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THE WASIIIMiTOMAN.
AUGUSTA, APRIIj 19, IHCS.
ediTorial COMMITTEE.
Rev. IV. T. Brantly, Dr. D. Hook,
“ W. J. Hard, JiMES Habpkr, Esq,
“ C. S. Pod, A. W. .Noei., Esq.
Oft- To Dhtast Sr»«cßißEP.s. —Post Masters are au
Ihoti/ed by law to remit money to the publishers o
newspapers and periodicals, in payment of suhserip.
tions. Subscribers to the Washin«lnnian can thereforo
pay for their papers without subjecting theniselves pr
the publisher to the expense of postage, by handing the
•mount to the Post Master, with a request to remit it.
To our C'orrsepondent.
“ Charcoal Sketch No.” 3, has been
received. We must decline publishing
the sketch because the author says that
“it is founded on an anecdote of the
same name going the rounds of the pa
pers and with which the author has made
perfectly free.” Perhaps rather too free
—enough said.
“ The Gambler's Victim ” is too long
for our paper. We consider it only
readable—though we disapprove of the
moral. None should act dishonorably
for their own benefit, much less that ol
others.
“Oh ! mourn not. for the Dead." —
We have to consider upon this, as we
cannot well help it; unless we believed
with the author that
11 Their homes are high above,
W here angels they forever sing”
But this we do not happen to believe, for
eomo we know go, or ought to go, in
quite a different direction.
The Fair.
Our old friend, and faithful champion
in the cause of Temperance, is out to-day
in our paper. Wo hope “ Observer ,”
will be read by,all, and the matter treat
ed upon carefully considered by those
who feel with us any interest in our good
cause.
g=:ar» ,i :r:Tr, at.:? 1
We are indebted to Messrs. J. W. &
W. S. Jones, for the back numbers of
Vol. 111. of the “Southern Cultivator.”
Wo cannot omit any proper occasion to
pass without urging the patronage of a
work like the above, tending so directly
to the advancement of an enterprising
spirit, in developing the agricultural re
sources of tho South, and thereby ad
ding to our prosperity as a people. Geor
gia, especially, is rather in the rear of
some of her sisters of the South in her
agricultural enterprise, and it would seem
high time that she had shaken off her
apathy about a matter, upon which is
based almost her very existence. When
will agriculturists wake up to their true
interests ? If ever, now must be the time.
The low price too at which this valua
ble work is furnished to subscribers—its
adaptation to the ends in view, and the
interest we all must feel upon a sub
ject so important as this, ought to be a
certain guarantee, not only for its entire
success, but for a patronage to an extent
that would warrant the enterprising pub
lishers in carrying out any scheme for the
encouragement of the agricultural inter
ests of the South. In the April No., we
see that Vols. I. and 11., handsomely
bound, are offered to any one furnishing
ten new subscribers to the work, and
paying at the time, ten dollars.
Temperance Meeting oa Thursday night,
next.
Our readers will not forget our invi
tation and earnest appeal to attend the
meeting of the Temperance Society at
the City Hall. It is scarcely necessary
to repeat any thing before said, but we
cannot let the occasion pass o(T again I
without urging a general attendance both
of the members, male and female, as
well as tho citizens generally. Without
the hearty co-operation of both we can
do but little; with it much good must be
done, and this good must more or less be
felt by every member of the community.
Wives should by the gentlest means in
duce their husbands to go, who are yet
unsafe from the fascinations of the punch
bowl. Mothers should induce their sons
to go—sisters should persuade their bro
thers, by those touching appeals so pecu-
liarly their own, to stay their course and
unite their energies and souls in so good
| a cause, and with such philanthropic ends
i .
j in view.
It would seem that to one whose heart
was warmed up with the contemplation j
t that he could do his fellow creatures,
“some service”—some good, and that !
nothing was wanting but the will to do
it-that the only question would be to such
a one, show me the means and it shall be I
done. It is truly strange, passing strange
that any should hesitate or halt in so
good a work. But poor human nature
is the same now as it has ever been.
It must be so to the end of time. We,
therefore can only hope that self-interest
—duty—the happiness of ourselves and
those we love best—and many other con
siderations will move some in a cause
sustained by a love lor our kind, and the
desire for the happiness and security of
all.
We have already said that those who
may go to the meeting, no doubt, will be
agreeably entertained for the evening as
several speeches will be made by some of]
the young men of our city, some of
whom, have recently become interested
in propagating this good cause. Come
then and hear, and be convinced that
you ought to unite with us, —-join our
glorious band, and if you are determin
ed to do “ the State some service,” buckle
on your harness for the fight, and like
a tiue soldier never sheathe your sword
until the last enemy around the citadel
of peace shall have fallen. The world
was not made for Cmsar, nor man for
the ravages of intemperance.
