The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-06-15
T e M P e r A N C E..
ADDR ESS.
ny THE

HON. EDMUND ,DlLLA1UNrY, p. @. W. p.
Ignorance is not mere negation
of happiness, but it is positive evil,
not "a mere waterless and parchcd
channel, but corrupt and unhealthy
fountain. whose turbid streams de.
form the plains of human life and
scatter in their course pollution, dc.
graduation and death. It is not only
the parent of error, but it has ever
been an active agent in generating
those crimes which has filed the
world with sorrow and mourning.
1t is the tyrant's stay, and tho lever
by which the demagogue elevatcs
himself to power; and, allied to fear
full vices of idleness and intempe-
rance, becomes, the Most deadly foe
to human liberty aud the rights of
man.
Man has high destiny to work
outon earth nothing lyss than sccu.
ring happiness in thisTlife and bliss
beyond the grave. There arc sor-
rows that no art can evadc, no
scourge can overcome. Under the
present constitution of things, natu-
raj calamity is the ultimate end Of
the physical and organic laws of
mans existence. Sickness and death
are the lot of all. Tender infancy,
blooning beauty, vigorous manhood
and venerable age suffer a common
doom. But moral evil is the work of
man. It is dcduciblc from the light
of nature, from experience and sound
philosophy, as we'll as from the Great
Book of Life, that the God of the
Universe created nothing in wrath
nothing in the wild caprice of So
vereign will. The beauty, REGULAR,
tyand! d!as ahsEmepy gmp;gfo of tbs petgssl M ssslf asl
his majesty and power. The bsSssS
garniture of nature, the fruits and
flowers of earth, tho glorious sun. the
s:ar-decked heavens and the rich and
mellow radiance of the evening sky,
all proclaim his tender mercy and
parental love. In the organization
of man, his benevolcnce is still more
conspicuous. The whole system Of
our nature, the nice adaptation Of
each portion of our mysterious me
chanism to the end designed, the
beautiful! symmetry of the whole, the
strange and wonderful union of mat
ter and spirit, the capacity of mind,
its mighty energies, the depth and
force of the moral sentiments, the
tender susceptibilities of human SYM
pathy land the generous and enduring
attributes of human affection, afford
the most ample evidence that the pri.
mcyal law Of man was one of SUI
preme happiness. But this law was
broken. The beauty of earth was
arred.-Its sunny landscapes we're
'overshadowed by clouds. Its fair
surface long famed by gentle zephyrs
and perfumcd by the sweet odors Of
paradise, was now the theatre Of the
whirlwind and the favoritc abode Of
noxious weeds and thorns and BRAN.
bles. The hu; man heart was made
acquainted with sorrow and anguish.
Evil was mingled with good, and sad
ness With pleasuras Innocence was
corrupted by gulc} and hclplessncss
overwhelmed by violence. Heart
mo longer answered heart in the con.
fdence of love. The sounds of re.
joicing were hushed 10 the wailings of
sorrow. Man felt his weakness and
exposure to danger, but conscious
guilt made him fear to trust his God.
A we'll regulated selfrcspect, and
quiet cheerful temper are essential
elements in every well.orGcrcd place
of life. The mind is an Independent
empire, whose means Of prosperity
and success are otbe found in its
own internal resources. Without
cheerfulness and selfapprobation.
there can be no advancement towards
real good. So long as the mind is
overshadowed by the gloom of mclan.
choly, and is visited by the reproach.
es of conscience and the stings of
remorse, ir is impossible that tho con.
soations of tranquility and hope
should find a resting place there.
Hence we find many seeking enjoy
ment where God has not placed it
inignoble listlessness, or in tho haunts
Of vice. Selfdespised or sclf:con-
dcmned, they take no part in the
worlds busy stage, or fly from the
harmony Of fircside affection, and tho
sweet endearmopts Of domestic life,
and seek to slakc their .hirst for hap.
piness in the angry tumults Of pas.
slon and the bitter strifcs Of appetite.
a host Of evils follow in the train
Of this letting down tho powers Of
tAe soul Intemperanco comes with