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ceding centuries, as they roll into the dim
distances of the departed time, perpetually
chanting‘Te Deum Laudamus,’ with all the
choral voices of the countless congregation
of the age.”
For the Temperance Crusader.
FLOODS OF LIQUOR POUfIING IN.
Drunkenness Increasing—The people hesi
tating—Times Squally ! !
Mr.Editor: In casting about for the
last three months, I find to my mortifica
tion, that drinking and drunkenness is
largely on the increase, and that floods of
liquor are poured into every part of Geor
gia, either for the purpose of destroying
our people, or erecting breast-works in
time of an invasion ; the destruction of our
people I fear is the object, for really if I
am rightly informed, there are villages
and cities near me that could furnish, in
case of an attack, a barrel of liquor to each
fighting man in the pface for a breastwork.
Whilst all this is true, and bodes evil, and
only evil to the country, what arewe doing
to counteract its influence, —alas 1 alas f
but little it drives me almost to the conclu
sion, that the old Roman Horace was
right in saying, “Quosdeu s cult perdere
jyt'ius dementatfi Whom God intends to
destroy, he first makes mad. For surely
the people are infatuated, and ripening for
destruction; there are large numbers, who
rejoice at the triumphs of the Prince.
There are another class, and its name is
legion, who would have you believe, that
they feel deeply on the subject, yes,mighty
sorry■ But test them, if you please, and ij
their names ain’t Paines , I’il pay Ihe
cost. Yo sir, they won’t come to the
scratch, they won’t touch it with a ten foot
pole. In heart many of them are with the
Prince, and love to have it so. Whit.,
gauze makes a had covering for a filthy
garment , or Wolf skin. There are another
large cl a6S, who look on and laugh heartily,
not caring much how the matter goes, so
they get liquor plenty. What a sad pic
ture. O, virtue thou lovely child restrain
not thy tears,
Oh! Heaven, my injured countr} r save,
Turn back intemperance, fiery wave,
Stretch forth thy hand, and shield the brave,
And rescue, from a drunkard’s grave.
But thanks be to God, there are a few
who will not bow the knee to Baal, nor the
son of Sibella, but have entrenched them
selves behind the fortification of Truth and
Righteousness , in the straits of Thernopy
-I®, trusting in the God of battles, will de
fend their lovely Athens to the last ex
tremity,
And make proud Baal, and Bachus weep,
And turn their triumph, into grief.
Well, seeing our noble chariot mired
down, what’s to he done ? why just let ev
ery friend of Tempo ranee [/itch into the.
mud up to their hat-hand , and roll it out
themselves. The Legislators, poor fellow?,
hay’nt the time. Chartering Banks,
Railroads, Camp-Grounds, Masonic Lodg
es, building up Medical Colleges, rearin'tr
Mon mnents with the people’s money, and j
drinking Liquor, engross their whole time.
80 you see we have got to do the work
ourselves, if done at all. The best plan, I
think, in the first place, is to let the Divis
ions of the Sons, be revived in every place
where they have gone down, and it is
practicable; organize new ones, in every
city and village in the State, where it can I
be done, with zealous and efficient officers; j
work like men, give, if need be like prin
ces. The Sons are best adapted to towns
and villages;especially when the Temper
ance friends are afraid to meet the question
in open day-light, as is sometimes the ease.
In the country let societies be gotten up
wherever it is practicable ; let light and
knowledge be diffused, discussion and agi
tation kept up, gather into our societies,
our mothers, daughters sisters and children
all powerful auxi'lleries. Let all who can,
speak; those who cannot give their hearty
approbation; train our young men for
standard bearers. If possible put Hon.
B. H. Overby in the field. Did I say if
possible? Why it is one of the easiest
things imaginable, if the people would.
Some five persons have already agreed to
pay one tenth of the money. Where are
the other thousands of friends in Georgia?
Where are you ? Let the Temperance
Convention in July next, he well represen
ted. Matters of vital importance will conic
before that body. Your humble co-labo
rer in a great reformation.
H. P FILYA ZEE.
Forsyth, Ga., May Ist, 1856.
For the Temperance Crusader.