Ihespean Coips.
We have been informed that several
of our citizens have determined to form
themselves into a Thespenn Corps.—
The object principally in view, as we un
derstand, is self-improvement and the
gratification of our citizens who visit
such exhibitions. The funds of the
corps raised in this way it is said will be
appropriated, after all expenses paid, to
some humane object. The corps is al
ready making every arrangement for a
debut.
We have a word or two to say upon
this subject. If the gentlemen who
compose this corps were men of large
capital and were inclined to erect an in
slitution for the improvement of their
minds and the benefit of the community
in which they live, a plan might be sug
gested for this purpose, certainly having
a decided preference over the ooe con
templated. But unfortunately this is
not the case nnd resort is had to one of
the few means in which any interest can
he excited to effect the object contem
plated. To discourage such an institu
tion for the improvement of the mind,
we do not feel ourselves called upon to
do, because it may not comport with the
views or fancies of others, or because
others may think that no good can come
from it. We think otherwise and unless
we have been deceived, every assurance
can be given that this corps lias pride
and self-respect enough to submit to the
rules which they contemplate establish
ing for the harmony, peace, good or
der and moral bearing of character in
the members. Under these restraints,
if these are such, and the assurances that
the ends in view are praiseworthy, it can
scarcely be doubted that our citizens will
prefer to encourage a corps of amateur
performers to those who only visit us for
money’s sake and take what little
they make away with them. That the
gentlemen composing this corps might
spend their evenings much more unprof
itably than under the plan proposed is
very true; that they had better carry
out their views and do the good they con
template than do worse is equally true;
and we shall for our part rather encour
age any thing of this kind for the pur
poses stated, than by any discourage
ment drive those who seek intellectual
excitement to the gratification of the
sensual appetites.
Cock Fighting.
There are persons, who neither have a
decent respect for themselves, nor for
the feelings, tastes, habits and customs
of the community in which they live.—
Such persons however ahvavs claim to
lie respectable, and feci gre ntlv mortified
if their conduct is censured, though in !
violation of every law of good morals 1
and good citizenship. Such persons, we
presume, can scarcely find any willing to
yield them all, while they are the great
est tresspassers upon the claims of others, j
These hints are due to those persons
of Hamburg and this city, who were en
gaged last Sabbath day, fighting a main
of cocks at the Lafayette Course. —
If these persons value the respect of our
citizens whose respect and consideration
are worth anything, they should abstain
from this barbarous practice, especially
on the Sabbath day. We hope such
another desecration of the day will not
soon occur again.
Our readers, many of them, may re
member an extract published a short
time since in our paper from the “ Lowell
Offering ,” headed “ The Wasted l low
ers.” In the Savannah Georgian, we
find the extract rendered into the sweet,
est poesy by one of Georgia’s gifted
sons, Judge Charlton, of Savannah.
“Bring back my Flowers.”
A child sat by a limpid stream,
And gazed upon the tide neneath,
Upon her cheek was joy’s bright beam,
And on her tirow, a blooming wreath;
Her lap was filled with blushing flowers,
And as the elear brook babbled by,
She scattered down the rosy showers,
With many a wild and joyous cry,
And laughed lo see the mingling tide,
Upon its onward progress glide.
And time flew on—and flower by flower
Was cast upon the sunny stream,
But when the shades of eve did low’r,
She wokp up from her blissful dream :
“ Bring back my flowers,” she wildly cried,
“ Bring back my flowers I flung to thee
But echo’s voice alone replied,
As danced the streamlet down the lea :
Arid s ill amid night’s gloomy hours,
In vain she cued—“ Bring back my flowers.”
Oh, maiden! who on time’s swift stream,
Dost gaily see thy moments flee,
In this poor child's delusive dream,
An emblem thou may st find of thee!
Each moment is a perfumed rose,
Into thy hand by mercy given,
That thou its fragrance might dispose,
And let its incense rise to Heaven ;
Else when death’s shadow o’er thee lowprs!
Thy heart will wail—“ bring back my flow
ers !
The Drunkard-Maker.
The Saturday American and Temper
ance Advocate, of April 12th, contains a
sermon on the subject of Temperance,
delivered in Philadelphia, by Rev. Wm.
