Augusta Washingtonian. (Augusta, Ga.) 1843-1845, March 15, 1845, Image 2

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THE ivashinhtonian. AUGUSTA, MARCH l«>th, 1845. 1 ~ COMMITTEE. - Rpy. W. T. RhavtlV, Dr. D. Hook, •« W.J. Haro, Jambs Harvbh,|Es<|. " C. S. Don, A. W. Noei., Esq. (V»- To Dht ist Sc»scri»es«. —Post Matter* are au thoslred by law to remit money to the publisher* of newtpaper* ami periodicals, in payment of *ubscrip tions. Subscribers lo tho Washingtonian can therefore pay for their paper* without subjecting themselves or the publisher to the expense of postage, by handing the amount to the Tost Master, with a request to remit it. Proceedings Os the late meeting of .the Total Absti nence Society in this city. A meeting of the Society was held at the City Hall room, according to previ ous notice, and although tho attendance was not very numerous, much interest in the present state and future opera tions of the society were manifested.— Interesting addresses were delivered by Dr. A. Means, Harris, J. 11. Dow, and Mr. Dod, and 5 additional signa tures to the pledge obtained. On motion of James Harper, Esq., Resolved, unanimously, That the la dies of Augusta, who have had ex perience in making arrangements for Fairs, to raise funds for benevolent ob jects, be respectfully requested to hold a fair for tho purpose of raising funds to free this society from debt, and afford the means of increasing its usefulness. Resolved further, That a committee of five be appointed by the President, to make the above resolution known to the ladies whose generous services are so licited, and aid them in making suitable preparations for the contemplated fair. The President then Appointed, JAMES HARPER, 'j VVM. HAINES, Jr., i WM. F. PEMBERTON, \ Com. J. VV. WHITLOCK, | Dr. L. D. FORD. J On motion the meeting ndjourned, to meet on Monday evening, 17th March next. Wm. HAINES, Jr., Sec. The Committee appointed by tho Pres ident of the Total Abstinence Society, to aid the ladies in their arrangements for the contemplated fair for the benefit of the Society, will please meet on Monday, 17th inst. at 5 o’clock, at tho store of Mr. Wm. Haines. By order of the Chairman. Mauulactorlcs la Augusta. We desiro to congratulate our follow citizens upon tho prospect of returning prosperity to our once flourishing Augus ta. We flatter ourself that we can per ceive the dawing of a new era, and that the spirit which was manifested by our citizens at the large and respectable meeting at the City Hall on Saturday night last, is but the precursor of events which will bring uncounted blessings to our population. We were extremely gratified with the proceedings of that meeting—not less with the energetic de termination manifested by those who have moved in tho matter, than with the very equitable, and to our thinking, only feasible plan by which they propose to accomplish the desired object—the re suscitation of our city. It is not our intention to enter into an enumeration of the advantages which must inevitably result from tho success ful establishment of manufactories in our midst. We question if there is an intelligent citizen in our corporate limits who doubts of those advantages, in a greater or less degree. It is too plain a principle of economy, that, without indus try there can be no prosperity. But many have doubted, —and so did we, until very recently,—that our citizens had suffi cient energy of character to open up? new channels for the employment of their capital and industry. We had heard them talk before, and though the city was falling into ruins, and property daily de preciating in value, we were apprehen sive that the recent movement would end in smoke—that from theorising they would get to caveling about ways and mean?; and exhaust their- energies in dis- cussing how, and where, and when the j thing should be done. But thanks to the!. I public spirited men who have taken the j | load in this matter—we have been disap- < pointed for once, and measures have^ ; been adopted which we doubt not will 1 ' secure the consummation of the contem plated enterprise. We are not the less ‘gratified by the fact that there seems to exist an uncommon unanimity of sen \ timent among the people on the subject.; : All look to the great enterprise as the means by which new life is to be infused j among all classes of our citizens— -all seem desirous at least of seeinrj it tested. Wc sincerely hope that it may be found to answer the most sanguine expectations of its projectors, and that the day is not j far distant when the hum of industry j shall awaken our citizens into new life, and when honest labor, economy and temperance, will be found, hand in hand, dispensing their rich blessings upon all. OCT We feel that we could not better ; appropriate our editorial space this week, than in giving place to the following re marks of the editor of the Temperance | Standard, on “the Universality and j Grandeur of Temperance.” We most j willing adopt the sentiments so eloquent ly expressed. “In looking over our exchanges,” says the writer, “ we find much to encourage us in our labors, from the fact that near -1 ly every State in the Union is actively engaged in the promotion of the cause of total abstinence. Look which way we will, North, East, South or West, wo be hold the triumphs of temperance. And, what is highly pleasing to every sincere • friend of our enterprise, is the favor with which rpen, high in