The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-05-06

me What had to do tbout temperance did not &C.
tually know that there Temperance Society in
Washington till the morning OF the day that joined it..
Nothing that had been said about III the papers else
where relative conduct had the slightest influence
what did in this respect. Nothing that was heaped
upon however abusive and untrue might be- caused
halt change course one iota All the abuse in
the papersand although never read-never saw these pa
pers that abused generally when any OF them
tanned any thing very richly Safeguarding and SLAM
dcrous OF me- some kind friend would he sure to
be considerate enough send the paper, with the
abusive paragraph in question marked all round with big
black lines for fear that by accident might overlook
it, lCheers and laughter And never got up in my
in the House of Repres to make speech as
sonay was called upon TO do sothat when the papers
containing the account thereof came back from distance
they did not abuse me- and say that when made that
speech was pretty comfortably and considerably in.
ebrated. CHEERS and aughter And in all those FIVE or
man, was sober Judge Loud cheers and roars of
laughter1 And some of those speeches cost me good
[Cheers Well all this abuse and these lbels upon me
instead Of making repent of my folics only made
me mad. Langhterl And at last got SO that j
didn't a fig what they said or what they wrote
about me- was determined to do Just what | plea.
sed in spite OF the whole of them (Cheersl rye for.
given them all now but there was a man born into
this world had such perfect hatred of all those let
ter writing and reporting folks that stay about Washing
ton during session of Congress Enthusiastic cheers
and shouts OF laughter in which all parts of the house
seemed 10 make common cause against reporters) But
Pve forgiven them all (Cheers) Well gentlemen,
my experience, il has been pretty much this
had when very young man considerable experience in
the excitement inseparable from great political contests
and entered political life pretty early as candidate for
public favor myself (Cheers.) And it's a custom in my
country for those who are candidates TO drink pretty freely
and pretty frequently with their constituents Laughtcrj
And never remember drinking with any Of my consti-
tuens these occasions that they didn't get olerably
well booty with me. Roars Of laughter.[ And always,
when was on one ofmy sprces took pretty eectua care
that every body should know Of il. [Laughter For if
my sprees very long nobody could say that they
were not loud. [Laughter.l They about loud
well knew how to make them. Roars Of laughtcrl Yet
after all, was not grog drinker-I tippler
never drank any bters of morning. Was no habual
drunkard. Loud and enthusiastic cheering And
give you my word that when not engaged in one OF
those exciting political contests would be frequently for
weeks and months together and ouch alcohol
for when did froic did it pretty heavily you.
Laughterl And the consequence was, that whenI got
through OF those although the sick part of
suppose very natural and common occurrcncel was
conloundedly sick-I did MT like liquor. [Great iangh
ter and cheering.( Well felt Disguised, and could MT
bear TO taste it. then considered that there was
something in my physical organization that would
prevent me from becoming drunkard and that so far
was SAFE But when came on to Washington CITY was
Arrays IN state G political excitement oars of laughter
and universal cheering) The very atmosphere there
seems full OF it, And these gentlemen letter writer's
mend the matter would send word to their papers that
was drunk, whether was not. ircat aughter) And
therefore just drank the more and thought I'd show
these gentlemen letter writers that I'd do what pleased
about business drink and get drunk ins
thought proper to do loud laughte And drank
then pretty much every day and at last acquired the
dcviish appetite and came to want drink every day
many times day until at last instead of being Disguised
with in the morning after heavy olc reall, began
think that the crer would feel comfortable (Shouts
OF laugher) And then longer Irplic and unit
My spr,es then like angelvs few and far be.
