Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1842-03-23
2
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pesz@cs Sccskgs on
81 l,g Ea:s
aure. The
81 SiisiS iii aIi0t1, stanGs
b e,it piss s eaSvassed among
lss q 4 calls londest on lis vosa-
assa m iIs sSsslcsile Is lraught with calami-
9Th toiatiyiduais and TO associations,
( ug the r,ost extensive character. It's o
subject that has engaged more Of my mind
for some time past than any other, save the
I; one have already alluded 10, mean The
religion Of our Lord aud Saviour Jesus
Christ, which has, and pray God may
ever stand prc-cmiuent above alioiher con-
sitleratious.
Ia The prosecution Of my subject, it will
become my painful duty to adducc some
experimental parts, which believe. will
reach the case under consideration, with as
much force if not more, than any other !
could use, presumiug on the broad basis,
that human nature is the same wherever II
is found; equally susceptible of the same
results from the same causes.
In accordance with these views, will
begin my objections 10 Temperance socie.
ties; bu, ia this do not wishio be under
stool Us having been opposed,o Temper
ance itself; on the contrary, | have always
admired il, notwithstanding have made
such awful departments from il. was
opposed to Temperance Societies from
principle. Their Constitutions. as you
have heard read to-day, require an un-
qualified dcnuuriaiioD Of the use Of ardent
spirits. and ia consequence Of this requisi-
ton I dcclained against them. Jeal-
ous Of my liberties could not think
of being involved in any lhirg that would
exert the leasr influence over them; nay
more, did not think any mau would. VIII"
was acluared by pa,riulic aud independent
nsiacipleS. o fatal tlelusion! | was also
opposed To them from another considera.
lion. did no; believe ,hu, their founders
had solely st heau The emancipation Of our
coun,ry. from this peace and soul destroy
ing curse. but used ii as n cloak To hide the
deiurmity Of some mishlier engine aimed
at something else. big With mischief, and
after shoy should. under The plausible pre-
text Of Temperance, have SO multiplied
aud concentrated their forces MS 10 feel in
yiuciblc, they woull throw oil the mask
and present their object with all its hide
ousness wsitien on its fron,,--destruction
) 80 i,s intended victims. found, however,
hut little difficulty i'll overcoming thi. oh
lection when compared il with the fur
,ner. was enabled, very soou after Civ.
ing il deliberate aud careful examination,
10 change my views. argued thus. that
there are now ard ever have been. good
.-.and bencvolen, men, who were not only
willing 20 devote their time aud talcnl, hut
TO sacrifice themselves for the good Of their
country. IL /, were required; and believing
shat such men does and ever have existed,
: asked nyelf the question. to what point
could we so reasonably look with the ex-
pecta,iou Of finding them, as around the
standard of opposition 10 one Of the great.
est national curses, that any people were
ever called on 10 endure! he voice Of
reflection -crisd-a;rff, al no other point. So
then as this objection was concerned, |
became fully rcconciled with Temperance
Societies, and was willing to cede TO their
founders. an honest gooI at heart, free
from criminali,y.
Blu, rot so with the former ohjeciion.-
I, presented obstacles, could uot so
easily surmoun,. aud clung TO il until it
well.nish ruined me. What, you will
ask by making me freeman! | answer
no; bu, by making ME one of the most de-
graded slaves OF intempcrance, the very
hafriesl master cruelty could suggest, or
tyranny devise. Yes, fellow citizens, when
I refec, how awfllly near this false deu-
sion had carried me TO the very verge Of uu-
uiiersble ruin, am made 10 shudder. And
i.adi, no, been for mighty, mighty effort,
on my part. aided by him who rules The des
,inics nl incn, would. no doubt, this day,
ius,cad o. standing here as ! nnw do de-
claiming against it, have been hankcring
around some detcsied grns-shop. bound
down in its almost ininutable fe,'ers, n
confirmed aud miserable druukord.
hazard nothing 1y the declaration, for
NV appetite wns formed for such re-
suit, and lacked bri few more indul-
gcnccs for i, to have rcvillcd the last chain,
which would soon have been the result, had
no, been arrested auil madc TO reflect;
GUC Uo'c csVCSidhy nfcH V" l"o' ''"'
!, vas next 10 an impossibiliiy Tor me 10
take 4 respectable stand amoncs, lrcemen.
and deny myself of what is termed t!'r So
cial sinss.
Oh. that social gIassi !; is the whirl
pool, il may be allowed The expression,
tha, has swallowed up untold thousands Of
my fellow men. Yes. vas afraid OF the
tann,s that would follow, such as--Is he
AFRAID of himself! Has he joined ,heTem-
pcrance Society! Has he become vol
uniary slave!-AnG from fear OF these
lsh, and imaginary prosecutions have
suffered myself TO be overcome. unnan-
ned. prosirated, and even made much
more degraded than The beasts Of the field.
yes, fellow citizens, have been impelled
BY its hcIish effects, uplo the commission
OF almos, every outrage ever committed
agaius. morality and religion.
When take retrospect of my life,
associa,ing with il the use lhave made of
ardent spirits, am forced to mourn and
aconizc over il; for well do | know, if all