office—Judges, Gov ernors, and other Magistrates ; private in dividuals, of great influence and acknowl edged talents—regard this majestic and most glorious moral movement, so full of promise, so exuberant in blessing to our race. There are other causes, worthy the attention of universal man; there are other moral movements, full of phi lanthropy and benevolence, nnd in which i it is honorable and Christian to engage; but we challenge the world to produce another enterprise (always excepting j Christianity itself) that presents half the claims upon our charity, our benevolence, our patriotism, our religious sympathies and our self denying labors, as that of temperance. It is, emphatically, the cause of causes. Emancipate the hu man body and the human soul from its tyrannical and debasing power, and man rises to the dignity of his nature—stands forth redeemed, as it were, from every low and grovelling propensity—talks of time, eternity, God, and the soul—crush es beneath his heel the Serpent’s head—. fixes his eye upon the sun, and lifts his head ,above the stars. “Do you doubt it! Look at John Haw kins, that once miserable inebriate, im. bruted and demoniac, now the very Apos tle of Temperance ; going from city to city, from State to State, proclaiming liberty to the captive and the opening of prisons to those that are bound, making the insane inebriate sing the song of re demption, and causing his heart-broken wife and children to shout: Allelujah, Allelujah! for the Lord God Omnipotent i reigneth. “Look at John B. Gough, a mere strip ling, who, a few years since, was a house less, homeless man, with but one friend in the wide universe, and she a feeble ; sister. Without character ; without ' God ; without hope ; his mother, dead ; ( tho wife of his bosom, gone to her home j in heaven, with a bruised and bro ken heart; existence, without a single ! charm to him! Look at this John B. i Gough, standing up in our Hails of Leg- 1 islation; aye, ir. the very Capitol of the 1 nation, before Representatives and Sena- : tors, melting their very heart with his j thrilling eloquence! See this young I man, redeemed from the deep degrada- 1 tion into which he had fallen, leaving ' his fetters behind him, go forward in'the cause of human redemption, lifting up | tho dark pall that shrouds the drunkard’s i hopes; and, taking him by the hand, J point him to the bright and glorious pros- ' pects that will yet greet his vision! See ' him paint, with an angel’s hand, the aw- ! ful situation of the confirm/^ till he has carried you into the very midst of the “ Inferno” of Dante, and then, of a sudden, sketch such a glowing picture of the happiness of the reformed man, that you seem to be carried up to the I Heaven of Heavens, so graphically des cribed by St. John in Apocalyptic vision! “Look at these two specimens of re | kerned humanity, “ O ye of little faith !” in temperance, and if you do not feel that there is a moral grandeur in the temperance reformation, we will put vou down for bigots or fools. The man who | can upon the glorious results that follow from our efforts, and not exclaim, in wonder and amazement, “ What hath God wrought!” should make his home with the bears of the Arctic regions, amid eternal ice. e rejoice to know that this cause has j so few opponents; that it is, almost eve ry where, in favor with the people; and that so many of our fellow countrymen have pledged themselves to sustain it.— The Angel of Reform has spread her wings, all radiant with feathers of gold, over more than three quarters of the groanftig globe. In our own country, al most ail our state and national holidays I are celebrated upon temperance princi ples; and, as in this case, “the voice of the people is the voice of God,” wc an ticipate the day when but few drunkards shall be found within her borders, and | when there shall be inscribed upon every i banner that floats upon the breeze the motto that we have placed upon our own: ‘Health, Peace and Plenty !’” The Tempeiauce Reformation. The temperance reformation is grad | ually but steadily, and we trust irresisti bly, extending its influence into every class of society, and every pursuit and relation in life. And well it may, for no practice or custom can be mentioned which had ever gained such universal | prevalence in a civilized community, pro ducing so much evil without any counter vailing good, as the use of intoxicating drinks. Our fervent prayer is, that the friends of this cause may never cease their efforts until the only remedy and the only preventive, total abstinence from all that can xnloxxc ciic, oholl t>o o. xxtuvcr/ttil motto. '1 his great reformation differs from all others that have ever been under taken by human instrumentality alone, in several particulars. It addresses man as a moral and intellectual, as well as a social and physical being. It has a bear ing both on his temporal and eternal in terests. All other great attempts at re formation have had some one specific ; object in view, and have been based upon | such principles, or have united such ele ments as have entirely precluded their universal adoption. Hut this addresses itself equally to the king on his throne and the beggar in his rags—to all denom inations in religion, and to men of no re ligion—to all parties in politics—to the patriot, to the political economist, to men in every profession—to the poor and to the rich—to the farmer, the planter, the merchant, the mechanic and