WASHINGTON,
“Ho! f‘>r Washington—not the brawl
ing, gambling, wire working efipitol of tin*
Union—but the beautiful, the gav. tin
fashionable Washington of Wilkes eojinr-v,
Georgia.” Such woiie >ur thoughts a-, w
entered the cars, several days sincr-, to bv
quickly w Ij iii-d to the above mentioned J
destination; We had heard much’ üboiu |
the beauty of Washington—its gtovc-s, iis
flower yards and flower gnu-dens, ifs\ !*•
gant residences ; some of us only had seen
it; while the remainder were prepared to
find a town unsurpassed, any where, in all
things that render a place delightful’to live
in, and a pride to its citizens. T<> the latter
portion, it seemed, on our arrival, that the
reality was more perfect by far than the
representation.
The distant view of the town, from the
Railroad as the cars approached, was made
picturesque in the extreme, by the white
spires of its churches gleaming here and
there, through the dense foliage, and its
houses in part, hid by the apparently over
lapping branches. But in this instance,
distance lent little enchantment to the
view. The adage was altogether inappli
cable. Washington, to be appreciated,
should not be viewed by the eyes of others
through report, nor, at a distance, through
its noble groves ; it should undergo a clo
ser inspection. The spectator must prom
enade every principal street, inspecting
leisurely as he proceeds the prospect on
either hand, before he can form an accu
rate conception of the taste and elegance
exhibited about each several residence, or
of the combined effect of the whole. The
Wealth of many of the inhabitants enables
them to beautify and adorn their dwell
ings with all the embellishments of flow
ers, shrubbery, fruit and shade trees re
quisite to make them luxurious within,
and enchanting almost to the outward
view. Among these, the residence of Sen
ator Toombs may be noticoed as conspicu
onsly beautiful over all others. One dis
tinguishing feature, there-unquestionabl v
is about the private residences of Wash
ington. While in other towns, there are
a few handsome dwellings and tastefully
arranged flower yards, the majority are
ordinary and common placed ; in Wash
ington, the reverse is the ease. The ele
gant places are more numerous than the
handsome; the handsome more numerous
than the ordinary. We remember to have
seen scarcely a single dwelling that had
not some taste manifested in its adorn
ment.
The four churches, neat elegant, and
commodious, without being luxurious or
magnificent, are creditable to the liberali
ty and religious inclination of the citizens,
and to the activity of the denominations to
which they respectively belong. The on
ly public buildings —a court house, a Male
Academy, and a Female Seminary—are
such as might be expected in a town of
wealth, refinement, and intelligence.
The streets are very good, what there is of
them. They are evidently too narrow hy
halt*their present width. But in spite of
every objection that can be urged against
it, Washington must still be acknowledged
to be annong the most.beautiful, if not the
most beautiful country town in the State.
From the wealth and other acquired ad
vantages of the Washington society, peo
ple at a distance have imagined that it was
stiff, uristoc rati cal, and destitute of much
hospitality and politeness which distin
guish the Southern people from the rest of
the world. Ibis impression i,s erroneous, as
any man may find out for himself who will
take the trouble to visit the place. He
will discover that, although it is sash ion a
ble and aristocratic, the aristocracy docs
not consist in an uncourteous and uncivil
neglect of visitors, or in an inhospitable
and unsocial exclusion of them from the
best circles. The society in Washington
would be an ornament and an honor to any
town in any State, Yorth or South, which
is more than can be said of some of its
neighbors. The citizens, in general, are
gentlemanly and polite, and if they are a
little fond of their place—why it is noth
ing more than the place justly deserves.
Ihe scene which of nil others remains
most vividly impressed on our recollec
tions, and which also was the immediate
cause of our visit, was the ‘Floral Festival,’
celebrated at the Female Seminary, on
Tuesday night, the 22d ult. The youth,
the beauty, the wit, the talent, the elite of
Washington was present on that occasion.
A detailed account of the coronation of the
beautiful Queen, of the attending ceremo
nies, of the company, of the supper, of the
concluding festivities is out of the qnes- j
tion. The whole scene was inspiriting, be- j
wildering, overwhelming,—a fairy dream, i
in which were seen flowers and evergreens j
wreathed into And ivoenm:. tovc- j
ly ladies and misses gaily attired, coquet-1
ting with devotional gentlemen and sns-1
coptible youths, music and dancing, spark- j
ling eyes, animated faces, and, ruling over i
all with flowery sceptre, the sweet Queen j
of the Festival, her lovely seif made more j
strikingly beautiful .by- the insignia of";
Floral royalty.
