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Pthe temperance crusader.
by J. H. SEALS,
THE LAW OF
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COMMUNICATIONS.
For the Crusader.
Mk.Ediitor : —I propose to offer, through your
columns, a few suggestions, as to the policy to be
pursued by the temperance party of Georgia in
the approaching Gubernatorial contest. There
seems to be some difference of opinion upon the
subject, and I suppose, therefore, that not only is
a free expression of opinion desirable, but that the
opinion of every temperance man, how humble
soever, is entitled to all the weight which its merit
may claim. The question now to be decided, is:
we have an independent temperance candi
date for Governor?,’ That I may not be mis
judged, I will here premise, that, in the last, elec
tion, I gave to Mr. Overby my cheerful and hear
ty support, to the exclusion of all party consider
ations. lam a temperance man from principle,
and am sincerely desirous to see the day when
every liquor-shop shall be banished from ibis, my
native State, and every statutory enactment, which \
legalizes the traffic, shall be blotted from the stat
ute book. To the question then, “should, we have
an independent temperance candidate for Gov
ernor?” The arguments generally urged in favor
of this policy are: Ist, That it. is the only course
that temperance men can consistently pursue, in
asmuch as they hold this question to be para
ujoujjt in importance to all mere party issues. To
this it may be answered, that, if this be true, the
vote which Mr. Overby received at the last elec
ion, shows, either, that the number of tem
perance men in Georgia is quite small, or else
that a small minority of them hold this opinion.
But, because a man holds the temperance ques
tion to be paran ount, it does not necessarily fol
low that he must ignore and discard all other is
sues, in order to preserve his consistency. On ‘
contrary, he must of necessity unite it with ©fefieß
issues, if he would insure its success ; a&l far
from subjecting himself to the charge- of incon
sistency, by this course, he maintains- his consist
eney much more effectually, than, tie, who perils
his cause, or ensures its defeat, by obstinately re
jecting a union with other and- not inconsistent
principles.
It L urged 2d, That it- ik necessary to have a !
r-andidate of our own, m order to furnish a rally- 1
ing point so? the party, and to prevent our losing
ouv separate, ijjtniti'ty, by being merged in either!
>f’ the great political parties. In reply to this, it
may be asked, “of what lire is it to have a rally- j
ing point, if no one will rally to itWhat do j
we gam by mustering a corporal’s guard, in the!
taro of opposing thousands, when our force niwst I
lie more than quintupled, before we could enter l
the field with any hope of success? The very ex-}
istajc-*. 0 f a separate organization, i% such small ?
numbers, insures not merly defeat! nut loss of in
f uence. The opposing politic*,!’ parties, so long
as we preserve a separate organization, can afford
to act independently of our wishes or opinions * ‘
in fact, to ignore our very existence; because they
have nothing to hope from our co-operation, and
nothing to fear from ogr opposition. If either
of them lose a few recruits from their ranks, who
go to swell our numbers, it, is a matter of small
concern, since it does not increase the effective
Strength of their veal opponents. ITence, by this
course, we completely neutralize the effect of our
own exertions ; and while we do not advance our
own cause, we keep alive the prejudices already
excited against us. Rut it is said, that if we fail
V* nominate our own candidate now, it will boa
retrograde step, a virtual abandonment of <>ur
former position. By no means. We renounce
none of our principles; we give up none of our
cherished objects; we merely change the method
of attaining a desired end; we only direct our ef
forts in a different channel, and seek to accomp
lish our purposes in a way, that promises to be
more successful. To my mind it is clear, that wo,
cannot succeed in electing a Governor, even if we
nominate one. It is useless to blink this question.
We cannot select a more worthy standard-bearer
than B. H. Overby; one who is more entirely
devoted to the cause; one who is capable of do
ing more effective service ; or wbo more <l< serves ‘•
to succeed ; and yet„ what was the result of his,
candidacy $ If I believed that his. vote furnisheit
even an apperywwation to the number of temper
ance voters in Georgia, I should blush for the Stale
of my nativity. But I entertain ho such opinio*.