tween Shouts OF aughte) but they came so uncommon
close together that there considerable danger OF their
completely running into each other in continual
stream. Qicre Inc audience seemed half convulsed with
aughteD And at last was perfectly frightened in such
a manner, us never man was frightened before in this
wide world, verify believe. [Cheers One morning /
went to my seat in the House OF Representatives without
having tasted any liquor wine, brandy, rum hard cider
Uaugher) gin cocktail any breed of the crtter-
whatever. Uheers And found all the way there that
this internal of all Internal appccs rioiing and re-
drink again. Cheers) But then got on frolic
in the whole course OF my life that did make the same
resolve Cheers) And resolved, and re-resolvcd aud
re-rere-solved Great Laughter) and then when met
with some good fellow who'd come alonside, and clap
me on the shoulders and say, Come, Tom, let's take
drink" why Tom took il =" Cheers] But felt the most
awful sensations iorthe first time and soemnly trust
the last time The whole Of my animal appetite seemed
changed felt that new ana destructive passion was ia
king possession of my soul And it really did seem as il
vdicve Heaven had resolved in its wrath to withdraw
from my heart and nature those powers of mind body
which before rendered me capable Of enjoy ing all the
ties blessings and merces vouchsaed by God to his I'M
worthy creatures and turn me to the mastery of bru
tai appetite for the wrongs had inflicted the proud and
noble nature which he had implanted in my breast
Cheers) And you can imagine here he struck his breast
violently and repeatedly how proud man feels when he
has dread the loss of all that renders his nature
noble. Great checring) Well, cast about in nv mind
how should get over that Internal day. had the most
horrid dread impending over my mind that unless /
kept from liquor that day that was irrecove.
raby gone past hope. wanted tic, to get through
teri and covered pretty deep with cayenne pepper
but it wouldn't do Cheers That horrible appetite re-
turned At last turned from my seat in the House Of
Representatives and told colleague in Of comics.
sion, (and previous to this was little the slowes of all
mortas at any thing like conession, told him that
had rrepessabe conviction that If drank that day
was lost Great cheering) looked and spoke so seri.
rious, (and il wasn't much of habit with then to
speak serious on any subccD that he looked hard
in the face and asked me was serious y told him
pas-to-the-very-centre! Cheers and laughter1
Just then cast my eyes up and as if flash from the blue
vault of Heavenas mexplicabe to me as the electric
"a thought m brain
which induced me TO ask him do you think
that there is any thing in these temperance Societies
that will help mer Cbeers.) AS mentioned the word
temperance he slightly smiled, and his lip assumed
kind Of curl daughcr) as it half curl fconempt.
BIT IWas past QHere Mr. Marshall looked horror
stricken at the recollcction was past contempt (Tre-
mendous cheers) | had that horrible feeling in my
breast that absorbed other faculty and passion and
rendered completely caous for the time all but itself
asked him If he knew any one that could tell me any
thing about these temperance people He said if there
any in that House that knew any thing about the
temperance cause it was the Hon. Mr.. Briggs. had
never been on any very familiar or friendly terms with
that gentleman in any wayi but left my scat and went
any thing about this temperance business Isthcre any
thing good in it p He looked up me- and in that look
as met il, could discover feeling if he thought that
was quizzing. There kind of expression that
spoke OF the possibility of quiz but when he had looked
up all sign of quiz had passed from his face for he
that there terrible reality in mine [Checrs
He said instantly, Certainly there :" said Who is
at the head Of themwho can put in the way of get
ting it," He replied Dr. Scwell is at the head of il
and he added that he would introduce him that night
Oh" said tonight won't do for me; want to get it
now-right away Tremendous cheers] II was through
that most Internal Of all days that wanted get through
[Cheers However said to him, Let's go behind the
Speakers chair" for by that time getting to talk
pretty loud and perhaps too loud that subject for that
place. [I.aughter.l We went behind the Speak
crs chair and / then said to him. Sir, am
tempted this day in way and manner that never
tempted before" Always before could drink not
pleased; could always by the exercise of my will
troll the desire had for liquor at any time beforcwhe
Their was to spree or leave it alone question
that could always before very easily decide pleased
by the exercise OF my faculties But that day diff
fercnt said to him want go off and sign the pledge
right Off will you go out with me-" He looked me cold,
hard rigid northern Here Mr., Marshall turned
wards where Briggs sat and northernmen they
all cold fond of cold he and the SPAR
killed. in both his eyes great cheerng) and he off and
drew the form of the pedgcand it aieeto.aiier =
Here the enthusiasm and cheering perfectly terrific
never heard anything like it in all our experience Of
public mcetgs That was not only to abstain from alco-
ho self but that was TO discountenance the of it
in others chcers) didn't that last clause in il though
till afterwards Great laughter and cheerng) turned
sleeves and took the pcnthe appetite riong