Newspaper Page Text
For the Temperance Crusader*
HELP FOR UNCLE DABNEY,
Messrs. Editors —We learn that there is
■iflaove with the Counties of Fulton and
■Mon oe, to do something for Uucle Dabney
■Jones, worthy of themselves— worthy of
■Uncle Dabney, and worthy of the'cause in
I which he expended his time and talent s, and
|by the neglect of his individual interest, al
most ruined himself. Coweta knows Uncle
Dabney, and Coweta is determined not to be
outstripped in any move that will advance
his interest, and place him on an elevation
where he is desirous to stand.
The friends of politicians frequently step
forward and relieve them, when they have
spent their time in the service of their coun
try, and why not the friends of Temperance
relieve Uncle Dabney’s liabilities.
We would be glad for Fulton or Monroe
to make their proposition through the Cru
sader, for Coweta believes, that Georgia as
a State, would be glad to participate in such
a noble eause. What! let Uncle Dabney
be driven to the wall, while his voice, full of
eloquence, is still ringing over hill and dale,
plain and valley, from the mountain to the
seaboard, —ringing too, in behalf of your
wives and daughters, widows and orphans.
Yea, in behalf of virtue, innocence, morals,
religion and bleeding humanity. Make
your proposition, gentlemen. Coweta is
ready and anxious to respond to your call.
Coweta.
Newnan, Feb. 11, 1856.
For the’ Temperance Crusader.
A PROPOSITION-READ IT.
Messrs , Editors— Some fifteen or twen
ty years ago, when the fiiends ofTempei
ance were few and far between, humble
as I then was, I felt it to be my duty
to do all that I could, both by speaking
and writing, to promote that cause, But
fortunately I soon felt relieved, by ma-.
ny of the best speakers and writers
in Georgia coining to the rescue. I con
sequently laid aside my pen never to be re
sumed again—l then thought —but, alas !
I find that I was mistaken. Passing over
the events that have occurred, many of
which have been delightful and glorious,
from that time, to the present which mos
tly concerns me, what do they portend
but evil and only evil still ? Cast your eyes
where you will, since the campaign of ’55
in Georgia, and what do you see but de
spondency and inertness, among the friends
of Temperance, and,renewed efforts and
zeal among its adversaries —doggeries mul
tiplying—those who were once washed,
like the sow returning to her wallowing in
the mire ; many young men joining the bot
tle regiment, some of whose sires have
grown gray in the cause of Temperance ;
the bottle carried to meeting and every
where else; corrupting the youth of our
country, as well as the negroes; many of
our important outposts taken; our once
happy community thwarted with a fiery
deluge; the hydra headed monster march
ing without obstruction, and with impuni
ty through our land and no hand to stay the
mighty torrent, or check the monster, until
methinks I almost see the evil angel with
his seventh vial of darkness, ready to pour
it out upon the earth ; and like one of the
plauges of Pharaoh—the evil beast coming
up into our chambers, ovens and kneading
troughs. Am I mistaken? Am I deluded?
I hope I am.
Well, you have noticed some of the evils,
now give us the remedy. I will do so pro
vided the head and heart of the body polit
ic is not too sick and faint If there is mor
al virtue in Georgia, if the friends of Tem
perance will be true to themselves. I had
thought that moral suasion was the remedy;
was honest in my belief; had, however, a
good many hard struggles with conscience,
but last year, tho’ kept out of the campaign,
for which I feel truly sorry ; bnt I was not
quite satisfied. My views have since
changed and by the help of God, from this,
the 21st day of January 1856, forth, sink or
swim, rise or fall, survive or perish, I take
my position with the gallant band of prohi
bitionists in Georgia, and though I come
late, they shall not be ashamed of me. I
will try to make up for delinquencies. I
“take no step backwards.” Henceforth, I
shall preach law as well as gospel. Prenvs
ing, that my position is understood, I dismiss
myself.
