Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-03-31
ALEXANDRIA TEMPERANCE MEETING.

on the night of Thursday last, in the First Pres-
bvterian Church of this town. 1t was one-ano
to such as were present the statement would be
superauous-far surprising, in deep attention
and thrilling interest, any thing OF the Klno WIFI
which our citizens had ever before been favofeo'
and it is hoped and believed that the impression
then made, in relation to the high and holy ana
immensely important objects for which the
meeting was convened, will continue to exert an
influence, salutary and beneticent, on the pub
lie mind, for weeks, and months, and gears yet
to come.
The Report ofthe Secretary, which was read
after the Introductory prayer, and the singing OF
a Temperance Hymn, though as much con-
densed as could be made to consist with a clear
detail ofthe proceedings ofthe Board during the
year, was, nevertheless, a document which could
not be listened to, by any sober and considerate
mind, without emotion. 1t spoke, both in the
tones of Responding apprehension and the more
cheering accents of encouragement and hope.
1t told ofthe little that had been done, compar-
ed with the unspeakable magnitude of the cause;
and yet Of the much, considering the difficulties
which it had to encounter, and the hosts OF pre-
iudice and interests which it had to overcome in
every step of it's advance: And, while its gene
raj strain was that of regret, that, amid a re-
hecting population so large as ours, so few men
of responsibility, of standing, and of leading in
fuence, had come forward, with a determine
ton fearlessly TO sustain its objects both by pre-
cept and example, there was, nevertheless, the
exhibition of practical results, flowing from the
efforts of antecedent years, which was calculat-
ed both to cheer the hearts of its patrons for the
present, and to feed their hopes and rouse their
spirits to energy and success in the action OF the
future. 1t is believed to have accomplished both
the one and the other.
When the Secretary had taken his seat, the
meeting was addressed by the Hon. MIR. SOUTH
ARD, one of the United States Senators from the
State of New Jersey. His introduction, couch
ed in language of great plainness and simplicity,
was most happy and impressive; because asso-
ciated with the universal conviction, that it was
nothing more nor less than the honest, unvar-
nished TRUTH. After the exhaustion of a long
and very exciting session in the Halls of Legis"
lation, yielding to the call of duty, he had come,
without any preparation of the head, to address
them in a cause ON whose behalf he had nothing
to bring, and nothing to sustain him, but the pure
derotioa oftheheart." He then proceeded to dis
cuss the grea fundamental principle of Total
Abstinence, upon which all the hopes and the
prospects of the multiplied Temperance lnstitu-
tons throughout this and other lands are based.
What good, inquired the Hon. Senator, has the
use of intoxicating liquors, as a drink, ever done?
WHAT property-to the physical constitution
to the operations of intellect-to the develop
ments of science-to civil nstltutions-to social
sympathies-to domestic enjoyments-and to
our relations as accountable beings and candi-
dates for eternity? There were various points
Of remark, of reasoning, OF illustration; ana
rarely was either matter or language more hap
PLY selected to sustain the conclusion, which,
with an energy not to be resisted, SCENE to
force its way into every bosom, !" What good?'
None-no, none! But who can paint the evil?'
Here was a field, which, though trodden and
traversed for a multitude of generations, was
nevertheless as new, and as rich to the speaker
and those whom he carried along with him, as If
for the first time it had then been opened. His
whole soul, warmed and glowing, seemed to go
out, as he moved along and expatiated upon the
various items of misery, and wretchedness, and
woe, and heart-rending pathos, which were
brought within the range of his intellectual vi
sion, until it became too evident, from unequi-
vocal symptoms, thatit would be painful and
distressing to dwell upon them longer.
But ifno good resulted from the use ofintoXi-
eating liquors, and if consequences thus awful,
and %ruinous, and desolating, were among its
common and most obvious attendants, then why
not all band together in one mighty combina-
ton for the hallowed purpose o fputtimg 1t down
torerer? The appeal here made, to the vast au-
dience before him, in the conclusion Of his ad-
dress, would require his own mind and his own
language to describe. Every motive, drawn
from interest, and comfort, and reason, and
scripture, was put in requisition, in order to en-
force it. 1t was made to parents and children
to husbands and wives-to brothers and sis
tiers. 1t was strong, nervoc~ tender, and pathe-
tic. 1t was pressed by all the energies of a de-
voted heartily all the graces of a flowing style,