The temperance vote was not cast, for the temper
ance cm ululate; audit never will be, so loaff as
there are opposing parties in the State, who ana
divided upon questions of State or National policy
-Ibe great body of the people will not give up
their party predilections, to vote for a candidate,
nho represents but one, and that a moral, not po
litical, idea. It a member of the. American par
t) be nominated, the Democrats cannot but re-
him with distrust, and very few will sever
their party ties to vote for him; especially as the
Democratic candidate will always be sound
enough on the temperance question, to answer
all practical purposes; while those, who agree
with the nominee in political opinions, support
him (if at all) with the certainty of thereby de
feating the candidate of the American party prop
er- And “mntatix mutandis ,” thosamo is true if
the temperance candidate be a Democrat. If he
should belong to neither party, his chances are
still worse, for he has no claims on any one. If
these views are just, it follows that the temper
ance party have nothing to gain by nominating
an independent candidate. As to what is their
true policy, I will venture an opinion in another
article, if you, Mr. Editor, think these random
thoughts worth the space the} 7 occupy in your
columns. RUSTICUS.
June 13th, 1857.
“More Grape.”
Mr. Editor : — Under all the circumstances it is
difficult to decide, what course it is best to pursue
in order to secure our object. But no decision
can be arrived at without investigation and discus
sion. It is not to be presumed that any one mind
will present any plan on which all can unite, or to
which objections will not be presented and urged.
But we must try to approach the subject in the
proper spirit, and by compromise, adjust our plan
of operations so as to secure the most general
support,
In the first place, in my humble judgment, w r e
want a ceutral head of more general hearing than
any we now have, in combination with more ex
ecutive power.
The Sons of Temperance and Knights of Jeri
cho, have considerable executive power, perhaps
nearly enough, but they do not, and can not, ope
rate extensively enough on the masses. Many
people have a deeply seated prejudice against all
secret organizations, and no matter how simple
the machinery, or however beneficial the object,
look upon them w ith coldness and absolute dislike
1 presume there are very many men in all com
munities whose sympathies are with us, who
would act and vote with us, if there was some or
ganization, having no secrets, by which they could
identify themselves with us. There are men dis
inclined to do by themselves, but who rally when
there is. a leader, an object, and numbers.
Then there are very many again, who are in
[dined to unite with one of the orders, but whose
means are limited and they do not feel able to
expend the amount needed to become members,
—and the amount annually required to remain
such. Still they wish to be of, and with us—feel
like working with us, and contributing something
for the promotion ot our cause. These arc de
prived of the power of doing and contributing the
little in their power, because they arc unable to
stand the expense.
‘The Temperance Convention is no more than
an association of such persons, as have leisure
time and spare money to go to, and defray the
expenses,©f an annual meeting. If it has a Con
stitution: nobody knows its provisions—and there
appears to be no auxiliaries, oor any attempt to
foi in any —and apparently no object. There is no
•definite plan Jaid down at oue meeting to beperse
jveml in by succeeding meetings. There is, it it
|very evident, an ardent desire to promote tem
p- ranee, and see it prevail over the land, but no
effort seems to be made at all adequate to success.
Tn truth and in fs ct, it is almost powerless as a
body. It can not, or does not bind itself even—
how, then, can it bo expected to bind subordinates.
Borne years since a Convention met, and a mas-
I terly address was delivered before it. The effort
1 demanded and received- the highest praise. On
! motion several thousand-copies were ordered to be
| published, and your predecessor executed the or
! dor. The Convention ordering the publication
made no provision for the payment. The next
Convention was composed of man, nearly all of
them new members. The matter was mentioned,
but nothing was done toward liquidating the debt.
Mr. Brantly was near 10-ing ilie amount. At the
succeeding Convention, composed mostly of new
men again, it was paid in part, and is probably
now all paid. But it lias been paid by men, who
had no agency in contracting the dept—and the
debt was contracted by persons, who left nothing
in the treasury, and h;ul no belief any means
would be in hand to meet the bill when presented.
If we recollect aright, the persons who moved and
carried the proposition'to publish, were nearly all
absent from the next Convention.
1 mention this to prove-the irresponsibility—
the want of identity—and continuity between the
Conventions of successive years.
Now, we want an organization with more con
centrated executive power than the temperance
Convention-—-so formed that the acts of one shall
be binding on its successors—and yet requiring
such small contributions, voluntarially made, as
will rally to its meetings, every man, woman and
child interested in the reform, whether able to
contribute or not.
PROHIBITION CRUSADER.
For the Crusader.
