Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1844-06-29

no fiction, but the deep interest which the
judge took in The temperance reform, eau
sed him greatly to misrepresent the morals
Of his Slate. We are not certain but he
came very near making it snake story
.. From the Spartan.
CHARGE TO A GRAND JURY.
The following charge of an amiable
and eccentric Judge, was noted down al
the time by "a member OF the Bar, and is
now published as detached portion of the
temperance judicial history of the State:
"Gentlemcn ofthe Grand Jury:
"And now, having finished with the
Bills, every one of which are stepped in
whiskey, as have learned ON private en-.
quiry; beg leave to call your attention
TO The abuse Of ardent spirits in every
shape and form, as it now prevails in this
State. 1 have preached temperance for
twenty five years TO the Grand Juries, un-
til at last have the pleasure of addressing
men, as infer from your appearance and
conduct, who have come to the Jury box
cool and sober. have, in my time, ad.
dressed your body when one half of it was
drunk, and the other half not sober; bu,
an impetus has been given to the Tenn
perance Reform, and it is part of your
duly, as well as mine, to aid in its onward
movement. You Should present drunk
enness, and the sale of spirits in all its
forms; especially, should you present the
miserable roadside doggerIes that deal out
hell-fire to their visitors, and are stencil
in the nostrils Of decent sober man or
woman. Bythe-by, saw one of the latter
beastly drunk on yesterday, as passed.
lcannot perceive Gentlemen, BY what in
fatuation it is, that men are induced to
swallow this liquid hell. For nv own
part, Gentlemen, assure you solemnly, /
would as soon swallow raHlesnake as
dram of alcohol" Here his Honor paus-
ed, struck, doubtless, with the hyperbole
of the figure, and the strength of the anti
thesis by which he illustrated his repur.
nance to the dram drinker. 81 mean, gem
tlemen," he continued, "not living big
rattlesnake, but little raitlesnake, after
it was dead; for to swallow that, think
would not kill me, and that is all / meant
to say.
"Gentlemen, if'the angels rejoice over
one sinner that repenteth,' as the Holy
Scripture teacAeth US, how must they feel
when they look down upon a muster
ground or cour: yard, in South Carolina
Perhaps they will see a candidate for
Congress carauting over the open space
the crowd allows him. A candidate for
the Legislature drawing half pints for the
voters, gratis; and candidate for Ordin-
airy or Tax Collector singing 'Zip Coon"
for their. amusement, whilst he straddes
the whiskey barrel; and the balance of the
Candidates, whether for Clerk, Sheriff, or
the Legislature, are dancing barefoot
with the woman, or kissing the dirty
children. Yes, gentlemen, such sight, |
Common as It's, is undoubtedly disgusting,
not only to the Angels, but TO Belzebub
himself, and his whole crew, though the
latter may rejoice whilst the former weep.
"And, gentleman, what can men, so de-
graded and fallen, hope for or expect, in
This word or the next? Could they be
permitted 10 enter Heaven with their black
bottles in their hands; what enjoyments
could they expect! what happiness could
hey hope for in that place OF purify
Doubtless their notion of Heaven, accord
ng 10 their own depraved imaginations,
would be such as they had enjoyed and
anticipated in whilst upon earth; they
you'd expect to see blessed ST. Peter as.
-addle of a barrel of rectitied whiskev,
nd holy st. Paul, busily drawing out It's
on'ent' for the benefit of tue company;