Ramsay, on “The character and doom {
of the Drunkard-maker.” “By a drunk |
ard,” says the reverend gentleman, “1
mean one who is given to such an use of
intoxicating liquors as to become habitu
ally ox frequently drunk. By a drunk
ard-maker, I understand, a man whose
business it is to sell to, or give to men
spirituous liquors, whereby they do be
come habitually or frequently drunk.”
The following reasons were then as
signed and argued out, “ why the drunk
ard-maker shall find no mercy from an
offended God.”
“ Ist. In his occupation he is of no use
to society. 2d. Because he is society's
greatest scourge. 3d. His works are the
works of unrighteousness. 4th. Because
he tratiles for money in the souls and bo
dies of men. sth. Because he is ‘an
oppressor of the poor.' 6th. Because he
shuts up the kingdom of Heaven against
men.”
These reasons are true, and should
cause those engaged in this unrighteous
business, to reflect seriously on the doom
that awaits them. The hum and bustle
of life may for a time drown such reflec
tions, or chase them from the conscience
of the Rum-sellers, but there is a time,
when the conscience, like the ghost of
Banquo, will not down, but having power
I to control, must scathe the heart of all
! thus engaged. We know this to be true,
for many are the cases in which drunk- J
ard makers have come forward, acknow-;
lodged their error, and then set about, if
1 possible, to repair the injury they have
already done. It is only necessary to
allow the conscience and reason fair play
and no further argument would be neces
sary, to see these men abandoning daily
a business now so common, yet so destruc
tive, so ruinous to society, and last,
though ofinfinite importance,thedestruc
lion of their own soul and those of their
victims. These are considerations of a
nature far too serious to sit easy on the
conscience of any good citizen, or any j
truly honest man.
Vice deforms the most amiable per- |
sons. We should check every vicious
tendency, and then set about correcting
and amending our conduct as becomes 1
rational creatures. We should ever
bear in mind that all the virtues should
be sedult usly cultivated inasmuch as it
is within our power to practice them.—
There have been Heathens who have!
taught us this truth, and our character
as Christians would be merely nominal
to deem this impracticable. If we look j
into the history of past times, to those
times when man was left to guide iiis
life, fix his morals and cultivate all the
virtues w ithout the lights of Christianity,
how much more culpable are we in fall
ing so far short of these ever living ex
amples in the lives of some distinguish
ed Heathens, who have convinced us
that all the virtues are practicable.
We find Scipio, a heathen bravely re
sisting a most powerful temptation, to
which, if he had yielded, he would have
been acting according to the custom of
his time. True to virtue, lie yielded not
to vice.
We find a Phocion, when about to
sutler death unjustly through the persecu
tion of his enemies, charged his son w ith
his dying breath that he should show no
resentment against the persecutors of
his father. The Christian doctrine of
forgivness is forcibly taught us iu the
life of this heathen.
Rather than falsify his word to his en
emies, and disregarding the dangers of
adhering to it, from those in w hose pow-1
er he was, Attilius Regulus submitted i
himself to tortures and death. Another
instance of indomitable virtue in a hea
then.
Epictetus though stink in deepest mis- j
ery and a slave too, subdued his mind to j
the dispensations of Providence, and vin
dicated its decrees, and its disposal of
himself. A bright example to us who .
are always too ready to murmur when
any little afflictions oppress us.
These are a few of the conspicuous les
sons taught us by the lives of heathens,
unenlightened by Christianity. It would
perhaps he true to state that these men
were truly virtuous because they had no .
prospect of gaining more happiness by i
virtue than by vice. Not so with us.— !
Even under all the assurances wc have j
we sometimes deceive ourselves. We
should remember that living at random
as it were to a ripe old age and then re
tiring from the world and giving up a!
few last years of our lives, when there
is scarcely any power to do evil, to pray
er and repentance is not such a prepara
tion for death as Christians should he sat
isfied with. We should begin in early
life to cultivate all the substancial virtues
when wc yet have the capacity to apply
them to our own, and the good of our j
fellow creatures.
For the Washingtonian.
Messrs. Editors, —There is one ar
gument in favor of the contemplated
“Temperance Fair,” which I think de
serves respectful consideration. It is j
this : Fairs excite general attention, and
that class of our people, for whose ben
efit temperance societies exist, and tem
perance labors are performed, will thus
be apprised of the profound interest felt
in the community to induce them to fore
go their destructive habits. Perhaps
nothing is so well calculated to arrest
the steps of those who are doing wrong, j
as the affectionate, earnest solicitude of;
their neighbors and friends. To see the j
whole population of a city, and especial
ly the ladies, giving themseives trouble
and arduous labors, to sustain the cause
of moral reform, will touch the hardest
J heart. To see those who are always
| bravest, firmest, best, anxiously engaged
1 to save the young from the thraldom and
and ruin of intemperance, will cause
even the slave of rum to pause. What!
he will say, are those who were “ last at
the cross and first at the sepulchre,” re
ally anxious for my welfare, and shall 1
pain them by treating their generous ef
forts with contempt? forbid it manliness!
forbid it, every noble principle in the hu
man heart!