Mr. Seals —Dear Sir. —As the time is rapid
ly approaching for the, assembling of the Tenlper
, ance Convention it is meet that the friends o< tem
eratvee everywhere should express their views and
make suggestions as to the policy that should ha
persued by our Spartan Rand in the approaching
Gubernatorial and Legislature elections—like“YV”
of Augusta- —-I believe the friends of temperance
everywhere should be up and at work. We have
a glorious cause, and we have once buckled on the
armor and joined the Crusade and should not now
throw, it aside. True wo have onco boon defeated,
but bit us up and at them again—l clothed iny
sell with the Temperance Harness ten years ago,
and should I be spared to Jive an handled years
yet to come, I expect to the best of my ability to
fill the traces. I voted for B. 11. Overby at the
last election; and as much as I dislike ‘ Know
Noiltiugisni,” I voted for one of the critters for the
Legislature, because lie was an open and avowed
prohibitionist, and sir, Houston bad the credit of
electing a temperance man by the highest vote ever
given in the county.
Wo can do it again. Rut the question now is
what shall we do at the present time to further
the Caufio —first let every friend of temperance
take one or more temperance* papers and after
reading carefully, circulate them among the out
side, barbarous, and balf handed professors of re
ligion. You will find the Rhino $1 enclosed, send
me the Crusader to this place. 2d. Let us nom
nate B„ H. Overby again, and where we are no
able to run candidates of our own choice support
that man or men, let them be “Democrats” or
“Know Nothings” so they are right side up on the
Temperance Cause.
This sir is; my platform and not. wishing to dic
tate, would say it is a better one than the rickety
platforms of a great many of our professed temper
ance men, who are Gallant when the enemy is at
a distance; but when it cornea to the scratch are
ready to forsake principles for what they consider
policy. Let us go to work especially with Church
people for they are or should be the salt of the
earth, and when they falter all is lost. Perhaps
it would not be uninteresting to you and your nu
merous readers for me to gi /eyou a short history of
the ever varying phase of affairs at this place.—
During the last election as it may serve as a Bea
con to us, if not to others of the future. When
B. H. Overby was first nominated, had the elec
tion then taken place he would have received out
of 220 votes polled at this precinct not less than
175 votes, a month later and the number dwindled
down to 100, for at the time we had a league so
ciety and had a good chance to count noses.—
When the election came off he got 38 votes all
told. Now sir we have two large churches here
Methodist and Baptist, but when we came to count
out the votes two-thirds of the thirty-eight votes
east for Overby were not members of any church.
With these fads before us what is the legitimate
conclusion. Shall we set aside all those Methodise
and Baptists who were at first good temperance raem
but who when that over intense American feeling
burnt with increasing intensity, forsook the best of
causes and returned to their respective parties as
hypocrites ? bvjno means. When the mattor was
first submitted to them, they could look at it with
out a party or political bias, but when polticshad
reacbed its most exciting point they were easily per
suaded fur the lime that it was imposible to elect,
as they thought Overby, to day they are, and
should be held responsible before God for the suf
fering caused our beloved Georgia, by this demon
alcohol, deny it—who will, there are enough
staunch temperance men outsido of the church
ready and willing to co-operate with the churches
in the State to put it down. Then, Mr. Seals, let
tho reformation commence with the church.—
Thanks to a returning sense of right, as soon as
the election and excitement had past away, hun
dreds, yea thousands of voters in Georgia, and par
ticularly professors of religion regretted the part they
had acted in tho election and aro now like friend
“W” of Augusta —feel that they owe a debt to
Col. Overby and the cause that they long to pay,
at least such is the this section. At this
time there are no new political issues before the
people—the storm has past and left the political
firmament calm and serene. Let us mako one
more effort and bring the matter before the people
at this time when they can calmly deposit their
votes and then if there is not enough virtue in our
beloved Georgia to save it from the blighting curse
(f intemperance we will forsake the ship. B. 11.
Overby is the man to boar our Standard, he is the
choice of the people —his reputation has now been
extended far and wide, all unito in saying he is an
able Statesman and a good man. Should he be
again nominated, it will be unnecessary for him to
canvass the State, but he can stay at home and if
he will suffer his name to go before the people of
Georgia, he will find his “Rear Guard” he left up
on tho fit-id of Battle, has gone on and increased
until I it has bt come tho imperial army and ho the
Bonaparte to conduct it on lo glory and to honor.