We have deferred until now, to mention
the youn; *lud ies of Washington, because
they constitute its crowning glory. The
visitor, to appreciate fully the beauty, of the
town, should see tlie streets enlivened by
their evening promenades. To sav tha the
ladies are unrivalled in loveliness, resin e-
and all the accomplishments that
render the sex attractive, would probably
be an act of injustice towards neighboring
towns and villages, but combining their
graces with the beauties of the place, it is
not too much to assert that Washington is
inferior to none in solid an< 1 ’pleasing at
tractions.
After a delightful sojourn, we departed,
highly impiYs ed with the thoughts and
sentim -tits to which we have attempted to
give utterance, anti resolutely determined
that our first visit should not be 1 ho last.
Pen field, Ga. Q.
For the Temperance Crusader.
A SCHOOLGIRLS TRIALS.
No one ever understood me. I was
thought to be a willful, perverse child, mere
ly because 1 could not throw my arms
around the parental neck, and flatter and
coax my mother like the larger brothers
and sisters 1 was timid, shy, and sensi
tive; could not bear a rebuke, and often did
one harsh woal send me to mv lonely little
room to weep over mv unloveableness, and
,make friends with the stars. No bodv lov
ed me; even my mother, who. oi all others,
should, thought, me a hard-headed, stubborn,
halt idiot. I was in every body’s way.—
Gaily i was driven from every quarter of
the house with “Get out ol’iny wav, A'Jarv:
you don’t do anything, you don’t try to do
an\tinng. you hinder every body else from
doing anything.” So i began to think 1 was j
nobody—that I never could be anybody— j
tbat. 1 was placed ;n this world just to plague 1
everybody. Well, 1 1 get me out of the wa v
1 was sent to school along with a grown ‘
aunt, who joined in the general outery |
against me, and even urged the other sir,ls t
to provoke me ; j'or she well knew that I
when once aroused I was a perfect iittlo fu
ry, and she hoped thereby to Imve the plea
sure of seeing me whipped for mv, temper.
Oh. how I burn to think of the many times
she has held my hands that my enemies
might take revenge upon my helpless little
body !
The girls all hated me, because 1 was un
sociable ; and bow could I lie otherwise,
who had been led to think from my cradle
that everybody hated—that the whole
world hated me and owed me a debt of ill
will for being so ugly and stupid? My
teacher whipped me once a day ibr my im
pudence, (as he called my hesitation in an
swering,) and often when, for m v timidity I
could not answer readily, he would, with a
sneer, say “ next and add that he never ex
pected me to answer.” That look—that
sneer has often unlocked my stammering
tongue and 1 in a rage, and forgetting all
rules, would burst forth with answer and
repeat every word. Then, as a matter of
course, 1 was whipped lor not replying at
first. When night came, with slow steps
and sullen mein, I returned home. There
was never any necessity of me relating my
misfortunes through the day—my aunt al
ways did it forme. Then,instead of com
forting and consoling me as parents should
have done, father and mother thought.it
their duty to whip me again for disgracing
them so much as to be whipped at school.—
Oh, mercy ! what terrible times those were
to me ! I used to retire to my little couch
and grieve for hours, to think that none lov
ed me—that none could love me. Howev
er, in spite of all these difficulties, I did learn
a great deal—more than mv crabbed old
teacher was willing to admit,’though he was
obliged to do so. This encouraged my fa
ther (and by the way I believe he liked me
better than any of them) to think that I might
yet be somebody, and he resolved to send
me to a better school, and accordingly, to a
better school I went. There was no differ
ence to me in the two schools, but there was
a great difference in the teachers. My se
cond teacher was a kind, penetrating man,
and he understood and pitied me in an in
stant; and i —l worshipped him. And now
the delightful idea dawned on me that I was
not a dunce—not a fool, as I always,believed
I was. I soon saw that I was superior to
most of my schoolmates, and no pen can de
scribe the rapture I felt when I learned the
fact.