There can beo mistake, no alternative:
the battle between doggeries and Temper
ance, has to be fought on Georgia’s soil; the
issue is already made ; we shall hold our
legislators accountable for wholesome and
moral laws. But before we accomplish our
object much is to be done; in the first place,
let us look to God, for as certain as he rules
supreme, our demands are right. Much, I
repeat, will have to be done ; much wri
ting, much preaching, much praying, much
sacrifice# and perhaps thousands of dollars
to be spent; but what of that? The gold and
silver belongs to God. We shall have to
throw scorching, blistering, burning, his
sing, hot balls into the Sevastopol of the
enemy $ scatter periodicals and tracts, al
most without number, to disseminate knowl
edge, and if need be, our money must flow
like water. We must have a living,burning
oracle in our State, ’ which must be well
rewarded. I only object to Bro. Grisham’s
proposition, from the fact, that he and nine
teen others all the burden to
bear, which is riot fair play. 1 would be
willing to be one of 60 to pay Rev. Mr.
Overby, three thousand dollars to lecture
in the State, the present year ; but that
would not be fair, th<jpigh i will do my duty
‘.according to my ability.
An early Convention of the friends of
Temperance, I regard indispensible.. . i
must close at present, by saying to you
Messrs. Editors, that I am well pleased
with the cognomen of your paper, the Cru
sader ; it is very significant; also your de-
Jermination, never to quit the field, until .the
victory is won. To epeourage you a little;
although I was credited by Bro. Brantly,
tilj the end of the war, and have been an
honorary subscriber for the last ten years,
vet I feel unworthy of that honor, and un
willing to have you labor for nothing.—
Enclosed you will find $2 00 subscription
for the years ’55-’6.
Your friend and most humble serv’t,
H. Phinazee.
Forsyth Ga., Jan. 21, 1856.
For the Temperance Crusader.
THE SNAKES AGAIN.
Messrs. Editors— My appeal for Snakes
has called forth a letter to me, from an in
telligent correspondent, in Forsyth, Ga., in
which he desires to call my attention to an
“inaccuracy in the classification of harmless
and poisonous snakes, and three omissions.”
He will please pardon the insertion hei*e
of a portion of his letter, as it will better ac
complish the object sought by him, and en
able me to make a few remarks on the sub
ject, more intelligiby to your readers. Os
the Snakes supposed to be omitted, he
speaks as follows:
“7'Ae Cotton Mouth ” is a snake most vil
lainously poisonous and very common in the
mountainous parts of Georgia, and takes its
name from its exceedingly white mouth,
which it opens on the approach of anything
as a decoy. The Copperhead is a dull,
phlegmatic little terror, that inhabits the dry
parts of swamp land, and thick undergrowth.
The Black Spreading Adder is a rusty, hiss
ing monster, having movable and very long
fangs, for the length and size of his-body—
most deadly and virulently poisonous, and
eqp be easily made to bite and kill itself.
“I have for a long time taken an interest
in assorting out dangerous and harmless
snakes, and, from personal observation,
know these suggestions to be true, and some
of your readers may be tempted into too
close proximity to those you have omitted.”
The Cotton Mouth we have never seen,
but know only from the vague accounts of
those who have been familiar with it in Lou
isiana and Texas. We had supposed it con
fined to the Southwestern States. It is ve
ry common there in swamps and more
dreaded than the Rattlesnake or Moccasin.
Since receiving the letter of our correspon
dent, we have learned from a young ge. ale
man from Walker county, Ga., that a snake
of this name is said to occur in that region.
He bad never seen it, and from the charac
ter of his informants, could not say how
much reliance was to be placed in the re
port.
From the known familiarity of our cor
respondent with the snake tribe, and from
the above report we are prepared to believe
that another poisonous snake should be add
ed to our list.
In the very complete catalogue of ser
pents by Baird and Girard, a Highland
Moccasin is described under the name“Tox
lcophis Atrofuscus,” “upper lip white, ter
minating near the tip in gray ; throat mark
ed with black and white, the latter color
predominating.” This is found in Tennes
see. In the list of Reptiles appended to
Sitgreaves’ Expedition to the Zuni and Col
orado Rivers, it is said to be “very abundant
about all the creeks and tributaries of the
Arkansas.” It is nowhere called Cotton
Mouth, but the above certainly establishes
the existence of a poisonous snake, resem
bling it, both in the West and in a State im
mediately bordering on Georgia.
Will not some of our mountain friends of
this State enlighten us on this point ?
The Copperhead of our correspondent is
only another name for the Highland Moc
casin or Rattle Snake’s Pilot, mentioned in
our list
The Black Adder we cannot mrke out. —
Common names are applied with very little
discrimination, and sometimes to several
snakes very different in character. Again
the color of snakes varies considerably with
age, health, habits, &c.
