Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-01-31

temphngS. There is no curse upon this
fair earth that rum does not infict upon
its bloated, blackened victim, and Gen.
Taylor himself, ifthe brandy drinker had
had his way, might have drank on the
Fourth, and he might have repeated the
draught, until he raved maniac. in his
high position, or sunk down, at its close,
in just such dwelling, gibbering state
OF rum wretchedness. and Idiotcy. as the
bench, the senate, and the pulpit have
thousand'times exhibited. Gen. Taylor
preferred living and dying man. He
was "every inch man, and his valour,
his goodness and his glory, the wide
world acknowledge.
What glorious example has he be-
queathed to that Temperance reform
which every good man views as the gIo-
ry of the age! And in spite Of the sell
fish, narrow-minded IittIeness that sneers
at the national blessing which might,
otherwise, become as universal as il is
glorious, the temperance man will ever
cherish that proud example. The ex-
ample which adorned the life of the he
ro was based on solid foundation. II
was grounded on the undying principles
which General Taylor found AMI cherish
ed in his Bible. Unlike the poor wretch
who spits his contempt on holy things
and insults his God with the same reck-
lessness that he would poison both body
and soul, General Taylor was practical
Christian. He conceded in the princi-
Piles avowed by our illustrious Washing
ton, the declarations avowed in his Fare
well Address, that "volumes would not
suffice 10 show the intimate connection
between our religion and our govern
ment; that the mere politician was equal
| ly interested with the Christian patriot
and statesman in the maintainence Of
that religion upon which was based the
foundation and existence ofthe republic.
This priceless legacy, to grateful coun-
try can never be too often adverted to,
or too ardently cherished and apPrecia-
ted.
4 Such were the sentiments of s,ihe Fa-
ther Of his County,, and such. too, were
the sentiments of Taylor. To his i'm
mortal honor be il proclaimed, that he
not only so believed in the golden senti-
ments Of Washington. in the profound,
living, immutable truths Of Gods Holy
! Word, but boldly declared his sentiments
to the world. Neither on temperance
nor religion had he any concealment, and
as we have quoted his language on the
, one subject, so shall we now give his
words on the still higher and nobler
theme Of Christianity, that Christianity
, which he found where, by the true Chris
: tian, it can only be found, in the acknowl-
edged Word Of God. On receiving a
. Bible, General Taylor said-"I accept,
with gratitude and pleasure, the gift ol
this inestimable volume. 1t was for theiI
love Of the truths OF this great and good
! book that cur fathers abandoned theiI
native shores for the wilderness. Ami.
/, mated by its lofty principles. they toiled
and suffered till the desert blossomed as
. the rose. These same truths sustained
z them in their resolution to become free
: nation. And guided by the wisdom o.
r this book, they founded a government
under which we have grown from three
r millions TO more than twenty million.
of people, and from being but speck on
the borders of this continent, we have
e spread from the Atlantic to the Pacific
These, in truth, are the sentiments o
) noble nature. and they deserve TO bt
I written in letters of gold.
In concluding the observations, which
E We have felt it no less a duty than (;
: pleasure and an honor to make, we re
Joice to find that President Fillmore
like General Taylor, is himself true
t hearted, noble friend and advocate o
temperance. C.