Year the schoolhouse there was a grave
yard, and in it were buried my two little
baby sisters close side by side. Their graves
were my favorite resort, and my childish
imagination pictured their angel forms flit
ting above my head and bidding me study—
study and be somebody that my indifferent
relations should vet be proud of. Instead
jof joining my noisy companions, in their
jspm’i, 1 might have been found crouching
I low with nty head on my sisters* grave, stu
; dying—studying, oh, so hard !; \ improved
very rapidiy and so pleased my fathei that
he concluded 1 must go to college, and in
course of a year I was prepared to enter the
sophomore class. I didn’t mind leaving
home, for home had no attractions for me.
My only grief was to part from the graves
of my little dead baby sisters. But never
mmd that—l entered the Sophomore class
of a college not a thousand miles from At
lanta, and now my troubles were worse
than ever. Ambition made me keep the
head of inv class—yet 1 was never happy.
But as my first two years’ trouble were no
thing to compare with my last I will say
nothing of them. Well—now we are at
my last—my senior year. This time it was
my misfortune to room with two of Satan’s
imps, and 1 verily believe if I was placed
here to plague the world, they were to plague
me. 1 never had a large stock of patience,
but if I had had the patience of Job. I think
I should have quarreled with them; got vex
ed and have done just as l did do. , They
were happy only when, others were misera
ble. They had the meanest, most contemp
tible, vexing, tormenting spirit that ever
muuuia were enrtowea
very good the first week and managed to
learn mv opinion (which was not very good)
of six of my schoolmates. Saturday they
had six calls to make, and Monday I had six
young ladies to report my opinion of them
selves to me. What could I do? Why I
had-to acknowledge the truth and make six
enemies. Well, it learned me a lesson I
shall never forget. They knew that I, above
all things, despised to hear what others said
of me. They knew that of all girls I liked
Amelia Arnorv best. I will give you an in
stance of their meanness of spirit.
One day 1 returned from .school in a
very ill-humor. They saw it in an in
stant., but they wanted to get me up to the
boiling point, so they commenced:
“Mary, I have something to tell you,”
said Jane, the eldest, “but I am afraid you
will be offended.”
1 saw what she was after, and answered
i with rising temper,
“Let it alone, then.” y
Now this was just, what she wanted, and
with a malicious wink at her sister, she con
tinued,
“But I think it is my duty to warn vou.—
I o-day I heard several of the girls saying
what a simpleton Mary Watson is to asso
ciate with Amelia Amory. For my part I
look higher for my companions. And to
tell you the truth I have been thinking the
same sometime.”
The last sentence nearly overcome me ; . —
1 knew she had made every word ofit,b.nd
whv she did it ; and-in a great rage 1 repli
ed that “I didn’t care what she or any body
else thought or said. I intended to stay
with Amelia as long a 1 liked,” and hastily
rising, left, the room.. I endured this for
mne mouths, and when bread my last com
position and stepped forth a young lady, I
looked so paiiy and care worn, that some
thought I would: not live a month, but here
I am, Messrs* Editors, spared to tell yob of
tpy grievances. Mauri e.
*_***?• XAMOLJXto+I&ZTJZ&t v -||||| II ■III'UMMU I— liWf a—j—— 111 ■■HIM—■—TM
Sautes* CPK®.
“HALLOWED BE THY NAME!”
Whatever may bp man’s faith or creed,
Those precious words comprise it stiill;
We trace them on the blooming mead,
We hear them in the flowing ril!.
One chorus hails the Great Supreme ;
Kaeh varied breathing tells the same,
file strains may differ; but the theme
Is, “Lather! hallowed be thy namet”
year there were 5,688 marri
ages within the State of Kentucky. The
majority of the matrimonial alliances were
mrined during the winter months. Decem
ber taking the lead. Most of the brides
were between 16 and 20 years of age, and
most es the grooms between 20 and 25.
Two ladies 70 years, one girl at 12, and sev
eral under 35. Three hundred and forty
six bays under 20 years of age were marri
ed during the year.
*
OjrTleartley Coieride once being asked
which of Wordsworth’s productions he con
sidered the prettiest, very promptly replied.,
“His daughter Dora.”
TRANSIENT YOUNG GENTLEMEN.
Girls beware of transient young gents ;
never suffer the addresses of a stranger, re
collect that one good stead v farmer boy or
mechanic is worth all the floating trash in
the world. The allurements of dandy jack,
with a gold chain about his neck, a Walking
stick in his paw, some honest tailor’s coat
on his back, and a brainless skull, can never
make up the loss of a kind father’s house, a
good mother’s counsel, and the society of
brothers and sisters; their affections lost,
while that of such a young man is lost at the
wane of the Honeymoon. ’Tis true. — Ev
anvi/le Jour.