Our correspondent says further, “There
is a sort of spreading adder, of a pided col
or, entirely harmless, and never grows more
than eight or ten inches in length—the poi
sonous adder is black, and at full growth,.,
is fourteen inches long.’’
The three adders of Georgia are usually
described under the names Heterodon Platy
rhinos, Heterodon Niger, and Heterodon
fSimus.
H. Platyrhinos is the “pided” adder of our
correspondent. It ho ever grows, in this
neighborhood, to a larger size than that men
tioned by him. I have one, in alcohol,
which must measure two and a half feet in
length, and is very thick and stout.
H. Niger, or Black Adder, is black, and
grows here, to, two feet in length. I have
two specimens, w T hich certainly have no
. fangs.
H. Simus, I take to be the Hog-nose,
found in Jefferson, Houston, and the lower,
pine counties generally. It resembles the
ground rattlesnake, is very spiteful and repu
ted poisonous. I have never examined its
mouth, but it was a source of much amuse
ment to mischievous boys in our early days,
and I never knew an accident to happen
from such sport.
The “Black Adder” can be neither of
these, and does not correspond with any
Southern snakes, heretofore described. It
must be either new or some common snake,
with great irregularity of color.
Cannot some of your readers help to solve
the 4 difficulty? Communications may be ad
dressed to Dennis, Penfield, Ga., care Tem
perance Crusader, or to the Editors of the
Crusader, directly.
With many thanks to our corresjf'mdent,
I am, Messrs. Editors,
Yours, very truly, Dennis.
Penfield, Feb. 18, 1856.
For the Temperance Crusader.
So you have taken down the old Banner,
knowlm’T* turne d Crusader; well I don’t
know but what you are right, in fact I al
yoU ar t ; y ° U are still going to
cai ry the Banner, but that is not enough for
you ; you are going to fight too-welf God
bless you, and may you meet with success
lis a glorious war, although you need not
expect to win the plaudits of the multi
tude, and there are, I am sorry to say but
few of those called great, upon earth, to
smile upon your efforts. It is true, you may
not reap a rich harvest, of silver and gold.
It is true, the land which you go to lescue
from the hands of the enemy, may not thank
you for your kindness, nor appreciate your
valor; but be assured you will be amply re
warded. The wife’s tears, her happiest
smiles are your treasure. The widow, the
rphan, lay their mite to at your feet; jewels
they are, worth more than gold and silver;
gems of priceless value, fit ior a crown in
heaven ; and though you may not, here up
on earth, reap your harvest, or gather your
treasures, be assured that in yon bright
world you will have your reward.
Your’s is a great work. The enemy is
great, he is strong. I tell you, friend Cru
sader, he is peculiarly vigilant and active
now; his work, his forces, his fortifications
are oh the increase, and his victims are fall
ing fast. Os a circle of my own acquaint
ances no less than seven, once bright and
shining ornaments to society, and noble
hearted fellows too, have fallen since the
last year began its round, and I too have
nearly become enchained to his car, but
thank God, I have burst asunder the chain
and am once more free.
Friend Crusader, the work of destruction
is still going on. The mourners go about
the streets because the living ar w e not The
maniac’s cell opens to receive its victim.—
The prison doors are thrown wide for the
entrance of the fallen.
Friend Crusader, you are the only star
that now lights up the horizon in this our be
loved State; the only star of Temperance.
The press, that mighty engine, either of
good or evil, seems to have forgotten, or if
not forgotten, have become hardened and
neglectful of the cries of the unhappy cap
tives which are wafted upon every breeze;
murder stalks in the streets and crime seeks
no hiding place.
Let him that professes to be a Christian ral-
your support, for it is time for the
watchman upon the walls of Zion to cry
aloud and spare not. Let him that calls
himself Philanthropist, here bring zeal. Here
is a field in which widest philanthropy may
roam. Let him that is a patriot, here give
vent to the full breadth and depths of Iris pa
triotism. His country calls for his help, and
may the voice of enlightened human nature
cheer you on, and may God grant that you
may be crowned with eminent success.
A. M. M.
Decatur, Ga.
For the Temperance Crusader.
POETRY.
Poetry, in all ages of the world, has held
a rank which it justly deserves, notwith
standing the many shafts of ridicule that
have been hurled against it: and it ever
will maintain that position, while there is
a heart to feel any of those tender emot ions,
which it is in the power of Poetry alone to
impress. It was held, as all are aware,
among the ancients in high respect, and
indeed, it was carried to such perfection,
that some of their productions have never
been excelled. They have had many imi
tators, but si ill stand as models for future
poets.
