The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-12-17
Editorial Correspondence.
NEw Yonx CRY, Dec. G, so.

Dear Readers: In the "noise an
confusion" of this great metropolis
we find little leisure and still less in
clination to write. The Ritual Com
mittee are engaged in their labors
examining mass of manuscripts pre-
sented for competition.
The cause of Temperance here, a
in all our large cities, is languishing
The liquor traffic enacts the laws ant
elects all officers, from the lowest t.
the highest. The consequence is
that the prisons and aIms-houses are
crowded, and want, wretchedness
and crime prevail. Yesterday, we
visited the City Prison, known as the
I0mJS, and made an address to sew
eral hundred inmates, of both sexes,
Of all ages and Of evcsy variety of
color. There are seeeH in this prison
under sentence of death, nearly all of
whom are young men-the Youngest
but l8 years of age. If the death
Peaaly was executed on liquor, the
gallows would soon be dispensed with.
And it is a grave question, whether
this mode Of punishment ought not TO
be abolished. The old argument that
it inspires the abandoned with more
terror than any other form of punish
ment, We think unphilosophical. What
does the man who is infuriatod and
maddened by drink, care for the bitter
end awaiting him? Not one in ten of
those who take life, are in a condition
to think of the consequences, until it
is too late. The enactment and en-
torccment of the Maine Law, will re-
lieve our sherif$ of the painful duty
dcvoIying upon hangmen, even if ad-
yancing civilization and refinement
insist upon capital punishment. At
the execution on Friday last, in Phil
ldelphia, the hangman wore a mask
80 that no person should recognize
lim. We believe this is common
practice in the city of brotherly love,
when such unpleasant jobs are to be
disposed Of
Since our arrival here, we have had
cry little opportunity to know what
$ going on in the world, our whole
-ttention and time being absorbed
With the new Ritual for the Order.
esterday being the Sabbath, we
ound our way 10 Brooklyn, with the
XPcctation Of hearing that glorious
hampton Of Temperance, HENRY
Ward BEEcHER, preach in his church.
tut before reaching the house, we
earned that he was absent from home;
'e therefore turned aside into a small
hapel and listened to a discourse by
le Rev. George Bush. Many of my ,
,aders will remember that MIR. Bush
as formerly distinguished Presby- {
rian clergyman, the author Of a most
aluable commentary on several of t
e books Of the Old Testament 2
1w he is an ardent disciple Of Baron t
and editor oil a standard !
urnal of the "New Church" Mr.. I
is, without doubt, one of the most y
orough biblical scholars of the day, t,
ID eminently learned in the ancient =
nguages. Whether it can be said t.
him that "much learning hath :,
ade him mad," or not, we leave to o,
hers to determine. His discourse ~
Is about the "interior and exterior" i
&C., not very y,
eligible to US, and consequently tn
will not attempt synopsis of it.
; is, without doubt, a sincerely hon. 70
man, and a man of pure heart. s;,
AS soon as the labors of the Ritual Y
invention are concluded, we will ur
Ike our way to old Connecticut, to 70