C| t Ctntpnma Cntsakr.
PENFIELD, GEORGIA.
Saturday Morning, May 3, 1856.
t5F“Rev. Claiborn Trussell, of Atlanta, is a duly
authorized Agent for the Crusader.
Liberal Offer.
Any person sending us five new Subscribers, ac
companied with the “rhino,” shall be entitled to an
extra copy of the Crusader for one year. Orders for
our Pnper must invariably be accompanied with the
cash to receive attention.
Stop Papers.—Settle Arrearages.
Persons ordering their papers discontinued, must
invariably pay up all their dues. We shall not strike
off any subscriber’s name who is in arrears.
Death of Hon. Wm. 0. Dawson.
It is with feelings of profound sorrow that wc re
cord the death of this distinguished citizen of our
county. He died at his residence in Greenesboro,
about 4 o'clock on the morning of the 6th inst., af
ter a very brief illness. Mr. Dawson was a native
of this county, in which he has always resided, and
whore, unlike most men, he rose to eminence in his
profession. He was an able and successful lawyer,
and a sound, consistent politician, but was neither
bigoted or ultra in his views. We have had many
statesmen of equal, or perhaps greater brilliance,
but very few who have so completely won the es
teem and confidence of all classes and parties.. In
every position which his country called him to oc
cupy, he came up to the full measure of his duty.
His private character was adorned by all that suav
ity of manner which marks the perfect gentleman.
We may truly say of him,
“His life was gentle, and the elements
So mixed in him that Nature might stand up.
And say to all the world, this was a man.” *
Burial.
His remains wore deposited in their final resting
place on Wednesday evening, with Masonic honors.
As is well known he was the Grand Master of the
Grand Lodge of the State, and a large and imposing
procession formed of Masons from all the Lodges suf
ficiently near for their members to reach therein
time, and including the Young Ladies of the Coving
ton Masonic Female College, nearly a hundred in
number, followed the lifeless body to the dark Sepul
chre. The procession including Masons (some four
or five hundredjcitizens, visitors, and all, was thought
by our informant to be over a half mile in length.
funeral services were conducted by the Rev. Mr.
Axson, and from thence to the Cemetery.
The name of Wm. C. Dawson outlasting the
mound of clay that marks his resting place, and sur
viving the perishable yet emblematical cedars
thrown upon his decaying body by his mourning Ma
sonic brethren, will live in undimmed splendor
through ages yet to come. Tread lightly and. rev
erentially upon that'hallowed spot of earth, for it is
the grave of a statesman, a hero, a benefactor, and
a noble hearted philanthropist,
Baptist State Convention.
Having been present at some of the deliberations
of this Body, vre propose giving a brief notice of
some few of its proceedings, simply stating the facts
and expressing our own mind. There was a man
ifest element of discord brooding over the Conven
tion which was mortifying, even to ns, an outsider.
Our feelings were sensibly touched while listening
to some of those old Christians, appealing to their
brethren, to do away with all harsh feelings, and
come together in one united body of Christian broth
erhood ; but those appeals produced no impression,
the evil spirit continued its operations throughout.
The spirit of electioneering, downright “Log Rol
lin’’ was rife among a portion of the members, and it
was carried to an unlimited extent, (which wo pro
nounce unbecoming and inappropriate in an assem
bly of Christian Baptists,) there boing a vigorous
and labored effort on the part of Mr. Mell’s fr iends
to place him in the chair as Moderator. Tn that
they failed; but it was not through inactivity on the
part of his friends, for they left no stone unturne’d,
and perhaps none unturned “twice,” as they had
been turning them for months past. “Wire-work
ing” and “underground scheming” never accom
plishes the desired end ; the truth of which some
of our citizens are now prepared to testify to, as
they thought they had the “thing dead,” having re
marked before leaving town that the}’ had counted
“noses,” and theie were twenty-jive majority for Mr.
Mell. We wonder where they were when the time
came for voting?—the Hon. T. Stocks receiving eigh
ty, and Mr. Mell fifty-three. Delegates to the
Convention went prepared to act for themselves on
all questions, and they were not to bo biased, not
withstanding the various unfounded reports which
were in circulation before the Convention was or
ganized.