A TEMPERANCE DEMOCRAT.
From the Index.
The effort now making by tho Board of Trustees
of Mercer University, to raise a fund to endow* the
“Sanders Professorship,” cannot fail of success, pio
vided the friends of tho Institution can be satisfied
as to its necessity. An opinion prevails among
many that the Mercer University needs no further
endowments, that it has even a superfluity of funds.
The object of this communication is to set the pub
lic right on this point
The last report of the Treasurer, shows that tho
entire cash endowment amounts to one hundred and
twenty one thousand four hundred and fifteen dolars,
ninety-six cents; and thus including $5041 47 of
outstanding interest—the amount available for The
ological purposes is $39,892 48; and for Literary
purposes $81,523 05. Tako a series of years and
the income, inc ! tiding tuition, has averaged about
$12,500 00; up to 1856 this has been amplo to
meet all expenditures and leave a handsome sur
plus.
The Board of Trustees feeling the necessity of
making provisions for the tuition of modern lan
guages, at their meeting in Savannah, elected an ad
ditional officer, and also increased the salary of the
President, so that the salaries now amount to sll
- lenvingonly $l,lOO to meet all incidental ex
penses, among which may be mentioned insurance,
and increase of library and apparatus. Does not
the foregoing statement render it apparent to all
that a further endowment is necessary ? Influenced
by repeated recommendations of the Convention,
the Board of Trustees have recently employed and
sent into the field Brother J. F. Swanson, who is in
structed to raise, if practicable, $25,000 to endow
the new Professorship. Can this bo accomplished ?
The answer must be left to tho survivors of that old
and faithful host of brethren by whose liberality
the present endowment was raised, and to the mul
titude who have since been brought into the Church
es, but, W'ho have not before, for the want of an op
portunity, contributed anything to the funds of our
noble Institution. And brethren and friends whilst
you arc giving your money, do not forget to send
your sons, to swell tho number of those who annu
ally go up to Penfield to avail themselves of tho ad
vantages afforded by your liberality. Let those
now on the stage of action come forward then, and
endow the “Sanders Professorship,” and those who
may secure them a “Mallary” or some other Profes
sot ship, and in the lifetime of some now living
Mercer University may be made what Mercer him
self, and the earlier friends of the Institution looked
forwaid to and so long and ardently prayed for
THOMAS J. BURNEY^
• , Treasurer M. U.
|3r°The latest English papers announce the death
of Kobt Burns, the eldest son of tho famous poet—
He died at Dumfries, Scotland, at the advanced age
of seventy-seven, attended by his brothers William
and James, who hold high rank in the military ser
vice of the East India .Company. Tho deceased was
said to have inherited a portion of his father’s poeti
cal genius, and to have written some very charming
lyrical pieces; but he Wrote very little, and led a life
of easy retirement for many years, in the enjoyment
of a good income, arising from a pension paid him
by the British Government for previous public ser
vices.
EP-An old man once said: “For a long period I
puzzled myself about tho difficulties of the Scripture,
till at last I came to tho resolutions that reading the
Bible was like eating fish. When I find a difficulty
I lay it aside and call it a bone. Why should I choke
on the bone When there is so much nutiitious meat
forme? Someday, perhaps, I may find that even
the bono may afford me nourishment.”
€\t Ctnprana Crusakr,
PENFIELP GEORGIA. ~~
Thursday Morning, June 26,1857.
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do o by a written communication; refusing to take the pa
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privilege to subscribe or not, as he may think proper.
L arU1 P otl< ? e of the published fact, that our terms are
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A GEE NT S .
ELNEWMON .°°. Athens
BANKS .. .Covington.
J N . COT I Calhoun.
M P SCALES, ....CarnesvilieCa.
M W VANDIVKRK Dalton, Ga.
T J WIDLIAMS Ktherage
W W CARNES .. .” .'.'.'.Fort Valiev.
Franklin, oa.
JABE BRASWELL Fairburn, Ga.
JEHSK V CAMPBELL, Griffin, Ga.
J H PUCKETT, Hog Mountain.
K WIIIGHAM Louisville, Ga.
J M DORSEY, Leo. Ga.
W A MORRIS, ; Marietta.
J CO BURNETT Macon.
J A J HARRELL MilledgevMl, Ga.
