IS A BAD BUSINESS. Let us make
every rum-seller feel, that as such, he is a
being to be shunned, and hated. In fine,
let us deal with him as with one, who
has arrayed himself against the peace,
the order, and the happiness of Society.
The Rumsellers of Massachusetts.
The Temperance folks in the Bay State
are carrying the war into Africa. The
watchword is, “ No quarter to the enemy 1
until they surrender.” The people, says
the Dew Drop, exhibit “an inveterate 1
hatred to rum-selling,” and are determin
ed to put it down. The Editor gives us
a list of all the establishments in Taun- 1
ton, and the character of each establish- .
ment. We extract from the list the fol- (
lowing names, merely to show the way 1
the “ Down East” folks do things:
JUSTUS LANE.—Central Hotel.— !
Young men congregate here to drink and i
carouse; bad place; sells on the Sabbath, ]
SIMEON WILBAR.—Rum Hollow.
Terrible drunken, subterranean hole, un
der H. Fields; back entrance for Sunday
customers.
F. BROW.—West part of the town.
Promised, when fined last, not to sell 1
again ; broken his promise; his neigh- <
bors should look to him. |
S. B. ROBBlNS.—Bristol County ho- |
tel. Genteel Rum House; sells on the
Sabbath.
Would not a similar course be produc
, » l
tive of some good among us T
_ j
For the Washingtonian.
To Grog Sellers t I
Desirous of some kindly communica- i
tions with you, and being anxious to con- l
ciliate you by that species of address i
which justly belongs to you, I must be i
allowed to open the correspondence by l
enquiring what mode of salutation will i
do you this justice. In what language i
shall I approach you ? I must select <
among the following terms, and if you i
do not by return mail indicate which will i
be most agreeable, I shall choose that i
which I believe most just, to you.
If I address you with the high and ho- i
norable title of gentlemen, I apprehend i
you will consider me ironically insincere,
as this title properly belongs only to the i
worthy, the true, the useful; or, as ap
propriated by the world, to those raised i
above the vulgar, by birth, education, or i
profession —l dare not therefore give ;
you this cognomen, until requested to do
so as a matter of courtesy.
If I call you friends, you will considei
me as holding you up to public reproba
tion, since it is universally known, thai
you have affection for nothing but sordic
gain—that to attain this, you, without re
morse, tempt the children of your neigh
oors to dissipation and ruin—their serv
ants to robbery and death. Yesterday 1
saw a poor victim, lying dead in the road
and heard she came to her death through
; intemperance I Was it friendly to herj
, or her master, to rob her of life, and him
I of her value and services, for the seven
» pence made by selling her poison 1
I Shall l call you, fellow citizens ?
But this title conveys the impression of
* equality of duties, .as well as rights, and
} you totally disregard all the duties of good
. citizens. You violate the laws—even
J those short-sighted laws which authorize
■ you to sell grog. You increase the bur
-5 dens of society, and mar its harmony,
> beauty and virtue. If a public speaker
1 was to address a company of known ma
: rauders, in this respectful style, univer
’ sal disgust would be felt for him, as a
1 prostituter of language to the basest pur.
: poses. I ask you to decide, whether you
1 are fellow citizens to those you are doing
all in your power to plunder and ruin 1
Will you be called, Christian breth
ren ? But Christian brethren love one
1 another, and promote one anothers well
fare. You love no one I you promote no
> ones wellfare! Christians revere the
law of God—you trample it under foot!
. Christians carefully avoid what might
• injure their fellow men, —you pursue a
> business which you know before hand
■ will destroy them ! Christians obey the
1 laws of the country in which they live, —
you violate, and teach others to violate
them ! I feel assured that I shall not be
1 instructed to call you Christian brethren.
1 To my own mind, no address seems
so appropriate, just and inoffensive, as
that at the head of this first letter— Grog
Sellers ! This you are without doubt ;
and to this, it would seem to me, you can
make no objection—take no exceptions
whatever. If you do not object, I shall
be pleased; because, then I shall expect
you to “ consider what I say,” without
prejudice, or unkind feelings. You will
perceive too, with your acuteness of mind,
that it will narrow down the ground I
shall have to occupy in order to a perfect
understanding between you and myself;
for I shall now hpve only to qharacterize
a grog-seller to be fully understood by
you and the whole community, as a just
delineator of your whole class. The ef
fect of my labors will be to elevate you
exactly to that position which you ought
to occupy in tho minds and hearts of
your fellow men. Ah ! what gratitude 1 '
expect at your hands. But I am a modest
man—do not, I beseech you, overpower .
me with too loud and public an expres
sion of your grateful feelings. Spare i
me. In my next, you shall know your
selves, even as I know you.
Rf.wabder.
Savannah, Ffeb. 19th, 1844.
Messrs. Editors —Again I have to in
form you of the further progress of the (
cause of Temperance in our city. The 1
ball is still rolling onward, with an impe- 1
tus which defies the worst efforts of the i
followers of “ King Alcohol,” and should
it continue for a few weeks longer, it |
threatens to crush beneath it the whole j
army ofthat worst enemy to this country. ]
I thought the progress we were ma- i
king, (and of which I informed you in '
my last,) was very great; but it is no 1
thing compared with what we have done (
since, and the success we have met with. |
Since the date of my last, we have added i
to our pledge more than two hundred sig- '
natures, and on reference to the books, I 1
see that we now number over Four Hun- 1
dred and Thirty. This is encouraging ,
and unlooked for—as on the first of Jan- i
uary, we had only one hundred and thirty I
names on our pledge book. 1
The cause of this great progress is no- *
thing more nor less than the powerful lec
tures of Mr. Hawkins, who has been
with us now for a week, and we hope to j
keep him two or three weeks longer.
