Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1835-07-16


public. and never lose sight Of ths
wise maxim. that liberty ever demand,
as her price, eternal vigilance.
With these brief general remarks
due alike TO the occasion that has called
US together. and the cay chosen for the
purpose, proceed at once respectfully
to invite your attention TO few Of the
manifold and powerful consideration,
which recommend the cause Of temper.
ance reformation, to all who recognize
either one or the other Of the threefoid
Claims Of religion. society. or thcil
country.
Permit me. however. first 10 notice
an objection urged by some who have
not given to the subject that earnest
consideration which, ~ an enterprise
OF protested benevolence. Il certainly
merits. against the plan Of popular
combinations, in The form Of societies,
for the purpose Of eEecting the high
aim we have in view; for such there
are, who, temperate themselves in all
things, and promptly willing TO acknow-
ledge the paramount obligations resting
upon every member Of society to con-
secrate their moral and intellectual IA
culties to the service Of their fellow be-
ings, and the honor Of their creator, vet
from an underlined feeling Of false pride,
refuse TO subject themselves TO the re-
straints of public pledge, and thus
openly 10 lend the powerful aid OF
their example to fortify others who need
II, against the dangers Of intemperance.
l speak not here OF those who, with
judgments convinced, and consciences
enlightened, yet from inordinate desire
for sordid gains, continue TO encourage
that which they know brings in is
train all the aggravated evils Of life.
and death itself-a miserable death to
Its immediate victim, with wrctched-
ness and ruin TO all within the sphere
of its bsneful influence. Such we
leave TO settle the controversy with
their conscienccs here, and their God
hereafter.
But 10 revert TO the immediatesmat-
ter Of inquiry, how will this ection
to the formation Of organAed odies.
for the purpose Of uniting pubic seQti-
mcnt en- this subject, bear The test OF
reason and just Judgment How have
those justly priced institutions, both
moral and political, private and public,
which render our country the distin-
guished among nations, been establish
cd? How have all the great reforma-
tons. civil and religious, witnessed
during the last three centuries, through
out the civilized world, been accom-
pills.. I'd? Why, thus, fellow citizens, and
thus only. First come the distinguish
cd pioneers Of philanthropy that are
found in every age, the bcnefactors of
their raoc.-They see the good TO be
effected in distant prospcct.-Public
inquiry is set on foot.-Tbe potent en-
ergies of that wonderful engine, the
public press. with all its RIGHTEOUSNESS
and moral deformity, yet ever the ad-
vocate OF truth and human improve
ment,) are reused into action. Next in
the progress Of the good work, come
public associations, societies, clubs, or
institutes, having for their object TO
the scattered elements Of
public sentiment, and TO give 20 the
particular enterprise in question the
powerful and resistless aid OF cornbin-
ed action Of the public mind in its be-
half, and then. IN n free government,
at least. the victory is won, and society
has achieved another step towards the
y .rfection OF our social existence.
This, my friends. is the peculiar action
and course of events, in a republican
like our own, where every
profit designed To operate upon the
community at large. must first pass the
ordeal Of popular scrutiny and approba-
iiOn-wbere, in a word, Is recognized
10 ITS fullest extent, the elsewhere con-
trOvcrted maxim, that the voice Of the
people is the voice Of God.
In the field Of benevoleuce, if the
duties Of charity are 20 be performed,
relief 10 be administered 10 the suffer
ing poor, an asylum 10 be provided Tor
the widow and the orphan, OF home
established on their own distant shores
fOr the degraded sons Of africa, a social
Is the method uniyc- ally
or II the government Of the
country swerves from is Just and APP
propriste action, 80 as no longer 60 ac-
complish the end Tor which Il was es-
tablisbed. 10 wit, the production q the
greatest good 20 the greatest number,
the patriots ~ the land. alarmed al The
threatened danger. Immediately band
and resist in solid pbaisnN,
the progress ~ Bisrule, or huh back
a. did our fathers 81 the revolution, q
proud defiance against The agsre ssions
81 corrupt power 80. too, when the
voice Of ehns;ianity commands her de-
voted followers 10 spread abroad
through every land the glad tidingo II
salvaiion-to send the volume II M
spired truth 10 every bcnighied corner
q the habiiable globe
sFrom Crusniasd's iey .nfains.
To Iadia's ooral strand
OF al home, in the bcautifu, languago ol
Holy writ. 10 build up the bsoken down
walls q her own ZiOn. and cause the
r-o..f r.rslI~vr.-a A.. hfo.~arr. - ff.r 80.