This reflection has reconciled me to
the proposed fair, and if you think it de
serving of attention, you may publish
this letter. Let the whole of Augusta
show that they move together in this
great matter, and I think our sons will
be saved from this terrible, shameful,
disgraceful, unmanly vice—our citizens
will be brought to see the sin, the awful
iniquity, of the traffic in intoxicating li
quors, for the purpose of gain at the
hazard of ruin to all around them.
Obsf.rvf.r.
We copy the following letter from the
Texas National Register of March 22d,
to show that the people of Brazoria are
rather ahead of us in some things
Speaking of the election, says the wri
ter, “ There vas no visiting of grog-shops
either before or after the election. The
inspiration of Alcohol was not sought to
guide the voters to a correct decision.”
There is a Temperance Society there.
Brazoria, March 8, 1845.
Sir—Since I last wrote, the new elec
tion for our District Clerk occurred—
there having previously been a tie be
tween the candidates, Messrs. P. J. Fisk
and J. C. Wilson—the latter, editor of
the Planter. The present election re
sulted in favor of Mr. Wilson. Both the
candidates are highly respectable, and
many of the voters (myself among the
number,) had the warmest feelings of
friendship for each of the gentlemen.—
Their bearing toward each other during
the w Wdcrof the electioneering campaign
was or a highly honorable character.
It was remarkable that at this precinct,
there was only one vote difference be
tween the candidates in these two elec
tions—there being also just one vote
more given in the last than in the first
election. The result shows great firm
ness in the voters. On the the day of
the election, but little effort was made
to change the vote of any man. It be
ing a busy time with the planters, the
voters were not at the polls until near
twelve o’clock. Each man came for
ward openly and independently, deposit
ed his ticket, and retired. There was
no visiting of grogshops cither before or
after the election. The inspiration of
alcohol was not sought to guide the vo
ters to a correct decision. After the
dose of the polls, every man returned to
his home, doubtless with a conscious be
lief that he had attempted to “do the
state some service.” Upon the whole,
the manner in which the election was
conducted, was a credit to both the
candidates and to the people of Brazoria
county. The competitors were both
temperance men—of course treating w as
out of the question. Long may we w it
ness the order, decorum and propriety
w hich marked the conduct of all inter
ested in this election throughout the
whole of the campaign.
The clerk elect, is said to be well qual
ified for the office. lie is an aspiring
young gentleman, with fair talents.
The weather continues uncommonly
fine, and Spring has fairly set in upon
us much earlier than is usual even for
the southern portion of Texas. All na
ture is rejoicing under the the vivifying
influence of tier balmy breezes. Now
is the time for lovers to woo their dul
i .
ctneas.
Our farmers have taken advantage of
the favorable state of the weather, and
are very forward in their planting opera,
tions; several of them having entirely
finished planting both corn and cotton.
The crop of this country will he much
more varied than usual. To the staples
have been added rice, tobacco, and va
rious other articles not heretofore culti
vated to any extent.
The Brazoria county Temperance So
ciety contemplate holding a public meet
ing on the first Saturday of the District
Court, say 22d March. Can’t you send
us down some Temperance Speech ma
kers 1
I trust that you, and your readers, and
especially the youth of both sexes, will
bear in mind the protracted religious
meeting which takes place in the Preshy.
terian church at Columbia the last week
' in this month, and also the meeting of
Presbytery at Victoria the first week in
April. Yours, &c.
Gross Assault.
On Monday last a most gross and vil
lanous attack, was made upon Mr. Da
vid Lesly, of this place, in front of the
Court House, by a fellow whose name we
learn, is Richardson. It appears from
good authority, that this assassin was
hired bv some one more base than him
self to commit the assault, for the pitiful
sum of ten dollars.' Mr. Lesly is a
zealous advocate in the cause of temper
ance, and by his praiseworthy exertions,
and that of his fellow members of the
Council, have succeeded in abolishing in
our village, those sinks of perdition,
known as groceries, or grog shops, which
always have been, and still are, a nui
sance to any community, where they are
permitted to exist. This has greatly ex
cited the ire of some, and this is the das