Asa fine art, it ranks among the first
and one among the most important reasons
why it should be cheerisbed, is the power
it has of refining and elevating the mind.
Not, unlike music, “it hath a charm to
soothe the savage heart” and tame the
fiercest soul.
That it exerts a more powerful itiflue’ce
over the mind than prose, is manifest from
an observation of the manner in which
the mind receives or rejects truth. Its
method of attack, is not unlike that of a wi
ly serpent, that in an unguarded moment,
insidiously turns itself about us, and when
we wake to consciousness, we are held sub
jected, in his tightened folds.
It begins by.alluring the fancy with its
softened strains or lofty imagery ; then the
affections arc'drawn within the pale of its
influence and they act on the judgment.—
Now, Prose engages only the attention ,
which acts upon the judgment, and we
thereby, appreciate the author’s ideas with
out imhlibing, as in Poetry, his sentiments.
Now whether this influence be for good or
evil, depends upon the poet’s ideas of mo
rality. If his heart be corrupt, the miasma
arising thereupon, will be breathed through
out his lines; but if the source be pure,
the notes that gusli forth, will be as unsul
lied, as the crystal dew-drops, that spar
kles in the morning sun.
With some truth has it been asserted,
that the present age seems more unfavora
ble to the development of poetical genius,
than many of the darker ages of the world.
“The earth is still full of poetry but few
there are, that can drawn from Nature’s
fountain, a stream uncontaminated by a
contact with earth. Why is this! Are
the souls of men more callous—more im
penetrable, in this age of Christian influ
ences, than when men bowed to blocks of
wood and stone, or are the well-springs of
Poetry exhausted? It must be owing to a
certain groveling class, styling themselves
critics, who endeavor, by every means in
their power, to crush to the earth, every
flower that springs in the “garden of Na
ture.”
We have preserved, from amidst the
mouldering ruins of the past, many bright
scintillations of genius. Notwithstanding
the aversion of the age to Poetry, ever and
anon we can catch an echo of Sappho’s
lyre, which like —
“Orpheus’ lute was strung with poets sinews,
Whose golden touch could so. „en steel and stone,
Make tigers tame, and huge leviathans
Forsake unsounded deeps to dance on sands.”
The breath of Homer’s “sweetly persin
sive” muse, though gone, has left a per
fume behind, which the rough winds of
criticism can never dissipate. Who loves
not to listen to the strains of Tasso, Pe
trarch and Dante, whose every line bread li
es “a sadness sweeter than delight, or to
the deeply flowing verses of a Byron, who
“seemed at home where angels bashful
looked and could almost cheek a -comet in
its fiery path?” But when the “deep
mouthed chronicler of Pardise,” who es
sayed to climb to star-packed space, spoke
to the world it did almost seem as if
David had struck his harp of holy fire
And rapt Isaiah strung his living lyre.”
Oh Italy! birth place of the encrc.l Nine,
the tniud loves to linger around thy ermn
hlmg temple, once hallowed I, y the pres
ence of tile Muses. But alas I thy halcyon
herdZ^H 6 ', N ? moro wi ” Poofy lift
gravel g ■ llead amid ‘*o desecrated
~ -‘is indeed to be lamented that so many
genmne sons of song,” have been doomecl
to temporary, it not eternal oblivion—
some who have not been so profuse with
their syren strains, but whose melting lays
tell &fu heavenly inspiration, lie moulder
ing on dusty shelves —a prey to heartless
worms. Though the minds of men seem
ill-befit for the reception of Poetry in this
practical age, yet there can always be
found trne-lovers of it, while “dramatic
Shakspeare’s buskined muse” treads the
stage-—he who stood on Fame’s dread sum
mit” gazing his plodding imitators be
low, till his spirit took its flight to more
congenial climes.
“Make Mm, no monument of mouldering stone,
’Twere just as wise to rear a tomb of pine,
His epitaph should be his name—alone,
No monument so lasting, no language so sublime.”
Will Weeney.
flic Cmpmtita fasatot
PENFIEIiD, GEORGIA.’
Saturday Morning, February 23, 1856.
Enclosed find your Bills, and settle
them , and accept as many thanks as you
think priper. The amount is small and you
will not miss it, but it will help us abun
dantly.
