Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-05-13

person Of the moral elements which hold the world
gether and the entire implication OF the weak and the
Innocent the mother, the wife, the infant in suffering
crimes Of which they the most wreched yet tha
gutess victims These the proudest trophies the
most splendid fruits of The victories ofthe wine. cup
Other vices other Crimes leave the physical, the intel
ectua the moral capable of repentance, of amend
Gent and Of action bu! this destroys him
body mind and conscienceyet leaves the wretch
viyor of himself
Would, Sir that some of the thrilling confessions
and narratives disclosed in those homry associations
OF ours distant part oil the city could be heard by
this audience, as have heard them-tle confessions
and narratives of men whom the interchangeable benevo-
lence Of the "Vigan, Society Of Total Abstinence has
rescued from the very kennel They not your state
y, refined educated gentlemen, who quatf their rich
and costly Madeira; old, md mild, and fragrant, and
sparkling, and redolen OF the true favor Of the cork
NECTAR fl for gods sip, taken down bottle after bot
-, from day TO day, till their compile ons purple
as the crushed grape whose juice they draintl their
trembling hands can scarce conduct uHspIlled the duid
to their lips-till their feet are swollen and agonized
withsgout, while untold horrors fill the region whore
ruin has been tonight laid open to our vew-and yet
they drunkards! Oh. no, no, no. Drunkards'
Not they Ii is not from such that we hear in
humble ward meetings. No! They the wretch.
ed, bnt rescued victims of what, in our Western
world, is called "whte. faced whIskey"-chdren OF
the lowest intemperance who there appear This ty
rant ALCOHOL like HIM Of whom it is unapt represer-
tave, suit its temptations to men OF every grade oil
holds out appropriate lure TO every taste, and draws
within his fatal the high and the low, the learned
and the unearned, the vulgar and the refined II is 10
the story of the humber and the poorer who have been
reor med by means of that society with which ! was
first connected, that have listened with keenest inter-
est
1t does appear 10 that, if the loftest among the
lofty spirits which move aud act from day TO day III
this Hail. the proudest, the most gifted, the most faa-
tdious here-could hear the tales have heard and
Tho hnvp rpstn pI no Ia
thing simple this temperance pledge, from
state Of the most abject, oulcasi wretcedness to in
dustry, health, comfort, and in their own emphatic
language, to peace, he could not withhold hrs coun-
tenance and support from cause iranght with such
actual blessings TO mankind. | have heard unleter-
ed men trace their history on this subject through
all its stages describe the progress OF their ruin and
It's consequences paint without the least disguise the ut.
extent of degradation and suffering, aud the power
Of appetite, by facts which astonshed mean appetite
which trumphed every human principle, afec-
ton and motive, yet yielded instantly and forever be-
fore the simple charm of this temperance pledge. Ii
is thing of interest to me 10 see and hear free,
bold strong armed, hard listed mechanic relate, in his
own nervous end natural language, the history OF his
fall and his recovery. And | have heard him relate
how the young brought up to labor, and expect
ing by patient toll to support himself and rising family
had taken to his bosom in his youth the woman whom
he loved-how he tempted 10 quit her side, and
forsoke society for the shop, the frolc, the
midnight brawl-how he had resolved, and broken his
resolutions, till his business orsook him, his friends
deserted him. his furniture seized for debt, his clothing
pawned for drink, his wife broken hearted, his children
starving, his home n desert, and his heart hell. And
them in language true to Nature, they will exultingy
recount the wonders wrought in their condition by This
same pledge. "My friends have come back-I have
good clothes OIL arm at work 1gan-l ani giving food
and providing comforts for my Children am free,
am man. + am at peace here My children no longer
shrink covering and budding together in corners, or
under bed for protection from the face of their
r.,lo of I.rlt fhoyh nrnd tptn
throp5..gestle my bosom. My wife no longer with
before she gees me- TO oscU,s5 ear. my steps
sober-I find her now singing and at work ''~.t or
simple but exquisite illustration OF womans love,
an xety and sufering The fine instinct OF a wites
ear detecting from the intervals of his football before
he had yet reached his door, whether was the drunk
en- the sober step, whether she was to receive hef
husband or infurated monster IN his likeness
say, Sir, these things have an interest," meh'y nri
est for me: and deem them not entirely beneaththe
repard of the proudest statesman here. On my con
science Sir speak the truth when say that, member
of Congress as | am-(and no man is prouder OF u"
commisson)-member of Congress as am, u, oy TAX
inp this pledge it were even probable that il would
brnr back one human being 10 happiness and virtue,
no matter what bis rank condition. recall the smile OF
hope and love- to the cheek of one wife as she
oain plowed it in safety peace and confidence upon
the ransomed bosom of her reclaimed and natural pro
tec,or. send one rosy child bounding to the arms of
parent from whence drunkenness had exled it long,
would dare all the ridcue of oil the ridiculous people
in the world and thank God that had not lived in vain
And Sir have had that pleasure
Mr. President, it is really astonishing what prod,-
giously great man ember Of Congress in the est
nation of some people. Now, suppose, all those mem
bers who are themselves temperate mcn-and ley con-
stitute, thank heaven, an overwhelming majority IN
both Houses would, by common consent, become
members of this Congressional Temperance Socic'y,
what sort Of Influence do you suppose II wouo nave
both within and without these walls: lhey would
moke no sacrifice 10 doing this-it costs such men no.
thng-and if they would only DO IT. aver tha' or'ote
the close Of this present session. We should not nave
single drinking character lett IN enaef n'ahen =, .
National Legislature. They never could stand out
nstit-l know they could net. wasm myself ABOUT
as bod and open, and as hardy soul as ever s~ai
lowed julep. did no, care who saw me drink ana
though as have already admitted )''heo 'he ZEN
perancr society because scared on my account
and not for the purpose Of influencing Others or under
the influence Of others, yet sure am, that u all my
fellow members who temperate had J''ned ths as
sociaton or they constitute majority Tar greater
than necessary suspend the rules OF The House or
10 reverse Presidentia Veto, should have found my
self left in 50 very small and lean minority, as the
drunkards corps would have amounted TO when tht
line was drawn between the parties, that never
could have stood the shame. Why, II would be Tue
weakest meanest poorest, most contemplate po"eress
little faction that ever did appear in Congress. what
figure would half dozen drunkards cut against thc
whole body Of both Houses Why, there would mol he
enough guard the o5scguies-to form decent inne
raj for king alc"hothey would be ashamed
to attend the remains Of their dead master from The
Capitol. No, Sir; they would have 10 stop drinking
in mere self defence
Sir if there be within this Hall an individual msn
who thinks that his vast dignity and Importance
would be lowered, the laurels which lie has here.
tofore won would be taroshed, his glowing and
alconquerng popularity AT horne be lessened; oy an
act designed 10 redeem any portion OF his Colleagues
or fellow. 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 most benevolent but, the present state OF OPT
nion the polite the most POPULAR Cooking down
al Mr. Wise. who sat just under The Clerks stand
Mr.. N, added with smile) the very oisesi thing he
ever did in his l,fe Think not, SIR, (said Mr. NJ,
still regarding Mr.. w. with great earnestness0 hink
no, that feel myself in ridiculous situation, and, IKE
the fox in the fable wish divide it with others, by