Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-05-21


which had TO control. and on which had made
no previous ealeulation-so fairly embarked-i say
have therefore alluded to the propriety and neees
sty OF this Temperance Revolution keeping itse
pure and unsettled from political parties. felt that
I had right TO speak upon that subject without
| offending the feelings Of any body-being by trade
politician myself thought that might say any
thing in relation to the effect OF political alliance on
the cause in which VIC have engaged, or on any
other cause-wthout the risk OF hurting the teelnss
cf any body have, therefore, here as well as else
| where, earned the Temperance Societies against
any connection with politics whatever, (eheers.l-
ct politicians wrangle. Let statesmen reason
Let demagogues deesim. Let jugglers arrange and
combine and conspirc. Have nothing on earth to
do with them, You can't touch pitch without be.
ing de6led Let no, the hem Of your garments,
bathed and cleaused as they in the pure crystal
streum-le; them not be touched or dehed with the
muddy and troubled waters of political and party
strife. OF this have warned you bef)re.
But on another part OF this great question, have
been anxious TO speak before leave New York
here in this Tabernacle, and before Just so maenih
cent an audience as that which now see assembled
around me. which feel. when approach IT, TO he
far more delicate ground than that have already
| elsewhere, to exhott the Temperance Societies-
and so far as may have now or hereafter, any
influence whatever IN sharing the Temperance
cause, or the Temperance policy raiher-to remove
themselves not only from political connection as
such, bu, from all reSSss connection as SUCH
! tCheersl
say, in approaching this subject, that feel l
am treadins on far more delicate ground than IN the
other case; and therefore, when do touch 1t, wish
/ to be clearly and distinctly understood, with no
possibility OF m,sconcepton or Misrepresentation.
| Let It moi be ihousht-lct no man think or even
| dream--when | have, what must ackno~l edge m
my present position, must b. considered as IN some
sort, the hlrdhooi - give the advice ] now prefer
/ to the Temperance Society here this evcnuc-lei
no man. | say, Imagine that. when 10 ihis thirc,
| am an enemy TO religion any more than | am to
| the Government OF my country, when warn lem
| perance Societies 10 avoid all political connection.
| But il is more dangerous ground ,han the other
| because around relson-com l,endins itself. as 1t
| does, to the hopes and the feelings of men-to
| hopes and feelings that extend beyond the grave
there is thrown a sactedneSS that exists in rela
ton TO no other object Of human hope or human
pursuit; and addressing itself, rs IL do S, 10 the
hearts and the hopes OF men, and sacred as Il Is,
there are persons who lmagne-.here are many I'd
miracle and excellent persons who imasine-thai
religion should come into every thing. therefore
wish on this subject 10 be clearly and distinctly
derstooi when express my most cherished opln
ion that is essential 10 the progress OF the great
final success OF the Washirg;onlan cause that this
should review simply and purely what II is-,he
Washius;onian cause-dn tnt-wlde enough
large enoush-broad enoush-and strong enough
10 include IN its grasp. is intended TO do, with
no reference 10 country, with no reference TO ei-
mate 10 form OF government 10 state OF society, 10
religious creed or 10 color-wide and broad enough
10 include within lis mighty srasp-al that bear
the human form, and 10 make II what It IS intended
to be, the cause Of the human race, and not 10 he
in any wise regarded as peculiar institution, agent,
or engine Of any creed sect or system except jEs.
gfe.Tf rnpf- ~ nl~Fn
Permit me, then, in remarkug upon this subject,
and in coming 20 the explanation which | beg cave
TO make, TO present some Of my objections 10 this
thing, and some Of the results ofmy own experience
and observation.
Gen;lemsn Of the Temperance Society, we mus;
take men we find them; and # there be any one
common vice, equally injurious TO al men, ard
from which we wish to draw a men, we mus, be
continually careful, in our reasoning upon snd APP
proaches 10 that one common thing on which a
men agreed, not 70 involve any topic which j,
marked by some ference and division, and by
means of which difference shall be introduced into
that matter about which there is sort Of dispute
and unhappiy for the human race and FOR the cause
Of truth serious differences have entered almost ss
largely into religion as in.o politics. This is the
dictate Of common sense.