> here was a large number of Delegates in atten
dance, and the Convention embodied a large por
tion of tho wisdom, talent, and dignity of the Bap
tist denomination in Georgia. The regular standing
Committees were duly appointed, and tho usual re
ports were read. An Executive Committee was
elected, consisting of the following persons, viz :
Hon. Thos. Stocks, Rev. N. M. Crawford, I). D.,
D. E. Butler, Prof. J. E. Willet, T. J. Burney, Rev.
T. D. Martin, and P. Robinson. Mr. T. J. Burney,
Treasurer of the Convention, made his roport, which
showed that tho financial condition was good, and
tbat Mercer University is the best endowed Institu
tion in the Southern country. Its funds amount to
$146,797,74. Income this year $12,500.
The Executive Committee in their report recom
mended the sale of the Christian Index. It was
referred to a select Committee, which reported ad
versely to selling, but advised its removal from this
place to someone of the principal cities in tho State.
This plan was adopted by the Convention. We
truly regrot the conclusion, and are of opinion that
j M the Convention refused to sell it, nod concluded
to retain it as the property of the denomination, it
would be wrong to remove it from its present loca
tion, since it was established here to build up and
advocate the claims of the University. We trust
the Committee may regard it as inexpedient to move
the Paper, notwithstanding the fact that for the
last twelve months or more (until reently) it.hasquite
ignored the existence of a “ Mercer University” loca
ted hers. The Paper should be kept where it is, and
its attention to the Institution better regulated.
The report of the Trustees of the University was
read,in which mention was made of .their having
expelled Prof. Mell from his chain after the report
he, personally, requested the Convention to take
some action by which he might occupy a different
position before the country. The matter was re
ferred to a ‘ select Committee of Seven intelli
gent men who should get all the informa
tion possible from both parties, and to pass
judgment according to the evidence. After a day
or two of deliberation they submitted a chaste, dig
nified and unexceptionable report justifying the
action of the Hoard. (Qne member of the Commit
tee who has for many years been committed to Prof.
Mell in word, deed, and action, dissented from the
report, and submitted a minority report.) After the
report was read, many pungent speeches and sar
castic remarks were made b/different members, and
many remarks were so bitter that we pronounced
it a “hot time.” Mr. Mell made an able and eloquent
appeal (which he is capable of doing) in his own be
half; but in his speech he made an unjust at
tack upon Pres. Crawford, aiming to justify his own
conduct by an attempt to implicate Dr. Crawford.
Even the balance of the Faculty did not escape his
vituperative sarcasm. After ho concluded, Mark
A. Cooper made some withering remarks which cut
like the keen seimetar of Aladdin. Dr. Crawford
then took the floor and in an earnest, dignified and
honorable manner, completely refuted every charge
which had been preferred against him, and there
was not a man present who did not rely with im
plicit confidence upon every statement he made.
He brought many points which have heretofore
been obscure, into glaring light, and before he con
cluded, the pews of many members became pain
fully hard , and they awfully restless .
The action of the Convention was taken upon the
report of the Committee at half-past one o’clock at
night, (the discussion having beon prolonged to
that late hour) and it was received, and thereby
the action of the Trustees endorsed. The vote
stood fifty-seven to forty-seven. But judging from
the standing vote of the opposing party, which ran
ged from forty-five to fifty-three on all questions
throughout the Convention, we naturally conclude
that under different circumstances the majority in
favor of the report would have been much larger
if not double the opposite vote. Many voters on
the side of the Trustees having retired to their
slumbers.
The Trustees in this matter acted in a generous
and Christian manner. They did all they could to
avoid an investigation, knowing it would reveal
things which would be of no benefit to those most
ly interested ; but it was forced upon them, and even
then they refused to say anything in their own be
half, and positively forbid others doing so. They
simply furnished the Committee with the docu
mentary evidence, and left them to decide, and they
were sustained. One member of the Board dis
sented from the action of the Trustees in a speech
before the Convention, which we regarded as unbe
coming, as it was his duty to have been present at
their meeting.. Mr. Mell is an able man; one de
ly languish until it is placed in better hands than
those who now constitute his right hand colleagues.
Since returning home, we hear it hourly as coming
from them that they gained a “complete triumph.”
What in tiie name of St Paul constitutes the tri
umph ? They certainly failed to accomplish a sin
gle point.