the laborer —to parents and children—to husbands and wives—and in short, to man in all conditions, circumstances and relations, it moreover offers no compromise. It proposes the entire abandonment of a habit once almost universal, and the sub stitution of one directly opposite, under a full and unequivocal assurance that nothing but good shall result from the change. The unmixed, uncompensated evils re sulting from the use of alcohol, have been spread before the public, supported by such an accumulation of evidence as would appear to be irresistible—evidence sufficient, it would seem, to arouse the world, and to enlist every man who loves his own or his neighbor’s body or soul, in a war even of extermination against so i deadly a foe to the human race. This effect, however, has not been produced— and although victory after victory has been achieved, still the enemy is strong, and marshals among his hosts many of the rich, the honorable, the talented, the respectable, and alas, the pious of the land—indeed, these alone sustain him these form his van guard—these are his shield and his only efficient protectors. As for the drunkards! they are power less. Their minds and bodies enfeebled, their property is mostly wasted—they are captives to Alcohol, not his defenders —many of them struggle to escape from his chains, but alas! they are unable, for which way soever they turn, they are headed and hemmed in by officers and soldiers in the army of Alcohol, under the guise of respectable temperate drinkers and respectable dealers, who, by their ex ample, solicitations and temptations, drive the hapless victim back to heavier chains and deeper degradation. But, notwithstanding all this, we " ■ i l *" „ , ! would say to the friends of temperance, take courage ! New allies will soon ap pear—fresh victories will be achieved—a wide and promising field for future oper ations will be opened—you have only to persevere, and by the help of God, your | success will be complete. And whilst we ■ encourage our friends, we would also \ : present to t those who are indifferent or' neutral, and to those who still oppose us.! I the fruits of our acquisitions, affording, 1 as they do, the highest and strongest pos-1 | sible evidence of the goodness of our cause, and the truth of our principles— j and we would earnestly, but kindly and j affectionately, entreat them to unite with us, and thus save themselves and those; perishing around them.— S. C. Temp. I Advocate. .Behold the Change. In the course of his remarks, at the Legislative Temperance meeting, Gov ernor Briggs stated that the Hon. Mr. Winthrop of this city had spoken to him of the wonderful change that had taken place in the habits of the people, as manifested on holidays and occasions of large, assemblages of our citizens.— ' When I was a hoy, said he, we used to go down upon the common, at the close of election day, and the 4th of July, to see the police carry off to the watch house, the quarrelsome and noisy drunk ards who were disturbing the peace by their revelries. But, now, there are no such scenes to be witnessed; men, if they get drunk, do so in secret. They | are ashamed to he seen in such a con | dition by the public eye. I have myself, continued his excellency, seen in this city, within tho past year, three or four large assemblies of people, numbering ; from thirty to seventy five thousand, and I I have not seen one drunken man among them all. YV hat will the revilers of the temperance cause say to this? That ; there is as much drunkenness now, as i there was before the friends of temper ance commenced their operations? They : may say so if they please, but who will believe them ?— Temp. Standard. Keeping it up. “ Well, Charles, I have called to see if we are going to the party to-night.” “Os course; why should not we, Wil liam ?” “ Why you know we have both taken the pledge.” “ And mean to keep it. What then?” “Why you Know whom wc arc to ; meet; all of them choice spirits; who ' never spare the glass; and they will ex j pect us to do as the rest.” “We have quite ns much right to ex ! pect them to follow our example. But let us clearly understand each other. Did you sign the pledge merely because I signed it i or was it from conviction ? Have you the smallest misgiving that you did any thing wrong or foolish in sign ing it?” “ Why, perhaps I would never have thought of signing it, if you had not talked to me about it; hut I certainly did it with a full conviction 6f acting well and wisely. It was merely rerouncin <r a paltry animal gratification, injurious to health, character and property. For my part, I never indulged in a night of ‘keep ing it up,’ as they call it, without re penting it in many a day of headache, nausea, and lassitude.” “Then what inducement on earth can make you break the pledge ? ’ “ YY hy you know they will so torment and ridicule us.” “ Merely lor not making ourselves ob jects of torment and ridicule? Come, j you might give them good occasion for | laughter by breaking the pledge, but not by keeping it.” ° “ YY ell, then, it is settled that we meet at the party this evening.” The friends accordingly met at the party. I hey had not long been seated at the table, when the wine began to cir- 1 culate. Jhe health of a distinguished character was proposed, and received with deafening cheers. Charles drank it with as much enthusiasm as the rest, but to the universal astonishment, in a glass ot water. In the excitement