Hear us.—The Ruling Spirit in our Town.
We call upon our Subscribers with earnestness to
pay us their dues, that we may be enabled to meet
demands against ourselves. We have debts, as a
matter of course, and unfortunately, some of them
have, by “p:oxy,” gotten into bad hands. There is
a predominating spirit characterizing a small class of
our citizens, (be it said to their shame) which is sa
tiated only in grinding the honest laborer to the earth,
bereft of a competency, and a means of support.—
With them, friendship is an unmeaning phrase, the
moving power and controlling motive, is money , mo
ney, money, and in its acquisition, truth, honesty, and
every vestige of manliness is swallowed up, and en
tirely lost sight of. Revenge is a sweet morsel with
them, and thwarted in some of their ignoble purpo
ses, they are striving to heap torments upon every one
who is not of them, and like a coil of serpents, blind
ed by their own po : son, are striking at every rustling
noise. From such we pray to be delivered. Their
once esteemed “ semblance ” of friendship turns out
to be the snaky ringlets of the fabled Gorgon—no
hair. Tay us our dues and let us slake their unholy
thirst for filthy lucre.
It is Dishonest.
It is i lamented fact that nearly every stop we
have had to our paper recently, is by those who are
a year or two in arrears, and we pronounce it in the
worst sense, dishonest. Their mode of stopping is
to refuse to take the paper out of the office, and the
Postmaster has to have it discontinued. Wonder if
their consciences don’t bite them. We had just as
live you would take the amount from our pocket
when \re are asleep; the crime would be no greater.
We hare advanced our money for you, at your re
quest, impoverishing ourselves for your sakes, and
then you-turn off without saying one word about re
in unemtion. Does it seem fair to you ? It is the
easiest matter imaginable to tell an honorable man;
for when such a. one wishes to discontinue his paper
his first business is to sit down and address us a line
enquiring the amount of bis indebtedness, and after
finding out and settling it, he then requests us to dis
continue his paper. Such a man we love, notwith
standing h stops his paper. “An honest man is the
noblest work of god.”
Encouraging—Send on your Names.
We are more than happy to state that two more
, friends have sent us their names to place on the list
; of one hundred to raise the subscription list of our
, paper ten thousand this year. Friend J. W. Jack
son, of Morgan, speaks in the following encouraging
manner :
“The Temperance Crusader is the cheapest paper
publi bed in the South, and richly deserves the pat
ronage of every true patriot, philanthropist and
Christian. With unfeigned pleasure I will add my
name as another to raise the subscription list ten
thousand.”
Friend J. A. Beck, of Carolina, say; :
“I will be one. Ido not see why the paper should
not be circulated in this State as well as in Georgia.
It is the paper that we need in this village.”
Each of these friends wrote us a happy letter, which
we would be pleased to publish, but want of space
necessarily precludes them. Who will send in next?
There are hundreds of go">d, whole-souled temper
ance men in our State who would give us their influ
ence and support, if they would only consider for a
moment the importance and necessity of circulating
a good temperance journal among the people. It is
the only effectual remedy for curing the evils of in
temperance. Let the people have light; let the har
rowing crimes and damning influences of the Rum
fiend be continually portrayed before their eyes, and
they will at length be brought to a pause, and a so
ber reflection. Send us your names.
—.
Help for Uncle Dabney.
In this paper will be found an article signed ‘Cow
eta,’ proposing to render assistance to our venerable
old Sire, Dabney P. Jones. It plea es our hearts to
see it, and w r e call upon every man in whose bosom
burns one faint spark 0\ patriotism, to open their be
nevolent hearts and contribute to his wants. He
has labored faithfully in the good work of ledceming
his race from the cess-pools of degradation, and ur
ged on by a holy zeal in this noble calling, and feel
ing amply rewarded by being the humble instrument
in clothing and sheltering the and stitute, and drying
up the tears wrung from the bosoms of oppressed
women, he looses sight ofhitnsef, and the things
that are his, in the cause de rest to his hear t. And
now in his old age he comes to look about him, and
meets the cold, hitter i aze of an uncharitable
world. Tie has learned that friendship is but a
n itne, Misering shylocks gather around him, rea
dy te plunder his little effects, and turn him out up
on the world reduced to suffering and beggary. The
old gentleman is offering his house and lot for sale
but it is not his own choice, but its from sheer ne
cessity.
