The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-06-16

our Government ought to have done long ago-to
put an end to Slavery in land Of boasted liberty,
but OF all the voluntary Associations for the pur-
poses of Moral Reform. which excites most our
admiration. if the necessity of its existence is to
be estimated by the extent of the evil which in
duced its formation. and the good which has re-
suited from its efforts. that Associa ton is the
Temperance movement. This. more than all
others, seemed most indispensable not only on
account OF the good it was destined accomplish
ny converting men from drunkennessto sobriety
but by rousng TO sense Of their duty old estab-
Iished Institutions. whose age seemed to be the
only excuse pleaded for exemption from duty.
Neither the schools of law nor medicine, as such
said aught of the evils of Intemperance. Legis-
iatures, instead of adopting measures for it's sup
preston, countenanced and legalized it, The
Bench not unfrequently set the example of drum
kenness, granted the license to make drunkards,
and then punished the poor wretch who would im-
tate the one o. err through the influence Of the
other. Even the Church refused to do what she
abundantly able to do, and what it was intended
by the benfcent Ruler of the Universe she should
do. =,
The reason of silence from these quarters was
almost the universal prevalence of the vice. And
even now, SO interviewer is with all the relations
OF life, hati requires ordinary decision of char
arter and moral resistance either to abstain from
It's use or to rebuke it in others. Much has been
done to arrest the ravages of the dreadful monster
but still the imprint of his burning footsteps marks
almost every aspect of human affairs Go to the
palace, gorgeous with the pride of power, re-
sounding with song and revelry, and impervious
to the cries and tears of suffering poverty-his
Iavages are there. Descend TO the peasants
humble roof, where moody silence and dark inn
aglnings have usurped the place of sweet content
ment and cheerful hopes--where rags and wretch
edness bespsak fathers improvidence- burn
ing footsteps are there. Visit the tribunal of JUS
tIce, where stands the youthful accused, detected
and trembling with penitental awe, for crime com.
United when reason was gone-the cruel tyrant
has been there. Lend an ear to the plaintiye
winds, as they bear away from the iron bars of the
gloomy dungeon the deep drawn sigh for depart
ed liberty and the quiet sweets of home. thew are
sacrifices on that Molochs blood stained altar
'Iurn fearful eye TO that moving mass of moral
ldIocy, with purple face and lured blood shot eve
that I" living curse with naught of lite save the
power to suffer, and all of death save the quiet of
the grave"-he has most rudely reveIed there
Contemplate the od.defying ofhim who tortured
his brain with maddening irregularities until, with
his own impious hand,
Z" He opened the portals of eternity,
And sooner than the devils hoped, arrived
In hell."-
there too the monster triumphed with demonac
glee.
10 all our religious. moral, social and political
relations, we see, either directly or remotely,
some strongly repulsive or slightly Objectionable
feature of his Proean visitations. A guest at the
communion table, he forms new alliances and re
news old acquaintance, which are too often Gull
tivated afterward, until his presence seems neces
sary to existence. He steals, with winning look
and artful guise, amid the bright flowers of prom
lse that deck the Hymeneal altar, to leave the
serpent's venom and the adder's sting To more
effectualy serve his master, he unblushingly ap-
propriates the chase livery of Heaven, and thus
invested, inciies to rude violations of conven
tonal courtesy and prurient nvasons of the sacred
reserve of female virtue The effects of his in
fuence often discovery in the wall of despair,
In the weeds of the widow, and in the raos of tho
orphan. They are traceable, often--oh! how
often lin the sunken eye, the blanched cheek,
and haggard look, where pride conceals the poi
soaed shaft, and warm affection suppresses the
audible expression of the pain. He breathes upon
the spotless ermlne-Justice bushes for the soil
ing of her emblem. He whispers in the ear of
Legislation his electric power-aw becomes the
reflection OF his will. So indelible and enduring
IS his impress, that it not unfrequently accompa
mics man from his cradle to the grave He glad.
dens the heart to madden the brain He enlivens
the aspect of the present to entomb the hopes of
the future. He blights the brilliant promise of
the morning of life, and enshrouds, in the dark
ness of despair, its setting sun. He vestures the
earth in sable, and colonies hell with the sin
blasted spirits Of its inhabitants.
If then, in view of this dreadful picture, old
institutions could not or did not attempt remedy,
who will rise up and say some other organization
was not so absolutely necessary?
= TO be concluded in our neyt1