Now let Temperance-and no man shall ever be
enabled to ssy by any thing ever utter here TO
what party in politics | beons-let Temperance
never be attached TO any party either in Church or
m State Let every man once apply to Temper |
ance Catholic measure; let il be called Caho- |
lie reform; and you set Proestants al once against
II. Make 1t Protestant thing, and then you wi.
have 10 choose 10 which, among all the various secis
into which Protestants divided, Il shall be ap
propuated.
DO not pretend to decide between any OF the dif.
terent sects systems into which unhappiiy the |
church is divided. But it is proper for me, certain
ly, 10 glance this occasion the sections into
which the church is divided. We have the Church |
OF England, the Disseniers, the Church OF Scotland /
the Church of Geneva, PresbY,erians, Blp,is,s,
Meihodsts and various other denominations spring !
ing up almost every day.
Now the cause Of washins;onisnsm is bic |
enough tn hold them all; and wthou, meaning any |
sort oil reflection upon any OF them, let them a
come and be Washing tonians, in the TUE and tho !
rough sense Of the word, and my word for It. it will
never make them worse Christians, no matter 10 |
what sec, they may belong, or TO wha, creed they /
may be attached (Cheers.)
ms, then, gentlemen. IS one view OF the matter. |
II can't be connected with religion, such IL can't !
he connected with religion, such. without n. rick
OF assoei-ting It with sectarian differences, and thus
lls healthy influence is destroyed; and there is ano
ther, snd, as far as have observed, the most i'm |
por'ant view Of the matter.
There is a large portion and mos, interesting |
portion Of society, who ok on religion someth NJ
containing IN itself spirit Of gloom and fsnatcisrn
The young, the gay, the chivarou-, the high spi-,
I'd men Of the world are up, Il know that what I !
am now saying IS true,l apt 10 regard siigon
ls something gloomy, and dntk, rs greatly safur. !
nine md ian5ica-whch will put n curb on their /
lnloyments which they consider proper and "a
.ionaI; and thew look with suspicion m Tempe |
rance II IL have the lels, nppe rance of being con
nscied With religion. / hear IL said here and ev.rv
where by Temperance inen that you can't set u
your fashionable peopIe-your iashsosbls vine
dnnkers IN high life, in gay society They hnd the
most difficulty in this subject in applying 10 them
and the reason is that thew ppose u is in some
way connected with religon-that II is in fact a trap
set n get them into III Church; and they suppose
that II they Join a Temperance Society the next
move will be into The Church, and then they cup.
pose they must quit every thing ose-hs compel I'd
TO put on n long face and priests cowi or a par
sons cloak, aHd hey thus become pteiuiiced
against ac'ing-most uriusty / admit became
they can have no pleasures, no Happiness.
Vow our philosophy 10 different This Is the
very class Of men with whom hnvo associated a Do
my life. This s. tie very class Of men from whom
! was -piucked, Il you plelse-plucked a. a
brand from the burning; ond far as | am con-
cerned, ] cen assure them-so far, | say, rs an
concerned, can assure them that about Washing
tonianisn-ihe Washngtonianism that profess
with which am connecis There Is not the slight
est tncture OF gloom or ianaiicism Of any sort or
OF any description. And ! appreciate, too Oh.
preciato thoroughly the feelings Of these mon.
must confess m tue presence of this great nudieuce
that Il you had preached Wnshingtonisnisrn TO me
from the pupit--if ] had been % w in the g7rb
and the gUse of a pcnitent sinner 10 be prayed
over ~ the church-and that did and do need a'l
this do not az oil dspute-f that was the road
which had had n travel 20 get into Washington.
ienism, | assure my brethren according to the flesh