His first lecture was delivered on Mon- ,
day evening last. It appeared that all
classes of our community, from the total
abstinent, to the drunkard, were deter
mined to hear him; and at an early hour
the Church in which we met was so very
crowded, that a great many had to go
home again. At this meeting twenty
two signed the pledge.
I cannot forbear mentioning an inter- 1
.■sting incident which occurred at this I
meeting: When the pledge was present- 1
id, a worthy physician of our city walked !
ip to the Secretary’s table, with a poor,
unfortunate . victim of intemperance, j
whom he had induced to sign the pledge, i
MM——— i | mummmmmmammmrn.
■ The physician and this individual then
i left the church. The physician exerted
himself and procured for the poor man
some decent apparel, and the next morn
-1 ing he obtained work for him with one
Fof our merchants, and he is now doing
I very well, and determined to stick to the l
I pledge, let come what will,
i Mr. Hawkins delivered his second lec. I
: ture on Wednesday evening, in the Meth
. odist Church, and although more than
, double the size of the one the first lecture |
• was delivered in, was crowded tb over. ]
.flowing. Mr. Hawkins gave an account I
. of his distress during his intemperance, I
i also of the means used by his daughter f
. Hannah, for his reformation, and its sue. 1
i cess. At this meeting 120 signatures !
; were obtained.
He lectured again on Thursday. This I
. lecture was intended principally for the S
; seamen, but a great many citizens attend. I
ed, thirty-five signed the pledge, and I I
> believe nearly all of them were sailors. I
This, Messrs. Editors, is but a poor j
■ sketch of our proceedings, but were I to I
enter into a detail, it would be trespassing |
i too much on your valuable paper, I shall I
I therefore leave it for more able writers f
' th an myself. “As goes Old Chatham, so f |
■goes the State!” has been a saying k;
among political men for some time.— I
Now it strikes me that this political watch f
word would be a noble one for the moun- j
: tains to send back to the old county of ft
Chatham, in the glorious cause of Tern. $j
perance, and by their acts, follow the |
high example set them by her. Time 1
will show whether the example we have I
set will be followed up by the counties in H
the interior.
Mr. Hawkins lectures again to-night, l
and will also lecture during the week, I
you shall then hear from me again.
Old Oglethotpb.
wiles of Alcohol.
There is a thoroughness in the method
adopted by Alcohol of transacting busi
ness, which obviously accounts for the old
knave’s success. He never does things
by halves—never compromises his claims
—he must have the whole, if ho has nnv
thing. He is never satisfied with roli
binga man ofhis fortune—no matter how §
extensive or how limited it may be— h a
will strip him of his apparel with ns much
complacency as though it were justly his
own. Ho next proceeds to deface and
disfigure his person, take away his health, I
and breakdown his physical constitution.
One would think rapacity itself would be
satisfied with this j so it would——hut not
Alcohol. With more than blood-thirst
iness, the character, morals, and mind of
the victim are next assailed. One at
tribute after another, gives way, until a
“clean breach” is made over the entire
man. W’hen the best attributes of hu
man nature are smitten down, and “here j
lies ” engraved over every noble element
of manhood—then, and not till then, is
the work of Alcohol accomplished.— Or
gan.
Rngslan mode of Curing Drunkenness.
The following singular means ofeuring
habitual drunkenness is employed by a
Russian physician, Dr. Schreiber, of
Brzese-Litewski: It consists in confi
ning the drunkard in a room and furnish
ing him, at discretion, with brandy dilu
ted with two-thirds of water; as much
wine, beer, and coffee as he desires, but
continuing one third of brandy; all the
food—the bread, meat, Ac.—are steeped
in brandy and water. The poor wight is I
continually drunk and dort. On the I
fifth day of this regimen he has an ex
treme disgust for brandy; he earnestly
requests other diet, but his desires must
not be yielded to, until the poor wretch
no longer desires to eat or drink ; he is
then certainly cured of his penchant for
drunkenness. He acquires such a dis
gust for brandy that he is ready to vomit
at the sight of it.
Signs of the Times. —A friend informs
us that he has counted upwards of seven
hundred bills on rum shops to let, in the
city of New York, in less than one week;
one hundred and seventy of which tbs
fixtures were advertised for sale. Does
this look as though the temperance cause
was going down in that city ?— Ex. paper.
■ — . ,
The Freshet. —The Salem Free Press,
of the 3d inst. says : “ From every quar
ter we hear of disasters from the late
freshet. The planters on the rivers and
tributaries, have had their cotton fields
covered, and their cattle drowned by the
flood. Bridges have been swept away
to such an extent as to render travelling
on many important roads almost impos
sible. The driver es the. stage between
Montgomery and Tuscaloosa had a team
of excellent horses drowned the other day
in attempting to cross the Mulberry creek, I
near Maplesviße.