There was one painful fact forcibly impressed upon
our mind during this “trial;” which was, that there
were a number of young Preachers (who have been
taken up “as it were,” from obscurity, and educa
ted at this Institution,) laboring tojiave the Trus
tees censured for doing what in their judgment wa*
best Let such remember the serpent that, Lit its
benefactor. The present Board of Trustoes are
not only vested with official authority, but they
have absolute fight. They are the men who con
tributed largely of their substance to establish the
Institution upon a firm basis. Let none then gain
say their right, nor impeach their motives.
It has been the cause of much sore regret among
the friends of Dr. Crawford throughout the State,
that he saw proper to hand in his resignation again.
We hate it extremely, for he is the man for
the office, and the ‘ choice of the people. But
when we consider the character and disposi
tion of the man, we can’t say that his resignation is
more than might have been expected. His nature
is too noble and exalted, and his feelings too refin
ed and cultivated, to occupy a position where he
feels that he is in the way of others. He never de
sired, nor sought th) position ho now occupies; but
his talents and abilities pre-eminently qualified
him for the Chair, and he was called to it by a wise
and judicious body of men. Wo are not at all pro
pared to give him up yet, and since rely trust things
may so “turn” as to enable us to keep him. We
believe the Trustees will not give him up, if they
can provail on him to retain his seat. With Dr.
Crawford President, and the present Faculty (with
the new additions) at the head of Mercer University,
it would soon surpass every Institution in the
Southern country in any and all particulars.
The following morning, after a sow preliminary
arrangements the Convention adjourned, to meet
on next year in the City of Augusta.
Ready Made Clothing.
We invite special attention to the Card of J. M.
Newby & Cos., in this paper, and recommend any
and all persons wishing “Dry Goods” of any de
scription ready “put up” in the bestand most fash
ionable manner, to call at their establishment. It
seems to be the place where most of the people in
the city and neighborhood go to get their supplies.
Friend Newby is an upright, straight forward
gentleman, and will do justice to his customers,
and friend Charlie B. Day, a capital fellow, excel
lent saleman, t /?n<? looking, and with ploasing humor,
is ready at all times to “rig” you out according to
your taste, however fastidious it maybe.
Temperance Mechanic Association.
A friend from Hamilton informs us that the Me
chanics about that place, have organized a Tem
perance Mechanic’s Association, numbering forty
members. Would that we could hear of such So
cieties in every Town in Georgia. Stand to your
principles friends of Hamilton, and set the example
for others.
py Mr. J. E. Borders’money was duly received
and properly applied.
Critics.
“A man must serve his time to ev’ry trade
Save censure —Critics all are ready made.”’
So sang the Poet, and our daily observation fully
justifies the remark. The day. when the mass of
people bow with reverence to the Critic’s every
dictate, is long since-passed. True, there are men,
Whose decision on the merits o:’ works of g- ;niusar
entitle to; and exercise great, influence among the
reading public. But they are much fewer in num
bers than in former years, and the confidence re
posed in them is far less implicit. Men feel dispos
ed to exercise the just though dangerous preroga
tive of thinking for themselves. Asa natural con
sequence, every man becomes a Critic ; not for him
self alone, but for all who may choose to onjoy the
benefits of his judgment.
Criticism, in the most restricted and correct sense,
is applicable only to literature, and has reference
alonegto such as set themselves up as standards of
taste in the productions of genius. In common*
parlance however, it is applied to decisions of judg
ment upon all subjects, whether ofliterature. mor
als, or religion. There are steady and inveterate
Critics, who are in the most profound ignorance of
everything connected with literature. The odium
almost invariably attendant on the word results
partly from the incompetency of those who profess
it, and partly from the fact that those who act as
Criticsin small nutters always become injurious to
society, and disgusting to all who know them.
The number of just and impartial Critics is as
tonishingly small. Prejudices, cither national, sec
tional, or personal, have great weight in.deciding
their opinions of the merits of a production. In
many cases the prejudices consist merely of a very
exalted and unreasonable estimation of their own
tastes. Whatever does not come up exactly to
their notions of correctness they visit
with an unreserved condemnation, which admits no
appeal. They seem to think that all which has
ever been written or spoken, was for their special
benefit, and if it did please them, it utterly failed of
its object. No allowances are made by them for di
versity of tastes. Indeed they seem to think that
no persons have taste except themselves; or if they
havo, they have no right to exercise it when it con
flicts with theirs. Such persons are seldom pleased
with anything which can be presented to them.