B ACARBON, Orangeburg 8 C.
D PRICE Pickens C. 11., S. C.,
HD MOORE, Pleasant Hill.
WMM HUMPHREY, Powelton.
JOHN M NEEL •
B C JOHNSON, Rome Oa,
K A KING, Roswell.
J M PINKSTON Sparta.
and ®,®ROOME, Tallahassee, Fla.
W F MORGAN, Tennille, Ga.
ABNER STANLEY Traveling Agt.
M BTJRNIECE, ....Warrington, Fla.
REV- LEWIS PARKER, Walterboro.’ S. C.
J Traveling Agent in
Hall and Habersham counties, Oa.
The State Temperance
Convention
Meets in Atlanta on Thurs
day, the 9th of July. Rev.
J. E. Ryerson of Augusta
will deliver the Annual Ad
dress.
All temperance men in
the are expected to
attend.
The Convention will as
semble at 10 o’clock in the
City Hall.
Rbv. Lewis Renbau, has boon giving U 8 a series
of able and pointed communications addressed to
tho voting members of the church who refuse to
voto against the liquor traffic. His positions are
tenable and we hope those to whom they arc address
ed have been reading them closely as they have
successively appeared in this paper. See No. V. on
the first page.
The “ Argument ” of Justice on the outside of this
issue, against the license system is valid and to
the point We invito attention to it. It is to be
regretted that “Justice” has not “pitched in” before.
We hope to hear from him again.
There is an immense deal of reality in the “Twi
light Dream” of Miss C. W. Barber.
Femme beautifully penetrates those mysterious,
alluring signs called “The Shades ” and lets a little
light in them—their inward corruption is made
manifest.
reasons well. He is a staunch temper
ance man of the first quality —one whom wo ad
mire, and ho must not fail to give us his views every
occasionally. But wo hope the question which he
argues, that of running an independent candidate,
is settled as inexpedient. If however, any art
still of that persuasion wo invito them to his argu
ment We especially call the attention of
“A Temperance Democrat ” to it, who recommends
the nomination of a Candidate, and wishes B. H.
Overby to be the man. In the first place, it is not
at all probable that Mr. Overby would accept a nom
ination, and in the next place, it would bo unbecom
ing in us to ask him to do it, after so cruelly sacri
ficing him in the last campaign. Tho remarks of
“A Temperance Democrat ” to the members of the
church in Fort Valley are good. We are pleased
with them and would like to hear from him again.
- -
The Last Temperance Convention
passed
this resolution, “That the Executive Committee
prepare and furnish the Convention with a Constitu
tion and by-laws at its next annual meeting,”
The Executive Committee are G. B. Haygood, L.
Doan, Ira O. McDaniel, C. W. Arnold, Wm. J.
Griffies.
i —i
Another Temperanoe Ship
freighted with
foi'ty noble souls has cut loose from the wicked moor
ing of alcohol and launched out into tho stream of
sobriety .Heaven grant her a prosperous and success
ful cruise! This is the result of Uncle Dabney’s
effort in Newnan.
Errata.—
Very unfortunate and funny typograph
ical errors are sometimes made by printers in our
contributions, and frequently, being hurried in read
ing the proof-sheets and very often reading them
without the MS. before us, tho mistakes escape our
notice. In a communication recently, from Miss
Barber, tho printer published an old lady as a
“touchless crane,” which Miss 8., spoke of as a
“toothless crone,” and again some lines by “Jenny
Woodbino” which she addressed to “Susie Snow
drop” the printer addressed them to “Susio Snow
ball.”
In writing for the press it is desirable that the manu
scripts be written as legibly as possible.
The Problem.—
We have received two elaborate
solutions of the problem taken from Greenleaf,
which appeared in our paper a short time since.—
One by W. D. Sullivan, Esq., and the other from J.
M. D. Wobb. We are very sorry to inform them
that we are not prepared w ith the type to set them
up, the long IVactiong which each one introduces jn
his solution, could not be Ret in figures in but few
printing offices, and to spell them out would occupy
more room in our columns than we have to spare.
We have not had the time to examine the correct
ness of the work, but each one we notice has solved
it upon pretty much the same principle.
The Senior Class
Os Mercer University graduat
ed on the 10th inst. Rufus E. Lester, of Burke
county, took the Ist honor; Isaiah A. Wilson, of
Talbot county, took the 2d ; ThaddeusC. McClen-
of Wilkes, the 3d. Tho class numbered 17.
