Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1833-07-31

where blood and carnage met them al
every step, and success crowned their
efforts. 1t is true, that some were open
Ily opposed to the measures then pursued
and preferred to hug the chains which
bound them to a tyrant's throne; and
some proved recreant to the holy
cause they had espoused; but this did
not deter those who preferred death to
slavery from their onward course. So
let US act. Ours, it is true, is, in regard
to ourselves, bloodless warfare; the
enemies against which we are contend
ing are the habits and practices of our
neighbcrs and friends. Ours is the
peaceful remedy, our weapons temperate
example and moral suasion;-they have
heretofore proved efficient when judi
ciously used. Let us stand by ourprin-
ciples; let our motto be temperance, and
our march onward-and trusting in the
God of battles and the justice of our
cause, we may reasonably hope to revo-
lutionize the moral world. And we
need not marvel if some refuse to join
us, as was the case with our fathers; nei-
Their should we be discouraged if some
prove recreant, as some did in the cause
just alluded to. This is to be expected,
and it should not attach scandal to the
Temperance cause; but rather let it rest
as it ought to do, upon those who 'secede'
as they literally 'mullJy' their own
pledges. The temperance cause has
become decidedly popular, and it re-
|quires no great degree of sagacity to
discover what will be the result.
But, my fellow citizens, while we are
cheered with past occurrences and pros
poets of success, we still have great cause
for sorrow and regret. Some of our
friends and dearest relations are found in
the ranks of the Incorporate. We can,
no doubt, most Of US, call to our recollec-
ton the case of some individual with
whom we have been acquainted for years.
perhaps from infancy,-who is now poor
vagabond, outcast from society, and de-
pendant,'perhaps, for scanty subsistence
upon the charity of those who would have
led him in the paths of temperance and
FlIluCs WOuiu liz nave Jul dttCuuCu W
their friendly admonitions. We can well
recollect the scenes of his CHILDHOOD, his
youthful innocence, and how, with joyous
glee, we have rambled together DER YER,
dant fields and fragrant meadows, or in
a sultry summers day, reclined together
upon the velvet mantle spread out by
dame nature, under the thick foliage Of
some favorite tree, hard by purling
stream of natures pure beverage, and
there to each other unfolded our plans
and prospects. At that time, perhaps his
hopes and PROJECTS were as fair as ours,
perpaps more so-perhaps he inherited
from his parents more liberal patrimo-
ny than we, and had at command those
advantages which were necessary, and
which were calculated to make him pre-
eminently useful and respectable member
of society. Perhaps he was our school
companion and class mate-and we may
have Witnessed the first budding of his
mental faculties, and knew that his mind
was active and enterprizing.-He came
forth into manhood with brilliant pros
poets of responsibility and extensive use
fulness-perhaps he may have engaged
In some profession in which he was well
qualified to shine-perhaps you have seen
a'vast and crowded assembly, in breathless
silence, hang upon his words as he descan-
on the charms of virtue and morality
perhaps you have heard him when plead
ing the cause of injured innocence, when
his burning words communicated a cor
responding flame to the bosoms of his au-
dience, until from the low murmur OF
disapprobation, curses and impreca-
tons burst forth upon the guilty culprit.
and the multitude seemed only to wait
his bidding to rise in their majesty and
visit upon the foul fiend that retributive
Justice which it is lone the province Of
the law to infict:-perhaps we have
seen him enter the political. arena, where.
by his lofty bearing and thrilling elo-
quence he was able to captivate the pop.
ulace and bear off the palm of victory
in the councils of the state or nation.
he won the universal esteem and ad.
miration of all his associates.-Perhaps
he was professor of our holy religion
a burning and shining light, an orna-
ment to the church, and bright exam
lple of christian piety-in short, he was
all that we can conceive of excellence
on earth-the idol of his parents, pride
of his friends-a terror to evil doors and