Were they able to have the public follow them, and
endorse all their opinions, Criticism would become
a mere work of condemnation. This is still farther
increased, if they happen themselves to be au
thors ; for they then fondly imagine that they
have attained a degree of excellence, in which
their self-love will seldom allow them to acknowl
edge an equal, and never a superior.
But though the egotism of literary Critics may
excite ridicule and elicit contempt, they are rarely
productive of any mischief. There is another class
of Critics, which, though really more contemptible
than the preceding, exerts a far greater influence
upon society. They are those who examine, scru
tinize and pass judgment upon everything which
comes within their notice. Nothing can be so secret
as to elude the inquiring spirit by which this class
are actuated. The most concealed affairs of private
interests become the objects of their scrutiny, the
subjects of their gossip. The old adage that every
man should attend to his own business, seems nev
er to have found a repository in the inmost recesses
of their crania. The amount of tax which each
man pays, whether or not it bears the correct pro
portion to the amount of property which he owns,
how he manages his capital, and whether he is
or more miserly than his circumstances require, are
all, to them, matters of particular interest. Nor do
they confine their scrutiny to matters of as great
importance as even these. This spirit of Criticising
and condemning attends them everywhere, and in
everything. If one of them goes to church, he goes
not to engage in tho devotion of the hour, but
strictly and literally “to see what is to be seen.”
He then becomes a connoisseur of public tastes and
manners, never failing to be displeased with everv
thing ho sees. The personal appearance, dress,
gait, of every individual are duly noted and con
demned. If the men are fashionable, they are dan
dies ;if not, they are boors. If they conduct them
selves with reserved dignity, they are proud aris
tocrats ; if they are sociable and lively, they arc
babbling simpletons. But it is to tho female por
tion of the audience, that the sharpest edge of his
Critical acumen is applied. They are all heartless
seekers of admiration, artificial productions of the
milliner’s shop mere compositions of cloth and
whalebone, or they are grossly vulgar, and ludic
rously homely. One excites hi3 merriment by the
retiring position of her bonnet with respect to her
head, another his sympathies by the remarkable
slenderness of her waist, and others his ridicule by
the broadness of their hoops and the stiffness of
their stays. lie fails not to discover that tome rosy
cheeks were produced by delicate applications of
rouge, that some bright glossy curls did not grow
on the heads that wear them, that the pearl}’ enamel
which adorns some.mouths, is not that which na
ture provided for them. Whence he is led shrewd
ly to suspect that some ladies in the crowd, having
passed tho merry heyday of youth, are endeavor
ing to show off in false colors. The reverend oc
cupant of the Desk next comes for his share of
observation and censure. If he adorns his style
with the beauties of Rhetoric, he is entirely too
bombastic; if ho touches upon topics of experi
mental piety, he is a sanctimonious hypocrite ; if
ho indulges in philosophic disquisitions, he is in
tolerably dry and dull. Were the Ministerial Wor
thy aware of the awkward dilemma to which his
unpitying observer has reduced him, ho would doub
less ee greatly distressed and annoyed. Fortunate
ly however, he is happily unconscious that the Crit
ics rule and compass is being applied to him, and
he proceeds undisturbed. All these, and a great
many other reflections are made by our sage Crit
ic, who in the meantime is so completely filled with
the idea that he is the quintessence of wit, beauty,
and moral excellence, that he does not cast one in
ward glance to see if there may not he some fault
in his exquisite person.
But this spirit of Criticism is really of too much
importance to be treated in a light or jesting man
ner. When joined with malevolence, it is capable
of exciting a vastly deleterious influence upon soci
ety. It adds gall to the bitterness of private feuds
and imparts to party feelings an increased acri
mony. It is a curse more terrible than the Siroc
co’s scorching blast, more to be dreaded than the
Locusts of Egypt.
Your Name.
A kind friend from Speir’s Turn Out” writing
to us, enclosed $4 to be applied to his own credit
and that of a New Subscriber, hut neglected to
mention his own name, placing at the bottom of his
letter the name of the new subscriber. Be sogood
as to send us your own name. The new subscriber
is L. G. Attaway.