4ii
The Commencement Sermon —
of the Mason
ic Female College, located at Covington, will he
preached on Sunday the 12th of July, by Rev. 11. II
Tuckeii, of Penfield. The Junior exhibition takes
place on the 13th and 14th. The 15th is commence
ment day, Hon. G. E. Thomas of Columbus will de
liver the Annual address. A grand Masonic pro
cession will be formed on commenceinen; day, and
the fraternity throughout the State arc cordially in
vited to join it.
■*•••>
A Sunday Request.—
The first bell for church
exercises on the Sabbath rings, giving a half-hour’s
notice to prepare for church; the last bell rings
eight minutea, giving every one ample time to reach
the Chapel from any part of tho Village before it
ceases; but, it is invariably the case, that after it
stops ringing a number of rough-shod persons, (most
of whom have, perhaps, been standing at the door
for fifteen minutes or more,) rush in as though it
were a theatre, without any regard or respect to
person or place, to the great annoyance of the entire
congregation. It would be a very easy matter to
avoid making this disturbance, and besides, it is
very unbecoming. We would be pleased to see
those who are in the habit of doing so, correct them
selves as an especial favor to the Choir. The Minis
ter proceeds immediately after the bell stops ringing
to announce and read a hymn to be sung, and as
some of them, (preachers,) speak very low, ( owing
perhaps to weal lungs.) It is impossible for the
Choir to hear tho hymn annouced when this stam
peding is going on.
Young men never think of the imprudence in
thus stalking in the House of Worship, and we be
lieve our young friends will gladly correct them
selves on having their attention directed to it. We
speak particularly of the rushing in at the front door
of the Chapel —the young men who go in at the
back door are generally all seated before tho bell
stops.
A Suggestion.
We are pleased to see the friends of temperance
in different parts of the State ready and willing to
give their views upon the subject at this import
ant time, and we readily give placo in our columns
to any one wishing to express himself. It is doubt
less observed by all, that there is great diversity of
opinion among those who have laid their sentiments
before the public, but that of course is a natural
consequence, just what might be expected, yet, it is
of no harm, but perhaps a benefit, as it will secure
a more extensive expression of sentiment, and ena
ble us to find out the posit'ons of temperance men
generally, which will possess us of all the diifercnt
plans of proceed are, in the minds of our friends, and
thereby enable us by investigating them all to secure
the most expedient. We publish the views of each,
without any pat (icular comments.
But the idea which we intended to advance
here, is this: while a general expression of opinion
upon this subject through the press is desired by
each and ail of us, yet a bare expression and noth
ing more will not effect anything to-wards advancing
the work of reform, and hence arises the importance
of each one who has an opinion, to express it pub
licly and then attend the Convention to advocate
it. Tin’s very diversity of sentiment renders it
essentially important to hold conventions, and im
poses an imperious duty upon all temperance men
to attend them. Our friends must assemble them
selves together and counsel and advise, reason and
investigate, adopt and expunge, in short hold a se
rious and unimpassioned council and adopt that
course which wise policy dictates, to meet the exi
gencies of the cause. What we want is concert of
action, — li a pull altogether .” The statements of
“Prohibition Crusader ” upon the nature of our
efforts, organizations and Conventions, are correct,
and unless our annual assemblings ‘together are
productive of much more good than they have been
for many years past, it will be a waste of time and
money to attend them. We must have n thorough
and systematic organization, and let it be as some
would term it, the “great central head.” Preceding
Conventions have usually met, and passed a few el
oquent, blustering resolutions which wore never
seen, heard nor thought of, afterwards. Even in
subs quent Conventions the proceedings of a pre
ceding one have never been read, nor introduced,
The last Convention passed a resolution requiring
the Secretary to purchase a book and keep a record
of the proceedings of each Convention, a collection
was taken up to make the purchase, and as wo have
the honor to occupy that post, that one resolution
shall he executed. Another was passed requiring
tho Executive Committee to prepare and furnish the
Convention with a Constitution and By-laws.
Let the friends generally turn out at the Conven
tion and we will organize anew.
Put IVIe Out.
