Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-12-21


his conscience be easy, even under the mere pro-
liability of the fact! Weknow the vender says
he is not answerable for the consequences; mat
he frowns upon intemperance. and withholds 'he
Gun from the drunkard; but il is nofso Doeshe
mot know the effects of ardent spirits Does he
not know the consequences which 1t will assured I
" produce! Does he not know that OF those "ho
drink many will be drunken? Can he supply
the cause, and detach himself from the effect!-
Can he spread the contagion among tam'l'es'
and. when he hears the dying sroan and sees the
funeral, tell you that he is lnnocent'"
We would again invite all who are willing 10
abandon forever, the use of ardent spirit, and as
far as in their power, to destroy ITS use III the
community, to unite with US. great moral
change has already taken place in the World
within few years, and it is increasing Happy
are they who have been Instrumental IN produc
inc it! Our institution has only the good OF our
felIow.men IN view, and has been blessed OF
Heaven. Unite with MS, then, in Fastening on
that period when the Sun of Righteousness shall
arise. in full meridian splendor, over our world.
{ For the following interesting letter, we are in'
debted to one who was on the spot
To The Editor oftAe New York american:
| FoRr MlrcHELL, ALABAMA.
| have seen in YOU: paper notice OF the ra-
wages made by the small pox among the Indians
| in this vicinity, but no one but an eye witness
could form any idea OF the CONSERVATION spread
among this simple and superstlous race, by the
IS tyhi all
usual remedies, such as simples, &c. were fruit
less or served to render it the more violent
In vain was held the midnight dance-in vain
they resored to fantastic rites and ceremonies,
to avert the pestilence; these. by collecting from
distant parts large numbers OF people. served on.
ly to disseminate the poison more widely An
utter panic ensued throughout the Indian coun
try; in some instances whole eighborhoods were
deserted, or only tenanted by those already IN
fected This state Of things was of course soon
known at the Agency, which is situated remote
from the original theatre Of the disease. DIR.
Wharton, the Army Surgeon, at Fort Mitchell.
immediately on hearing OF il, undertook the be-
nevolent task of vaccinating the Indians; this
course was warmly approved an! turthered by
the excellent Agent, COL Crowell; and. as soon
as information could be received from Washing
ton, sanctioned by the War Department.
think the benefits resulting from vaccination
were seldom more ampl, demonstrated.
When we reflect that this terrible disease was
rife through the entire Greek territory, (compris-
ing a region $50 miles long by 20 broadly and
that owing to the erratic habits of the Indians
their whole population about 2o,Oooo) were with
in its sphere, it is, indeed surprising that not
more than 200 have died; and of these, the prn.
cipa part, if not all, had mel beeu vaccinated.
Between 7 and 5000 we're vaccinated at the
Agency alone.
Too much praise cannot BE- given to DR.. Whar.
ton, who, in pursuance Of his arduous duty, ira
yelled over a great extent of country; and had
not only to encounter the fatigue incidental to
such Journey but, in many instances, to com
bat the preudces and superstiti0ns of the natives
Many melancholy, and some lu,licrous events
took place during the prevalence Of the disease,
among the former there is but too well authen-
ticated instance of an Indian woman numbering
her own sick husband. with the hope of escaping
infection-poor wretch, she died few days at.
ter. know OF another action of a far nobler, but
not less tragic cast, & which in the days of Greece
would, perchance, have been deemed worthy
to have been commemorated BY statue. A chiefs
sister. in the bloom of YOUTH residing in the IN
terror of the nation, felt herself to be infected;
she called her relatives around her, Told them she
knew that she had imbibed the disease; she might
recover, or 10 use her own expressive lansuage)
might soon be called by the Master of Breath.
Sine knew that It was contagious and dctermln-
ed not to suffer her life to te prolonged few days
or many hours, at the hazard OF causing death to
those dearest to her on earth; .she went and
hanged herself" The Indians almost universally
abandoned the hus of those who died, and for
months stunned all approach to their vicinity.
fear you will think the foregoing very tedious
and inane; if so do not publish it. but thought
you might like to see some account of the pro-
gress among the sons Of the Forest, of disease
which occasions so much alarm among their CT
vilized neishbors. y.
Trial By Jury.-'rhe following important re.
commentator appear, in the Third Report Of the
English Law Commissioners, which has just been
printed Itrefers to civil CAUSES Jury not to
be kept in deliberation longer than twelve hours,
unless at the end of that period they unanimous.
ly apply for further tme-at the end Of that time
g t.a al