The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-07-05
Correspondence of the Temperance Adrocate.

WASHINGTON, June Is, 1853.
Dear brother Wnren.-I have reached here
this evening on my return, and am in good
health.
Since wrote TO you last, proceeded to
Philadelphia, and on Thursday and Friday
nights, met the friends of Temperance in Van
Wagner's big tent, in West Philadelphia, and
made two Temperance Speeches. The
first night, guess there must have been from
1900 to 1000 persons. The next night, owing
nearly night, there were not so many, though
large audience.
was received, much as am at home, with
rapturous applause Whether the speeches
were good or not, it is not for me to say :; the
! people seemed pleased, and by an unanimous
vote returned thanks to me for my addresses.
But you ask, what do you mean by Van
Wagner's big tent? will explain.
Mr.. Van Wagner is Blacksmith, who has
become Temperance Lecturer, and g noble
one he is! lie has pavilion capable of con.
tanning 1000 people. This lie pitches, like
Circus tent, in an open space, fixes seats rising
as an amphitheatre, and stage-then he is
ready for operations He is now employed
for four months by the State Central Commit
tee for s25O0. The first night banner was
presented to him hy the ladies of Maneyyounk,
one of the small towns in the neighborhood of
Philadelphia. 1t was presented for the ladies
by Mr.. hoffman, who made capital speech to
the audience on the necessity of Prohibition.
MIR. Van Wagner, in accepting, beautifully re-
sponded, and then, in short address, most
powerfully presented the claims Of a Prohibit
ory law.
He was followed by the able Corresponding
Secretary Of the State Central Committee, the
Rev. Mr.. Jackson. was then called out, and
being pretty much reused by what had gone
before made one of my short, but pretty of.
fective speeches.
Last night was preceded by our brother
Nicholson, the 6. S. of the Sons Of Temp. Of
Pennsylvania; he made capital, short speech,
on the necessity Of law.
Il then took hold Of the audience for an hour
and half, and strange to say, they held on
too
Yesterday, conducted by my worthy broth
ers, jackson and Nicholson, visited lndepen-
dence Hall AS entered the room, it SEEM
ed as if l stood in some holy place. Here the
Declaration Of Independence was read, by Jeffer-
son, at the head Of his Committee, (franklin,
Adams, Livingston ard Shcrman.) men never
surpassed for wisdom, patriotism, and Republi-
can simplicity. Shades of the mighty dead,
seem still tc present here. Would that our
countrvmen, one and all, would visit Indepen-
dencc Hall, and renew their feelings of love and
devotion TO their United country. No man
standing in independence Hall, would breathe
word, or harbor thought about disunion!
As YOU enter, beautiful wooden Statue of
Gen. Washington is before you, and occupies the
place where the President Of Congress once sat!
On the right of the statue hangs a portrait of
Washington in full uniform, taken when he was
a Colonel in the service of Va. In his youthful
face, you can hardly trace line of the grave,
commanding face which commanded at Tren-
ton, Monmouth and Yorktown and which after
wards graced the new government under the
Federal Constitution. Immediately below this
picture is the wooden scat occupied in Christ
Church by Washington, La Fayettc and Bishop
White. Just beyond Col. Washngtons portrait
hangs life-Ike print of Bishop White. Under
meath is the high backed red morocco lined chair,
occupied bv Charles Thop,son, Esq, the never
enough admired, selfsacri6cing, Secretary of the
Continental Congress. On the left Of Washing
tons is the portrait Of the gallant son of the
stormy deep, Stephen Decatur. The spectator,
as he looks at it, drops a tear over the sacrifice
Of so much worth to that modern Idol, red with
the blood of many victims-Duelling Tn
derneath is the chair Of the President of the old
Congress, is exactly like that of Secretary
Thomson. 1t carries with it the venerable and
glorious association Of Hancock and Laurens -
tb,t &c in
Carolina were then as twin sisters, in the glori-
Gus cause of liberty. Why are they now es-
tranged? On the right Of the room as you en-
ter is beautiful portrait of William Penn. 1t
looked as if painted yesterday. His costume is
the plain carb of Friends. Ills features are ra-
diant with manly beauty, and benevolcnce. In
his hand is his treaty with the Indians: they ap-
pear in the foreground. One, feeling and think
inc as do, of the immortal founder of Pcnnsyl-
vana, would never tire in looking at il. On the
left of the room is a, fine portrait Of Gen. LA
Favette, painted in 1924. 1t is exactly like the
great Apostle of Liberty Of the New and the
Old World but looks younger than lie did
when saw him in Columbia, in 1925, worn
down by travelling frasing, and civic honors.
In this fttest of all places, rested the bodies
Of the great men, worthy to be the successors OF
the sagcs of Inependcncs-John Quincy Adams
and Henry Clay-on their transit from Wash
ington home! If l dared, could fancy on the
separate nights when they lay in the Hall, that
the spirits of Washington, Franklin, Adams:
Jefferson, Livingston, Sherman Hancock, Lau.
rens, Henry, Lee and their associates, descended
to welcome and bless the spirits of the newly
dead and said "Arise, flee away and with us
mount, mount in chariot of fire 10 everlasting
life and glory"
From this venerable place" we passed to the
! Court rooms they are nOOr and small apart