Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1829-08-12
MIsCELLANEcUs.
Fram ~ Jgmnal 81 HamaMiIu.

The following confessions OF a Prisoner IN one
ofour state pcnhentares, present some interesting
facts in relation 10 the nsidious progress of thf
vice ofIorempcrance aud the power ola vicious
habit against the remonstrances ofreason and con-
science. They are contained in communication
addressed some months since, 10 the General A.
gent ofihe American Temperance Society. The
unhappy author discloses his avn history with
much apparent fMthtulness. In the course of
private note, he fankly remark, certainly l do
otwrte now for finc, aud have endoavored to
dwell more briefly upon the figoral lhlu The IN
favorable parts Of n,y unhappy story
SIR:-I address You from Ahe solitary
cell ola peniteniiary prison. The specific
crime aIledged against me is forgery; but
the cause Of my present condition, and oil.
all the calamIties which have attended my
devious career of life, IS The SRc5nGtiRg
botcl Nearly fouryeors have passed since
entered these dreary walls and more Than
three others remain for me to spend here.
An offended God, IN wrath remembered
mercy. The morning bittogs, the drains
of the day or of the night have not reached
me. Eyes that were once lnlamed have
acquired their native clcarness, trembling
limbs have resumed their wonted functions
Internal levcrs and burnings, are qucnched
Ruined, degraded and wretched, as my
condition may seem, it is very possible,
that when the scaled book shall be opened,
it will appear that with me the prison was
substituted for tomb; that while LRtemper-
ancc was hurrying thousands TO the gates
of death, was rescued, Gas brand from
the burning" Ii the graves which intcm-
perance, this prime minister ofDeath, has
peoplcd. should "burst their marble Jaws"
to raise a warming voice TO The living, the
church yards would fcariuly yawn, as by
a mighty earthquake, and the united mou
tons Of all thai is loathsome, appalling or
fearful, would cry 10 the yotaries Of the
cup, in moro than human accents, BetcarcI
But though no spirit may rise from the
tombs of the dead, "a warning voice may
come forth from the dungeons Of the liv-
ing" And whenever punishment, whc
thcr considered as the necessary sanction
to human laws, or as the dispensation Of
an overruling Proyidence has produced its
legitimate effect; whenever the pride OF
the human heart is hnmbled under the
mighty hand of an offended heaven, there
will be no hesitation IN stating the causes
which led TO infamy and ruin.
While could wishto spare the feelings
of the connexions ofmy family; for myself
should be willing that the story of one,
whose earthly hopes intemperance had
blasted should be written upon the walls
of the city, ond find its way TO every tap
room in ihc nation. ! find myself sur
rounded with more than five hundred be
ngs, in The same condition with myself
The atmosphere breathe is agtated with
signs and groans; and my individual ca
amily seems lost in the Indebtedness that
surrounds me- Where shall we look for
the source of all this miscry2 Let the
keepers docket tell. Theft, forgery, bur
glary, beastiaIiy, rape, mnrGe f; every sPe-
cies of crime, at the name of which the
soul rccoIls, appears in the black caia
ogue. These are specific actions, upon
the perpetrators Of which the law can fix its
hold But the vice Which leads TO every
other. eludes the grasp of The law.
Ennamcd eyes, bloated visage, paisied
limbs, sickness, poverty, or even death,
arc not tho things which give this vice its
most appalling aspect. II unnenes the
soul more ieorlully than it does the body.
It gradually destroys the neral sensibilities
Of the heart, and rouses the violent pas
sions OF our depraved nature. Itmars the
soft and refined emotions of the soul, like
The hidious trail of the serpent over the
brightest blossoms Of Eden. Ii the pillow
be some times the place Of serious thought,
the lbation of the morning obliterates the
salutary lesson. One draught calls for a
second, the second still moro loudly for the
third. another for another, until every other
sentiment and feeling is lost in the insatia-
bic cry-'sgiCc, gre" Such was once
my condition. saw indeed that destruc-
ton was before me, and still approached.
with accelerated pace, the hOrrid gulf
When a child, ] once saw bud charmed
by the sparkling eyes ola serpent, and ap-
preaching near the reptile which lurlsed
for its destruction. When, from pity,
destroyed The enchanter, and set the iiul-
tering captive free, how little did ! think
that | should ever be enchanied-that the
fnghtful fit of perdition should yawn before
me, and vet that | should voluntarily rush
with open eyes, towards the abyss. An
everything Providence inteTPOsed, and my
career Of vice was arrested BY the arm Of
civil authority.
The destiny which denied me the accus-
toned sfiunlns. was. ut The first. inovnres-