Will the people help him ? We have too much
confidence in thorn to believe otherwise, and we say
all praise to Coweta for the step she is taking in bis
behalf. Her sons are too proud and philanthropic
to suffer or eof her worthiest Sires to go uneared
for.
———
British Periodicals.
We would call attention to the advertisement of L.
Scott A Cos., of New York. The Periodicals which
they re-publigh contains the cream of European lite
rature, and advocate every shade of political opinion.
Ihcso enterprising publishers are now enabled to
publish these works almost simultaneously with the i
original editions, while the present rates of postage <
render them so cheap as to he w ithin the reach of |
almost every one. j
“Only His way.”
We once saw an anecdote of a man, who was se
verely bitten by a dog while entering tle yard of a
neighbor. His master very readily offered at once
his consolation and apology by assuring his Triend
that the poor creature meant not the least harm; “it
was only his way.” Whatever effect this might
have had in soothing the pain of the wound, the ex
cuse was no more absurd than those which are fre
quently used to shield men from censure. For some
of the most flagrant faults of which they are guilty,
we receive the exceedingly gratifying assurance that
they do not intend to do wrong; it is only their
way. They give to this an interpretation sufficient
ly broad to cover every imperfection and think that
to amend “the errors of their ways” is a simple im
possibility. And thus we meet with thousands who
are indissolubly wedded to “their ways,” who think
this excuse will forever save them from condemna
tion, and therefore a reformation is entirely unneces
sary. Many are the vicious practices which habit
has engrafted on men, which they would now have
us believe are inseparable parts of their natures.
Young men frequently adopt the idle and foolish
habit of profane, swearing, and final ly r become so ac
customed to it, that they never open their lips with
out an oath. But they tell us they mean not the least
harm ; it is “only their way.”
Persons sometimes depart from the truth in order
to make a fine joke, or show off a tale to advantage,
and continue in this course until they can tell the
grossest falsehoods without the least compunction of
conscience. But they say they do not mean to tell
untruths for mischievous purposes; they cannot
avoid telling a little “white lie” now and then ; it is
an awkard habit into which they have gotten.
Wives keep their husbands in the perpetual slave
ry of debt and a continual horror of constables and
sheriffs by indulging their frivolous tastes for “a pet
of a bonnet” or “a love of a shawlbut they do
not mean to mistreat the poor dear fellows: it is
“Only their way” in which they have been indulged
from their childhood up.
Young Ladies to gratify a love of momentary ad
miration, squander their fathers’ fortunes, ruin
their health, and literally dress themselves to death ;
but they certain!}- intend themselves no harm; it is
only “their way” which they have been taught and
encouraged to pursue from their very childhood, and
they cannot, nay dare not disregard the mandates of
their unpitying sovereign, Fashion.
The young man spends in licentiousness the wealth
which his grey-headed sire has toiled through long
years to accumulate, drowns his reason and self-re
spect in the intoxicating draught, and under the
mantle of night commits deeds which he would
blush to acknowledge. But we are told he is a very
good hearted fellow ; it is “only his way” to be a
little frolicsome.
The man leaves his family and his business to
spend the day in drunken revelry at a low dogge
ry, returns home at night beastly intoxicated- to
abuse his suffering wife and frightened children.—
But he tells us he means no harm; he cannot help
it; it is “only his way.”
And thus we all have our ways; ways which are
ofttimes pleasant enough to ourself hut annoying, dis
gusting or injurious to those with whom we associ
ate. That these are our ways may serve as an ex
cuse to cover many a fault from the eyes of the liv
iug ; but when posterity shall set in judgment upon
our lives, this cannot lree us from censure or save us
from condemnation. 1 here it will be considered
that we are responsible for our ways, and they
have really constituted the sum and substance of our
lives. *
Drunkness in High Places.
We have spoken of drunkness as it exists in shame
ful doggeries, and among the lowest classes of socie
ty ; nor would we in the least degree lighten the
weight of censure which we have passed upon them.
