Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-10-04

ply, he 10 inclined to think, would nave given u
80 strange an application. He thought he had
observed little relaxation on the part Of the CT
tizens generally, perhaps. by the ex
ltraordinary exemption from the disease they have
experienced thus far,-and the remark was cur
sorily made, with the sole view of reminding them
that our future safety depended much upon per-
severance in measures ofprevcntion. With re-
gard to the prudence of our citizens generally.
in eating and drinking, Ihave no data upon which
to form an opinion-consequently my means OF
information on this point are exceedingly limit
ed. am glad to hear from Consistency %
however. that these things arc as they should be,
and that temperance and abstemiousness are the
order of the day.
| Consistency" has further informed US, 6 that
for two months past there have been meetings al.
most every night, by Protestant and Episcopal
Methodists, as well as by other sects, during
| which time the health Of the city has been very
good; and at the present time the meetings are
not SO numerous as they were four weeks ago."
Let US adopt Consistencv's" mode of reason
ing. aud We shall see what this statement proves.
AT the present time, we are told, night meetings
are not so numerOusly attended as they were four
weeks ago, and then we had no case of Cholera:
Now. that the said meetings have grown some
what unpopular, as we are given to understand,
the Cholera has broken out, and is assuming
threatening sspect-ergo, night meetings should
be increased and multiplied; for it is plainly de.
monstrated that they are an antidute against dis
ease!
In giving the extract from a London paper,
Precauon" merely stated that the people as.
sembled in pursuance of a religious notion. 1t
was TO him of little consequence what brought
them together-it was the heart piercing specta-
Gle that Immediately succeeded that event, to
which he particularly fnvited attention. There
was not, as +" Consistency" declares. the slight
est animation :. that their religions notion con-
tributed greatly to the ruinGus result" Can
Consistency" entertain the prcpnsterous idea,
inierable from his remark, IS that those Samese
met on the sea shore, in open daylight" that
object 10 the meetings Of the coored people solely
because they are held a, nigh,,in confined roomf
Inclined, as | am, to favor the uplnion that the
Cholera is contagious, my objection to them would
still exist, it they were held, like that of the STA.
mese, on the bank Of the river. in broad daylight
must remind ' Consistency" that took ex.
| cepton only TO the meetings Of the colored peo-
pie; and that exception rested upon what firm.
ly believe tenable grounds, The habits Of a
large portion Of this description Of our popula.
| ton are admitted to BE- indefensible and while
character Of the disease. would it not be prudent
| to disadvise the concentration Of such persons,
if for no other reason than for their own safety
and welfares must further inform "Consis-
tency," that LIDO not /" suppose" that either Re.
| fgiOn or superstition has the power Of superin-
iucing Cholera; though cannot say 50 much
as to their ability to disseminate it.
| Ii was not nv wish To have "a law made to
meet the case in question nor town meeting
called to adopt measures to do away the nuisance.
| The appeal was made to, and in behalf of, the
colored people themselves. If their own perso-
nal security is overlooked. and the dictates OF
prudence set at nought. they may indeed act
with - constituency but it will be consistency
! that is ever infatuated with obstinacy and error
g.. Whatever +" Consistency" may think OF my
remarks. is an affair of his own. cannot, how.
ever, consent that he shall interpret them for the
public, until he produces his credentials and
shows that he has been regularly installed for the
purpose The application he has given them IS
not only gratuitous, but erroneous. They never
were intended to apply "equally to people white
and colored." nor even TO the meetings OF the
colored people, a. meetings. for divine worship.
Large and frequent meetings OF this ciass-for
any purpose. at any time, bat more especially
the ent,-wOuld be considered equally rep
rehensib'e
II Consistency" has suffered from " dram
shops &C." or is in a way to suffer from them,
and ben YES that thew are capable Of superinduc.
ing Cholera. or any other disease. have no %.
lection 10 his entering a remonstrance against
them Not being comprehensive Of danger from
that quarter" myself, | shall leave the matter
where, peradventure. it more properly belongs.
In conclusion, Mr.. Editor. would just re.
mark that this is subject that merits attention,
as we'll from every Christian as from every friend
to obedience and order. At the present mo-
ment, security from pei,ence and death invites
it: to say nothing Of the prospective view of the
subject. which will suggest itself to the mind OF
every rejecting individual.
PRECAUTION