Indiana American., 1854-03-10
Corrfspon0&ntf.
OxFoap, Ohio. March /. 1854

DEAR EDIroR:-The Hoosiers are q
great people. One might imagine,
from reading Indiana newspapers, that
the whole state was alive with excite
ment on the Temperance question:
You hardly leave column for the
Car and Sultan, or the famous Ne
braska outrage. Now / am glad that
you are inclined to talk and write so
much on this subject, but it would re-
joice me still more if you would go to
work and do something. We of Ohio
take very little interestin the movement.
We have such magnificent farms for
corn, and so many splendid distilleries
that the Maine Law or its equivalent,
meets rather cool reception.
You are right, l believe, in the posi-
ton you have taken in the american.
Men are inclined, on this as well as
other subjects, to run into extremes
The grand object is to stop the evil
consequences growing out Of the use
of liquors as beverage Every one
knows that alcohal is used extensively
in mechanical and manufacturing
establishments, as well as me dicinally
what good can it possibly do to the
cause of Temperance to suppress such
use Of the article? Pistols and knives
are frequently instruments in destroy
ing life; but no one thinks of putting
down the manufacture ofthcm on that
account. But we do punish those who
use them anlawrully; just as we ought
topunish the scoundrel who puts bot
tie to his neighbor's lips.
l hope that Indiana viii not be con-
tent to hold conventions and make
speeches and pass resolutions; but that
the people in their sovereign might and
majesty; will bestir themselves, and
take the matterinto their own hands.
One thing must be done before we can
hope for any legislation worth a farthing
ON this subject-deeent, respectable and
sensible men, absolutely must, by some
means, be induced TO accept the Office
of Legislators. Iknow this is bold
announcement to make, and | may be
laughed at as a visionary dreamer, but
l am fully convinced of the truth of
my position.
i mentioned in former letter that
a new female College on very extern
siye scale was about 10 be erected here
by the New School Presbyterian
Since that time l have learned that
another, ofstill greater dimensions and
pretensions will be commenced next
summer by the Old School Presby-
terians. 1t is quite probable that a
spirit ofrivalry and competition. which
is the the life OF trade, (ifnot Of religion J
has contributed a good deal to bring
about this extraordinary increase in
the educational facilities Of our village.
No one can regret the rapid multipli-
cation of female Schools-it is cheer
ing feature Of the present times. And
experience has demonstrated, no doubt
that they succeed best, under the in
fluence Of sectarianlsm.
We have also Theological Semin-
airy here, which has been in operation
for several years under the auspices
of the Associate Reform Church. The
Rev. DR.. Claybaugh, a most accom-
plished scholar-and l was going to
say gentleman; but ought not that to
follow as matter of course, since he
is christian minister's the Princi-
pal. Indeed believe he comprises the
whole faculty, for it does not require
many teachers where the whole number
: of students does not exceed Dozen
The Associate Reformed Church i:
comparatively young in the west, bu
its founders, with commendable fore
cast, are establishing it upon a solid
basis, laying the foundation deep anc
! : strong. God speed theml
1t was in this town that the Rev
DIR. BERRY, President Of the Indiana
Asbury University, made soma of hi'
earliest efforts in the Pulpit. One o
the "oldest inhabitants" gave me al
account, the other day, OF his first ser
' mon, or rather his first attempt at on,
: in Oxford. Having read the text h,
: endeayored, in accordance with tn,
e custom of that day, to "divide" it int,
a its several legitimate, component parts
o In this preliminary performance he be
n came 50 completely bewildered anC
n confounded, that he was oblidged /
: close the book, and, after occupyin
d some moments in relating his persons
! experience, sat down in the pleasin
;. consciousness of having completely
o failed. "But" said dmy informant, "h
g never failed after that"
: Our townsman Lyman Cole, hs
J. again been snatched away from HI
is pleasant cottage, to answer to th
'e charge of murder in Arkansas. Yo
d have seen the accounts of Sidney {
le Burton's coup d'etat in the Cincinna
&c papers.
a. An abortive effort was made here
st few weeks agoto establish a newspape
or Can't you send some interprisin
u Hoosier to us who will start an Oxfol
at Gazette or something of the kind?
it. am persuaded that an cnterprisir
er printer would find this good locatiC
a in many respects. The trouble is tn
p our citizens are so purely literary, al
y so intensely fastidious, that nothlI
short little A. No. journal would
tolerated. Yours, always.
no JOHN SMITH.