But there is a class who are far more injurious to so
ciety, who oppose more obstacles to the cause of
lemperance, than even these. Men who are sunk
to the rank of common topers may squander their
substance, drive every vestige of happiness from
their homes and reduce their families to suffering:
but there their power and influence end. It is when
it occupies positions of honor, that drunkness, by
the < ireet force of example, wields its most dele
terious influence. Great men never fail to have
their admirers, who take them for guides in all the.
conduct of life. It is a well known and generally
obseived fact that, the virtues of men arc much
more rarely imitated than their vices. There arc
indeed persons whose judgments are so far perver
ted as to esteem these vices evidences of greatness;
*vho consider the drunken debauchee and the ha
bitual attendant of the gaming table much more ofa
gentleman than be who conscientiously abstains from
these things. The poor fellow who made a regular
practice of getting drunk every morning, no doubt
supposed himself on the highroad to immortality
because be had been told that Gen. Washington al
ways nm-inated ‘an hour before breakfast. Unfor
tunately there are many examples, too unequivocal
to admit ofa doubt, which would induce persons to
pursue a similar course. Such examples are affor
ded by staunch, steady farmers, and precise mer
chants, who are never seen intoxicated at places of
public resort yet freely indulge in a soc’al glass at
home. They tell us they are sound Temperance
men, decidedly opposed to all excess and disorder;
but by their actions they plainly give “aid and com
fort” to the enemy. While they at their pleasure en
joy their wine and brandy drawn from cellared dem
ijohns, they zealously declaim against wretched dog
geries and way-side grogshops. Such shallow hy
pocrisy (for we can give it no milder name) may de
ceive some, but cannot free them from the just
charge of being the friends of intemperance. They
are by this very conduct opposing the greatest ob
stacle to the cause which it has to encounter.
‘Che friends oi Temperance must clamber over or
go around these active foes to get to those with
whom the battle is to be fought. Inactive foes, did
wc say? They arc not inactive. Their influence, their
example is constantly at work. It is this which
builds up the tempting bar-rooms in our towns and
villages, and perches the filthy tippling shops upon
the highway. They are erected to supply the poor
man with those luxuries which he has seen his more
wealthy neighbor enjoy from his well furnished side
board. And when carried there by such an influ
ence, he has lost his substance, destroyed his health
and morals, and brought his family to the lowest
depths ol misery, he whose example urged him on
would fain lift up holy hands, and plead a righteous
innocence.
But there is a class more pernicious in their influ
ence than even this. Politicians and professional
men, whose position and talents give weight to their
opinions, oppose the most decided resistance to our
cause. Some there are who oppose it as a matter of
policy, because they discover in the dram-shop a
ready agency to promote their schemes of political
ohieanery, With those the interest of the State is
entirely lost in an inordinate desire for personal ag
grandizement, They wish to maintain their power
among the people, and to retain the honors and
emoluments ofoffice,and toobta n these s.lfish ends
would keep them in hopeless despotism under the
most unmerciful of tyrants. But there are others
who dearly love the “good creature” which they so
zealously protect, and these add their examples to
their precepts in opposing a cause so antagonistic to
their interests. In our Legislative chambers are
daily to be found men, whose reason is destroyed
and their sensibilities deadened by beastly intoxica
tion. The dignity of their position cannot restrain,
them from a practice so degrading in itself, so dis
graceful in its consequences; no peril in the position
of public affairs can convince them of the necessity
of remaining sober. We have no doubt many may
be found among these, who would willingly pawn
their vote on the most important matters for a drink
of the intoxicating beverage. It is this which gives
life to that spirit of Log-rolling which character z p s
our present Legislature, and which will character
ize every one, as long as this foul demon is allowed
to stalk unrestrained through the land. Yet such
men, who manifest so little will or ability to govern
themselves are entrusted with the government ofthe
State. Men whose love of their country is limited to
the spoils of office, a e made the guardians of her
most sacred interests. Truly it is a matter for won
der and thankfulness that uch men, under the con
trolling influence of Alcohol have not brought our
country to the very verge of ruin. *
Correction.
Owing to a misprint, the article, “A hint” on our
first page has been ineorrectly ‘credited. It should
bo the “Temperance Standard,” instead of the “Re
corder.”
Dentistry.
Under the Special Notices will be found a list of
appointments by Drs. Coe & Latimer. They pro
pose making periodical visits to several of our neigh
boring villages, and we would say to any and all,
wishing work done, pertaining to their line, that they
will do well to call on them when they have an op
portunity. They are posted in all the latest improve
ments in the profession, and supplied with anew and
superior order of instruments.
Two Printing Presses for Sale.
We have at this office tv o No. 1 Presses which
we would like to dispose of. We use a superior
Power Press, and have no use for hand presses.—
They can be bought upon very reasonable terms.