Ah, poor fellow ! Well might he exclaim “put me
out” for the red-hot flames of hel!-iirc which know
no quenching, were blazing upon his immortal soul:
Tne uardians of the night in Albany were not a
little Surprised to hear, from a lowly gutter, late one
night last week, a sharp earnest cry, il jntt me out!
put me out /” On drawing near, they found a lusty
fellow sitting upon the curb, with his feet in the gut
ter, and leaning against the iron post of one ol the
gas lamps. It was poor Tim Lightbo.lv, and the de
lirium tremens had overtaken him in the gutter. —
His brains were on fire and his vitals burning up
with rum. And now as he leaned back against the
post, so that the full glare of the brilliant gas light
shone into his wild and blood-shot eyes, an Imp ol
the Distillery whispered in his ear that bis head was
lire ! And poor Tim was in a condition to listen to
the grinning, chattering sprite, and as it disappeared
down the neck of a bottle, he lifted up his voice and
cried lustily :
“Put me out! Put ire out! Fire! Spon-ta-ne
-OUB coinbustation has took place! I'm in a light
blaze, sir! Away, away 1 ye wiroy goblins! I know
ye all! Ye are matches! Lucifer matches! Ye set
me in a blaze! Put me out! Water! Water!—
Blow in my, my ears, if they ain’t burnt out! Blow’
down my throat! quick, it’s red hot! Oh, some
body put me out! Put me out!
And then tho watchmen took him in charge, and
put him in the watch-house, where he raved till
morning, and then, very early in the day, died.—
Poor Fellow ! lie was “put out” most effectually,
and by an agent that has prematurely snuffed out
tho light of life many millions of times, and filled
numberless graves with nameless, loathsome, unwept
mortals. These are thy doings, all-destroying Alco
hol.
py We should have a glorious conflagration, if all
who can not put fire into their w’orks, would only
consent to put their works into the fire.
Pretty excuse for a wife heater. — The treasure
which we value most we hide.
PyThe most insidious destroyer of life in this
country is consumption; it carries off one hundred
thousand persons annually.
Gossip in Little Towns.
“Thera is a lust in man no charm can tame
Os loudly publishing his neighbors shame
It is the nature of the human mind to keep it
self constantly engaged; when it cannot find ono
thing to feed upon it will seek another, and if there
be no reality upon which it can operate it will create
something,^—and this creating tendency is very
largely develop© 1 in the minds of some people, and
always exhibits itself when they speak of men and
women. There is a natural inclination in tho dis
positions of a great many beings to concern them
selves particularly with othor people and their af
fairs, forgetting the old proverb that “he is w<Sll en
gaged who properly attends to his own business.”
Especially is this the case in all small towns and
villages. In those little places each personage sits
in judgement upon the character, conduct, and ap
pearance of all the rest, and there is always an ever
lasting volley of discreditable reports circulating th<j
first about one and then another,
“Soft buzzing slander; silky moths, that eat
An honest name.”
An unguarded word spoken in jest, or a friendly
joke, is caught up and started round on the magico
electrieal chord to generate a fume. One person
has been saying harsh things about another, which
a third one heard and communicated, and a coolness
grows up between two friends ; a young gentleman
has spoken disrespectfully of a young lady and her
virtuous character is questioned ; this man is close,
stingy, and underhanded—and that one foolishly
extravagant; such a woman is a mean, unprinci
pled neighbor, borrows and never repays, beats her
negroes, and cares for nobody but herself; a certain
young lady has been too familiar with some young
man, and her reputation is stained ; such a young
girl is a rollicking Tom-boy; and such a young fel
low isa low-life, trilling lounger; tho Minister is a
detestable hypocrite; the Physician an ignorant em
piric, and the Lawyer a mere skinning pettifogger ;
such a one is a swell-head aristocrat, becauso ho has
a little money. Let a man become a littlo unpopu
lar and there is nothing he can do that will not bo
construed into a moan, underhanded trick, —his ev
ery motive however pure is questioned, and pervert
ed by base misrepresentations. If a young lady
gives way to a “flow of foeling” and laughs a hearty
laugh, lifts her dress clear of the ground in crossing
the muddy ditch, stops in the street to shake hands
with a young man a good old friend, and inquires
after his health, she is pronounced coarse, vulgar
and unlady-likc. Let a young man through gen
tlemanly deportment, and honorable means, or by
his talents becomo a favorite in tho place, and
receive a little more respect than some others,
and nothing more is necossary to create against him
a score of bitter enemies and villainous falsifiers—
gro n-cyed jealousy actuates their depraved hearts. If
you dont pay marked respect to overy person you
meet, you are proud—it makes no difference how
much absorbed you may be, in matters which deep
ly concern your own interest, it is no apology for
your not bowing and scraping, and broaching a con
fab with everybody that passos. Such is the state
of things in nearly all littlo towns, and it always
makes them very undesirable places. There seems
to be a self-constituted set w r ho servo as mediums
for the communication of lies, slanders, heart-burn
ings and social disruptions among tho citizens—a
regular set of tale-bearers, raven-hearted slanderers,
spoilers of fair innocence. Tho most unspotted
purity, even tho sanctity of tho tomb is unprotect
ed against these back-biting mouths.
