The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-10-03
From the Christian Observer.
Remarks d1 ing ajomafy through Mott
.fii4tfieq

morals and manners of thc nited States
: ana as these were among the topics ol
which you requested information, avail
myself of Il little leisure Tonight To- com
ply With your wishes. | rlHst, how.Nc r
remind you, that do not pretend 10 give
you an accurate picture of American mo,
rails Ia task to Which feel myself lncom.
petent, although ] have pnrpos.ly deferred
writing on the subject I'LL IN the very
eve of embarkihg,) but merely 10 send
you The observations of solitary traveller
the impressions have received IN pas
sing rather hastily over this extensive coun-
| Try.
II ! were writing 10. less iudicious
Hffend, would also remind him that | de-
i not feel myself responsible fur any general
conclusion he might draw from partt ular
facts, or bound to reconcile the diseordani
differences he might deduce from my
statements | attn answciable for the facts
| only. and If they sometimes leave YOU in
ean unsatisfactory state Of suspense, from
which you are strongly tempted To relieve
yourself by lumpngto conclusion, can
only assure you, thai am often IN the
| same predicamcnt, aud would gladly re-
liese us both by some bouncing assertions,
II could do it with sincerity but there
have been bounceS enough on the subject
| Of America already.
The state OF morals differs so much IN
different parts of America, that no general
description would be applicable to the
whole. Indeed, one might almost as wrIl
attempt 10 include in one general dcscrip-
! ton the various countries of Europe as the
United States of America for although
an uniform system of government produces
many prominent features of common
character in all the members of this great
confederation, yet the whole range of eli
mate embraces by IFS extensive limits,
the great variety ofhahlts, objects and feed
lngs, and especially of political and rel-
glous sentiment, which prevailed among
the first settlers Of the different States, the
diversified pursuits and occupations of the
present inhabitants, the admission or pro
scriptlon of slavery aud a Thousand other
circumstances, have contributed to estab.
llsh the most marked distinctions, and
often 10 present the most striking contrasts,
between the several sections of the Union.
Allthls must render any general account OF
American morals q little prolix and perplcx.
ed. will rely, therefore, on your induI-
gence5 and will commence with what has
long been considered crying sin through
out the Union ntemperance
The hahitual use of ardent spirits IL in
deed very general. Even in the Eastern
States II is not uncommon: but IN the
Middle and still more in the Southern
States, it prevails to lamentable extent.
Under the denominations of anti f0gmatics
mint julep and gin sling, ecpidus libatious
are poured out on the affairs of Bacthus by
votaries who often commence their sacri-
fees early in the morning, and renew them
at intervals during the day: and yet | have
not seen six instances of brutal intoxication
since | landed in Amerca-nor, except
among the poor corrupted frontier Indians,
twenty cases in which had reason to be
lieve the faculties were in any ease disOr.
dered The dccanters Of brandy that are
placed on the dinner tables mt the inns, for
the guests to help themselves, without
additional charge have never seen used
but with moderation and, on the whole,
| would say decidedly that, taking Amer.
ga generally from Maine 10 Louisiana, tyou
know that have seen few Of The Western
STATES the sin ofdriuaing to excess prevails
lees extensively there than IN England
thai, whatcvrr may be the injury to the
constitution from the common nsr of spi.
rits instead Of malt liquor, there is less de
rangcmcnt Of the faculties, less waste of
time, and perhaps Of money, and far less
misery detailed on suffering families from
mtemperate drinking IN this country than
IN our own. There is, indeed, far more
dreadful squandcring of time in bar-rooms
IN many parts of America; but it is IN
cigar-smoking, and is not generally attend
ed with pinchipg effects, or deserted wife
or hungry children.
DRAINS are taken a. Il were, "ch pas
SAINT" solitary, and in parenthrss; not in
social circle round 4 blazing fire, where
AT this moment | see John Bull sitting in an
old armed chair, three-legged deal table
before hlm, his heart expanding rs his
blood warns, one hand on the knee OF his
next nelghbor, or patting him ON the back,
the other pushing round the common tan
kard, the bond of good fellowship, which
after few more circuits viii too probably
convert this exhibition of rude enjoyment
into melancholy scene Of ntoxIcalion,
IN which man delaces the immagr Of his
Maker, and degrades himself TO a level with
the brutcs.
In the higher classes, there is great mo-
derailon in the pleasures of the table. in
the Eastern aud Middle States at least; aud
as far as my experience goes, in the higheSt
circles, in tie South. In Boston, n. York
and Philadelphia, even parties seldom dine
later than three O'Clock ithtre are some
exceptions, l.and they usually disperse after
taking two or three glasses lwine. What
may be the case at the parties of dissipated
young men, or at public dinners whether
there is a Madeira guage of 2epnblicanism,
as we measure loyalty by Port, do hot
know, AT q public agricultural dinner, at
] N Inch | ,rue nrnsnnt 50 hcrr Ihcrc ,Anri. nnc