W. Itl. Thackery.
This distinguished Novelist, humorist, and lec
turer, has been lecturing in the cities of Charleston,
Augusta and Savannah. We learn that his lectures
have been very favorably received in all those pla
ces.
Shall Kansas be a Slave State.
It should be a great stimulus to Southern men to
know that it is only dependent upon their exertions
whether or not Kansas shall be a slaveholding State.
The Squatter Sovereign says “the time has come
when every Slave State must take its stand, and do
its part, or Kansas is gone.” Let the people of the
South wake up to their interest in this great matter,
and “push off” with their families, and slaves to this
land of plenty. The acquisition of the territory
would be an immense gain to the South, in an agri
cultural point of view. It is shown that nowhere is
slave labor worth more than there, and those whj
have gone hither are reaping rich rewards from their
toils. Negro men hire from twenty to forty dollars
per month, and females from ten to twenty. We
would then say to all those old Farmers who are
scratching the gully-ditched red hills of Georgia, and
barely realizing a sustenance, to bundle up their
goods and chattels and emigrate to Kansas, where,
with one-third of the labor, they can realize a clear
profit of from twenty-five to thirty per cent.
If then the people of the Southern States will but
prove faithful to themselves they will gain an inval
uable portion of Territory, and maintain their equal
ity and independence in the Union. The people of
Kansas arc satisfied that it will be a slave State. On
this point the Herald says:
“We have every confidence it will. Thus far, the
pro-slavery party have maintained the ascendancy.
We have every confidence the Southern States will
do their duty in the impending struggle. If they do
not, aw ay goes all their hopes. Then we say to the
Southern States, you must settle Kansas with men who
will stand up for your rights, and, if need be, fight
for them, too. From every quarter in the South we
hcai they arc coming! Conic 01, now is the time,
and now the struggle that is to decide the destiny of
Southern rights.”
England and the United States.
Lvei since the “hue and cry” has been raised
about a war between Lngland and American, origin
ating fioin tiie construction of the Clayton Bulwar
Treaty, we have been impressed with but one and
the same idea. Small differences of opinion have
been magnified into monstrous disturbances, and
esu\ ian eruptions, but the small cloud of the size
of a Ilian's hand is glowing “beautifully less.” Fin
land is too thoroughly posted in regard to her own
interest even to contemplate seriously such a collis
ion. The Liverpool Times says :
“It is gratifying to observe that the whole ofthe
British press, without an exception, which has dis
cussed the subject, has arrived at the conclusion that
such a miserable bone of contention is beneath the
dignity of embroiling the two greatest nations in the
“oi ld. IV e have territory enough and to spare in
vanous parts of the globe, without the necessity of
hai boring an unkind thought or feeling towards our
transatlantic cousins respecting this Nicaragua dis
pute. Ihe treaty was concluded nearly six years
ago; and while our Government contend that it bears
a prospective meaning, the Washington Cabinet
maintain its retrospective interpretation. The first
article of a treaty’ thus swelled into undue promi
nence stands:
‘“That the United States and Great Britain agree
urn! neither will occupy, or fortify, or colonize, or as
sume or exercise any dominion over Nicaragua, Cos
ta luea, the Mosquitto Coast, or any part of Central
America. Nor will either make use of any protec
tion which either affords, or may afford, or any alii
ante which cither has, or may have, to or with any
state 01 people, for thq purpose of occupying, forti
fytng, ir colonizing Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the Mos
qmtto toast, or any part of Central America, or of
assuming or cxcrcisihg dominion over the same.”
Our Book Table.
blackxooods Magazine. —Blackwood for January’
has been received, presenting tho following list of
contents : The golden screw and its consequents,..
Ihe new peace party, a dialogue, A military adven
ture in the pyranees, Part first, Lancashire strikes,
The Inns of Court and the Bar of England, Wet
days at Bryn Cefn, Drinking and Smoking, On the
state of tho British Army.
The Some Magazine. —T. S, Arthur, The friends
of this deservedly popular Mugazine will be gratified
to learn that Virginia F. Townsend has been assofci*
atod in the Editorial management of it. Miss Town
send Ims acquired an extensive literary reputation,
and cannot fail greatly to enhance the interests ofits
columns.
The March No. of Peterson 1 .- most admirable La
dies Magazine at hand, presuming all the latest
styles in ladies weat\ and filled with chaste selec
tions of reading matter, both in prose and poetry.