But there is another class of persons in these
little Towns, who, though perhaps it might be un
just to brand them as slanderers, are equally detest
able. They are those who serve as tho commu
nicators of the opinion which one person entertains
of another. Having perchanco heard someone ex
press himself concerning some other citizen, wheth
er it be complimentary or the reverse, they seem to
regard it a good opportunity to mako themselves
popular with the one spoken of, by informing him
as a friend of such ones remarks or opinions concern
ing him. Such as that always shows a deficiency in
the brain We had as soon be suspected of being
a thiel as such a character, one in whose presence
people would fear to speak lest their remarks be
catchcd up and circulated round.
The slanderer- who does not loathe him as the vilest
whelp of sin? Base felon, un whipped ofjustiee, black
with infamy and guilt, darker than the blood-stained
soul of the assassin !
“A whisper woke the air—
A soft light tone and low,
Yet barbed with shame ami woe—
Now might it only perish there i
Nor farther go.
Ah me ! a quick and eager ear
Caught up the little meaning sound !.
Another voice has breathed it clear,
And so it wanders round
From ear to lip from lip to ear—
Until it reached a gentle heart
And that—it broke !”
Eloquent Passage
The following beautiful pas
sage is from a lecture on “The Philosophy ol Life,”
delivered a short time since py Mr. Winter, at Cam
bridge, Mass. Mr. Winter is a young man, not more
than twenty years of age and ha? already won a
high reputation as a poet and prose writer:
“For the greatest human intellects there is no ex
emption from tho common doom. I have some
times thought how sad yet how sublimo must have
been the emotions of that man, whose privilege it
was to stand by the coflin of Shakespeare, and gaze
on that sweet and noble face, when death had called,
out all the strange beauty which forever lives there.
It was worth a lifetime to have stood there ono min
ute—to have laid a hand on that broad brow, and
started at the cold chill; and 80 pausing to have
called up in memory all the magnificent creations of
his genius, and worshipped him there in the silence
of gloom.”
Rut he is dead and gone;
At his head a grass greeu turf,
At his heels a stone.
“So they all go. Man dies, but nature is eternal.
The seasons keep thoir appointed time; day returns
with its golden splendor and night with its eloquent
mystery. The same stars which lit the ghastly bat
tle field of Troy—rough with the dead bodies of an
cient heroes, which shone on the marble streets of
imperial Rome, and on the sad eyes of Virgil, sleep
less in the living glow of inspiration—the watch-fires
of the angels, which, through centuries of devesta
tion and change, have still burned on unceasingly
—speak to us as they did to Dante, and Shakespeare,
and Milton, of the divine glory, the omnipotence, tho
everlasting beauty and love of God!”
Brief but to the Point.—
A gentleman recent
ly traveling in Mississippi had an opportunity of at
tending a wedding of the real old fashioned sort in
one of the remote rural districts of that State. Tho
words of the parson officiating on the occasion, struck
him, slightly as peculiar, and he therefore penciled
them on his bootleg for future reference. Here they
are:
“Mr. Solomon Huscbrit, do you take Miss Terreasa
Britton, who you hold by the l ight hand, to be your
bed’ed and wed’ed wife—forsaking all other women
but her, promising to love her in sickness and in
health —in madness, in illness, and in contrariness—
so long as you shall live on this yearth ? Misss Ter
reasa Britton, Ac., &. Sich being your promises I
pronounce you Husband and Wife, and bid you go
iu peace; and may the lord keep you both straight,
A—meir.”