of the moment it had escaped notice that I YY’illiam's glass remained untasted. Af ter the murmur had somewhat subsided. | the person who had proposed the health, j inquired if any slight was intended to the man he had mentioned. “None in the leas#,” replied Charles. “I yield to no one in my admiration of j that eminent man. It seems to be vour* opinion that drinking his health is doing him a benefit of some kind. I may have my doubts on the subject, as I could nev er perceive that the state of my health was materially benefitted when, as has often happened, you paid me a similar compliment. But if any honor is con veyed hy this mystic ceremony, I per fectly agree with you that you have crowned a man worthy of every honor. Only I reserve to myself the privilege of drinking his health in a healthy article.” Uhen the host fired up in praise of his wine, which, as far as price could be a j criterion, he had every reason to pro' nounce unsurpassed. “ B may be as good wine as was ever tasted, from the day that Noah made himself an object of derision and com passion to his own children. But I have arrived at the conviction that no wine whatever is healthy to body or mind ; j and I have renounced it forever!” I Why you don t mean to say vou ; have joined the teetotalers >” i “But Ido.” “You a teetotaler ?■ —for shame! I thought you were more of a man.” •• As I was on my way here, I saw a | group of negroes and match-bovs, luxu riating in gin and tobacco. These are the men you hold up to my example ?” Corne, Charles, don’t put a slight on us. Let us see we are all friends; so piedge us m a friendly glass, that’s a good fellow.” , “ The ambition to be called ‘good fel low has made many a bad man. Have you considered what you ask of me ? Do you know I have signed the pledge?” j “Oh a fig for the pledge! One glass ; ci^ n no harm. Come, pledge us ;we wish it as a favor.” Hell, perhaps you are going the right way to work, for I too have a favor to ask. \V ilson, will you step aside with me a moment? This Wilson was one of the forty thousand “greatest poets of America.” I o do him justice, his verses always e \inced good taste and a correct ear, though wanting in fire and originality; and he enjoyed considerable magazine reputation, ot which be was at least as proud as he ought to be. “ My dear \\ ilson,” said Charles in his most insinuating tone,” “youcan’t think how much it is in your power to oblige me. There is a particular friendof mine | vvll ° has written some beautiful verses which he has sent round to all the pe riodicals in succession, but not a single editor would insert them. Os course this must be entirely owing; to the un merited obscurity of‘his name. What I l have to ask is, that you will effect their publication by lending them tffH&hc tion ot your own celebrated name as the author. \ou will, I arn sure, make no difficulty when you have rend them.” W ilson cast a rapid glance over the paper handed him, and flung it frofo him. “ hat madness possesses you to pro pose such a thing to me, or to' think that I would disgrace my name by owning such a miserable doggrel! The metre is lame, t-he rbyipe is faulty, the grammar incorrect; and what there is of ideas, taken from an old song of Moore’s !” “ Y°u will not oblige me then ?” “ See you hanged first!” “ VI ell, we will say no more about it at present. I wish to speak with Jones.” “ f,is request to Jones was for the loan .of fiftydolllars to a poor man, who, he added, was not likely ever to he ablet to ; repay if. The answer was, /' “Strike me dumb! but I*wonder at your assurance!” Charles then entering to the fable, iaid aloud : “I have asked orie to oblige me at the expense of his priie, and of another to do me a favor at thc*expense of his pocket; and they have been ama zed and indignant at my effrontery. What then must I think of them when they ask me to oblige them at the ex pense of my conscience and my honor ? Assuredly this is a favor I shall not grant. But there is a favor I will ask of you all ; not for myself, but for yourselves. It is this—that you will do as I have d6ne; that you will remove from our meetings the only thing that mars their enjoyment, by inflaming the blood and angry pas sions, in short, that you will sign the pledge I have signed, and have brought with me for the purpose.” Here there was a general roar of 1 laughter. “ This is the coolest thing yet,” said one. “ How do you expect to persuade us to sign away our liberty ?” “ By showing the worth of the liberty of making yourselves slaves to intem perance. All I ask is to be heard.” “Well, fire away; we are not afraid you can convince us.” But they were mistaken. Charles xvas a man of no ordinary abilities, and when talent is inspired by truth, it is irresisti ble. The result was that after listening for an hour so his impressive eloquence, they cheerfully affixed their names to the pledge; and at his suggestion, organized themselves into a temperance society. Their meetings still continue for the pur pose of keeping it vp ; and are a great deal pleasanter than when they used to be disturbed by the follies of intemper ance. Abolition Charity. We have just had described to us the condition of a negro family of London Co., within a few' miles of this place. It is composed of father and mother, and eight children. They live in a hut made of a few boards loosely put together and shiftlessly covered with hemlock boughs, w’ith one side open like ashed. There