Southern telegraph., 1838-07-11

eiHpiIc DlftD,Ild Hauon irehdOln. 1er,
We are singular-not one drop Of the blight
ing moral mildew is quafed in our bever-
age, or poured out in our celebration. The
Fair may mingla with confidence in the joy
Gus throng-tne pious may participate with
innocence in our hilarity. There is no
presiding demon here to usurp the throne
of reason, degrade the intellect and bsutal-
ize the hear. No fell Fiend to break the
chain in the midst of our festive JOY, and
blind with causeess rage, and degraded with
intoxication, ,acerate the defenceless bosoms
of virtue, and innocence, and peace. Yes
we are singular-but shall we lay down
this honored badge of distinction AS fanci-
tul pageant of the moment to resume it no
more, or only resume il as an anniversary
ceremony in contemptuous mockery of the
high and holy object sought in this celebra-
ton? Or shall we not rather make this the
alter, and this the hour, when and where
our mutual voice of total and perpetual alb
stnenco from the use of intoxicating liquors
shall be made before the world, and witness
cd by angels, and ratified in heaven?
Would we be called the benelsctors of
mankind? Now is the time to acquire that
enviable distinction Would we save our
neighbors, our brothers, or our sons from
poverty, disgrace. aud moral Iun? Now is
the time TO act Would we save our sisters
and our daughters from primary slavery and
degradation! Now is the time to throw
around them those salutary guards, which
will save them from the fearful dilema in
which matrimonial connections SO frequent
ly involve them. A dilemma from which
death Is frequently the only refuge, bat an
ASYLUM hailed with joy. Who hasnot seen
the in'emperance OF single individual
wllherng the ospects-b'ighiingt the hops
and crushing the hearts of numerous
family? We have seen female in all the
majesty, and grace, and beauty of buyont
and elastic youih-in the generous conf
dence OF unsuspecting creduity and CON
scious innocence, unite herself with one
whom she believed notle, generons and af-
factionate. For few shor. years (perhaps
only months) we saw the same majesty in
her air, the same brilliant luslre in her eve
and was charmed with the same soul-cheer-
ing vivacity in her conversation. Then af-
ter the lapse OF a few more years we saw
her again, but D! how changed! The check
which used To glow redolent with life and
health, was sunken and pale. The eye
which was wont to beam with native lustre,
and glow with affections puresl fire, when
turned upon friend, now turned dispa-
ringly away, or fixed upon the ground as a
last sad reiuge-we attend her miserable
abode, and saw what most effects a mothers
heart: her children in want and disgrace.
They were not ph1ns (uo, inscmtable Hea-
ven had long withheld that bles-ing) but
they bad no fither-for the withered being
from whom they derived their existence,
had long ceased to be father, or friend
for he had become a drunkard! O! who
could see the burning, bitter tears wrung
from innocent hearts by such polluted hands
and dare to touch, or taste, or handle the
accurscd thing!
If ever there was n time when
inen could drink intoxicating liquors with
out sining against their country thcil
God, their families and their own souls
that time is past: and he. who drinks amids
the flood of light that has been thrown
around the subject within few years past
must drink "uarorthly'--must drink il
view of fifty thousand of his countrymer
annually expiring in all the complicated
horrors of remorse and infamy--must min
gle his cup with the blood of victims mur
dered by intoxicated hands--must minglC
his cup with the tears of anguish wruns
from bleeding lcerated hearts--must drink
defiance to truths uppeals--must drink con
tempt for pious parents pmyers--must drinl
defiance TO the laws Of Heaven, and drinl
damnation to half the world!
But possibly some one will reply Surely
there can be no harm in a temperate ust
of ardent spirits If ever the arch enemy
of Earth and Heaven was guilty of swlnd
hing, it was when he imposed that redicu
ous hoax on the besolted credulty of man
it is that kind of drinking which is depopu
atng the world, and filling our land witt
crime and pauperism. Every drunkard wai
once temperate drinker, but he became
arunkaTd, vet no constant drInker was eve
vet temperate man: ard 1t is the tard,
operation of the poison which gives it it
baleful influence: did it despatch its vota
res sooner, it would not despatch so many
Let temperate drinkers once withdraw thei
countenance und influence from the prac
lice, and throw that influence in the seal
of total abstinence (small as they may thin
it is) aud the conquest of half a world o
the discovery of new one, would not ex
er half the influence on the destiny OF man
Fellow Citizens, if the blessings ofiber
ty and the perpetuity of your country's in
stitutions are objects near your hearts,
you wouldsee your government adminisiere
with fidelity patriotism and equity--in othe
words, it you would see the administrator
of your public interests committed TO Writ
ous, able and faithful hands; put away fror
among you the common bribe, Of commo
demagogues.
If over this fair heritage you would M
4 l.