The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1842-05-07
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONGRESS
SIGNAL TOTAL ABSTINENCE
Society.

At meeting held in the Hall Of the
House of Representatives, Friday, Feb.
25lh, 1912.
This interesting and valuable pamphlet
has been forwarded to us from Washing
ton, and has been reprinted at the office
OF the American Temperance Union. 1t
contains several eloquent speeches made
at that and subsequent meeting. The
last two are from Mr.. Marshall and MIR.
Wise. The following is the very elo-
quent conclusion of Mr.. Marshall's
speech,-showing his estimate Of the
plcdge:-U. S. Gazette.1
Sir, if there be within this hall an indi-
vidual man who thinks that his vast dig
nifty and importance would be lowered,
the laurels which he has heretofore won
be furnished, his glowing and all con-
qucring popularity at home be lessened,
by an act designed to redeem any portion
OF his colleagues or lellow-men from ruin
and shame, all can say is, that he and |
put very different estimate upon the
matter. should say, sir, that the act was
not only the mos, benevolent, but in the
present state of opinion; the most polite,
the most popular, docking down at MIR.
Wise, who sat just under the clerks
stand, Mr.. NJ. added with a smile the
very WiSeSt thing, he ever did in his
life.
Think not, sir, said Mr.. NJ, still re-
gardiug Mr.. w. with great earnestncss,)
think not that ] feel myself in ridicu-
lous situation, and like the fox in the fable
wish to divide it with others by convert
ing deformity into fashion. Not so; by
my honor as gentleman not so. was
moi what ! was represented to be. had
and have shown that had full power
over myself. But the pledge | have ia,
ken renders me secure forever from
fate inevitably following habits like mine
IA fate more terrible than death. That
pledge-though confined to myself alone,
and with reference to It's only effect upon
me; my mind, my heart, my body,
would not exchange for all earth holds
of brightest and of best. No, no, sir; let
the banner Of this temperance cause 60
forward or 60 backward--let the world
be reduced from its degrading and ruiz
nous bondage to alcohol or not for one
shall never, never repent what have done.
have often said this, and feel it every
moment ofmv existence, waking or sleep
ing Sir would not exchange the physi-
cal senSations-the mere sense of animal
being which belongs to man who totally
reflains from all that can intoXicate his
brain or derange his nervous structure
the elasticity with which he bounds from
his couch in the morning-the sweet re-
pose it yields him at night-the feeling
with which he drinks in through his clear
eyes the beauty and the grandeur of sur
rounding nature;-l say, sir, would not
exchange my conscious being, as strictly
temperate man-the sense of renovated
youth-the glad play with which my
pulses now beat healthful music-the
bounding vivacity with which the life
blood courses its exulting way through
ever fibre Of my frame-the communion
high which my heallhlul ear and eye now
hold with all the gorgeous universe of
God-the splendors of the morning, the
soltness of -she evening sky-the bloom,
the beauty, the verdure of earth, the mu.
sic of the air and the waters-with all the
grand associations of Fexternal nature, re-
opened to the fine avenues of sense-no
sir, though poverty logged me-though
scorn pointed its slow finger at me as |
passed-though want and destituton, and
every element of earthly misery, save on
ly crime, met my waking eye from day
to day;-not for the brightest and the no
best wreath that ever encircled q state
mans brow-not, if some angel COM
mlssioned by heaven, or some Gsmon
rather sent fresh from hell, TO test the re-
sIstlng strength Of yirtuous resolution,