Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1833-03-04

AT q meeting 81 the Campbell Courthouse LEM
perancc S0cisiy. held on the Goth February, the
following resolutions were adopted
Rcsotued, That the thanks of tbs Society be
tenIcrcd to George E.. Dabnoy for the handsome and
Appropriate ADDRESS delivered on the oe casiou.
Resotetd, That the Editors of the Lynchhurg
Vrsinlan be respectfully requested to publish the
Sam THOMAS ROSSEt, PreSt.
WILLIAM A CLEMENT, S%eercia1H
MIR. DABNEY'S SPEECH.
Hr President aud tctiow memberS-Wc have
assembled together, Oh this occasion, IN couuaon
with many OF our fellow citizens, N various parts
Of the country, to consult on the best means oi adj
Sanclng the objects of THIS association. Ii is a time
ofsrr,t, of feattul public excitement. The seeds
If llscord. lons since sown in Our land, have sprung
~. uu,i ar Producing her natural andbilttr fruits
The citadel, III wla.h we had mtrenchcd our
Liberties, and which We tondly deemed lmptegne-
Die, seems rapidly holding to It's fall, at a period al
profound peace with foreign nations. No man can
say, with certainty, that we shel long remain uni
ted, under that glorious slat-spangled banner. 10
which W have heretofore So proudly and SO vii
linsly rallied, IN every emcrscney. Aud worse
han all, we may soon he called ON To march u
gainst those, 10 whom we have heretofore been
bound by The strongest political and social ties, and
compelled, however unwlllngly, To lmbruc our
hands in the blood of brethren. AT Il period OF such
d rk and dreadful t0rebollngs, IS pleasing to turn
orr attention. for IA short interval, to Il subject, into
the consideration Of whicti the feelings of party
strifc cannot intruie. flour worst nnticipatlons
are to to be realized fthe siiken cords of union
and affection are To be severed by the rude hands of
violence, aod this once happy people 10 be split up
into fragments, W. trust that the friends of
al ani religious improvement, though dlscour-
aged. will mol utterly despair. Melancholy as such
- ,,.,nt .unI la - ,I1 MT oman. fE4ai tn ggnG4
iheir xe,tionS, as unnecessary and tiaitless, Sin
ee,c, ardent, llsint,rcstcd etfot is never vain, But
# on the contrary, rs all true friends either coWl-
try AMI mankind hope aud pray, the storm now
lowe in1 IA our horiz n sial he dlssipated, leaV.
ine% unlmpaired our union, freedom, and happiness,
VIC will apply ourselves, with brighter prospects OF
Success, To strengthen Int foundations On winch
every Republican sovernm nj rcsts-the virtue of
the people by whom II WIS formed and must be
supported Before proceeding 10 afull consldefa-
tion Of the objects of this society, and the means
expected 10 nccompl sh them, | hope It will not be
eohsidercl improper to examine some of the rea-
sons which long restrained mo. and still restrain
others, from uniting themselves with this assocla-
ton. | now refer to those, who themselves tempe
rate and friends of temperance, yet doubt the eff
hcicncy of the means proposed to effect 4 %reiotnla=
ton. In this class may be found many, whose
qualities, talents and requirements justly cntitle
them to great weight in the community. II IS our
luiy and our interest 10 win their cooperation, Il
possible, BY fair, respectful argument. Their rea-
son once convinced their feelings are with us. Some
9th If objections, which once seemed insurnloun-
tablo to me, may thus be stated. THIS age, which
IS 50 otlen called one of light AMI knowledge, may,
vilh equal proprIely be denominated that of os
teutotious charity. ftnaticism and soc eiieS. The
simple, domestic virtues are overlooked, III the puf-
-. ---I 40 A..4CaA.t -.,,.tG - In,a %
hence. Every action wears a pharlsaie air. Moth.
NJ can be accomplished, by individual, noisc!ess,
auoJtrusive e%xertion. All desirable Objects can
b. attained only by public associations. Even the
tears of woman, " the sweetest balm TO wounds
II woe" are nov shed III the synegogues AID cor
ncrs Of the streets, rather than IN thelr appropriate
place. il. the nuts and Oyer the uneasy pallets OF
the wretchel. Old fashioned simplicity is no longer
seen. either ia manners, or in the performance OF
moral and religious duties. This society forms
nart Of the great scheme OF ostentatIon, AMI ought
therefore TO he discouraged lntemperance IS ad-
mite to be m evil and a vice. Bu II moderate
indulgence in drinking, Is an innocent pleasure,
which it would b. purltanical and excessive strict
ness to forbid. If amy lesson is taught, with unVa-
rying certainty, by the records of history, 1t is that
one extreme IN morals, politics, or religion leads
ine vitnbly To the other. This sudden, this intern
parata zeal. IN the cause of Temperance, Is a mere
fashion, which, Ike others, will pass away, leay-
mo our h4olts the same OF worse than before
Such reasoning, from mrn OF intelligence, candonf
and standing. IS entitled 20 a calm md respectful
answer. Ii IS not necessary, nor IS II my micn-
ion. to DENY the existence among rs, Of that ostcn-
,atious spirit. of y hich iais class Of ohjectors COM
plain. No dispasstonate observer can overlook a
disposition to seek abroad, IiAiorcISn and heather
lands, a scope fot that benevolcncc, which might
- go. - ..,g - homo II l.
true, that the rage for forming societies, on all
occasions, and for all purposes, has been
carried TO a ridiculous excess. But admit
ting all this, it does not, in the slightest de-
gree, affect the character or utility Of this Insttu-
ton, which Is extending its branches and ITS lniiu-
ence throughout Europe and a nerica. Its design
Is to effect II sulutary change IN the moral hapits
ofour fello~-ctizens, neighbours, friends, ana ret
atives 1t emphatca!ly comes home to our business
and bosoms. Unsuccessful, it viii not only rescue
from misery those, VINO might become the lmn1e-
date victims of intemperance, but will save many a
pany to all, whose happiness Is wound W IN theirs
Ii is unnecessary to dwell upon scenes, winch
have been the theme of tongues and pens, far more
eloquent han nine, aud which VIC all have often
witnessed. The miserable mother, the wretcheo
father, the broken hearted starving wife, sitting II
cherrless solitude in her hut, surrounded by sqaal
III. deserted children, may too frequently trace
heir unhap p,ness TO Intemperance. Can any man
with a heart, say, that inte,es and duty, do not re-
quire us to arrest the progress of a disease, thus
vitality affecting the body ofthc soriety, 10 whics
we live 2 But all rational PERSONS admit the exIs'
tcnce of the evil. The only doubt is, whether this
association has selected the proper remedy for It's
removal. 1.-THE ASSOCIATION consisted altogether o
fanatics, there might be reason to fear that /
would be short-lived, and leave little trace of Its ex
istence behind. But a little obs :rvatIon will con
vince US, that il has already enlisted the jealous