The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1855-07-03


thrown around il, and the circumstances under
which the thoughtless and unsuspectihg are
betrayed into it, concealits real features, and
screen it from that moral indignation which,
when seen in its true light, every ansophStica.
ted heart must visit upon it. In one aspect, the
predominance Of the animal ever the rational,
it is saconspiracy against the law of refined
civilization. This feature of it Aristotle long
ago pointed out, and in this aspect, it is con.
fcssedly the parent Of vulgarity and coarse
ness, and presents the strongest obstacle to the
moral elevation of the people which society has
to encounter. Refinement proceeds upon
principle which drunkenness entirely contra
diets and, as it is the endof civilization to de.
velope and carry out this principle, the drunk
ard stands in the way, monument OF drgra
dation and,'of barbarisn.
In another aspect, it is crime whose name
islegion. 1t is u sin, as an ancient Bishop has
beautifully observed, against the whole man
and the whole law, against both tables of the
one and 10th parts Of the other. 1t tpr6strates
the body, palsies its musclee, and exhausts its
energies. 1t invades the soul, and undertakes
to suppress those very principles of reason and
conscience on which the dignity and excellence
of man depend. 1t is an effort to extirpate our
moral and rational nature, to root out the very
elements of responsibility, and to mako man
worse than the tiger or the bear They were
made 10 obey tteir impulses; we to follow
reason and law; and when we haye cxpunged
reason and law, we have reversed our natures,
and left it prey to impulses wilder and fiercer
than any which rule the beasts that PERISH
When look at The subject in this light; when
I see that what drunkenness does is really to
extinguish for the moment those very proper.
ties Of our being which link US with the angels
and with God, am utterly astonished at that
obtuseness of moral sentiment which hesitates
to brand it as crime Of the deepest dye
The drunkard is not the object of peculiar
sympathy or compassion. Hes as truly crimi.
nal, though it may be not in the same degree,
as the robbcr or the assassin. And this sin
never will be put down until it is placed on
the footing Of other crimes, and visited accord
ing to the demands Of justice. These truths
may seem harsh, but they challenge scrutiny,
and on day like this, we should forego all
preudices and customary modes of thought,
and endeavor to look upon this crying evil in
the light in which God regards it. Let US not
extenuate or excuse. Let US confess our own
sins and the sins of our people, and humbly
implore that this prolific fountain of disease,
suffering, and death may be closed. BE not
deceived; neither f,ruicaturs, nor idolaters, nor
adulterers, nor efIemnate, nor abusers Of them.
selves with mankind, nor thieves, nor cevetous,
nor druukards, nor revilers, nor cxtortioners,
shall inherit the kingdom Of God. The man
who loves an appetite more than the improve
mcnt Of his spiritual nature, who, for the sake
of what is not 50 excellent as n mess of pot
tage, will sell the birhrisht of his moral dIgnl-
ty, does he not deserve TO die! Is he not es.
sentially low, and would not the thought be
monstrous that such spirit should be found
among the children Of light! speak as unto
wise men : judge ye what say.
THE FIRST MEETING BETWEEN ScoTT AND TIE
ErTR1cx SHEpHERD--One day, while Scott was
still in Edinburgh, there came into the city
brawny rough fellow, driving flock Of sheep.
l: was James Hogg, who finding himself in the
capital was seized with violent desire to see
himself in print, and accordingly got somebody
to strike of some copies of a few of his verses,
i which, however, made no sensation. "The Minis
trelsy of the Scottish Border" set him to work at
initiating the old Scottish ballads; and as Ills
efforts were warmly praised by Scott, he came
down again from the forest to pay his frienda
visit. He, with William Laidaw and others, was
invited to dinner. The worthy shepherd appear
ed in his ordinary herdsman's dress, with his
hands well tarred with recent shearing. Not
being accustomed to the society of grand folk,
he had communed with himself as to how he
should act, and had come to the conclusion that
he ought to copy the lady Of the house in all
things. Mrs. Scott, being unwell, received her
guest reclining on sofa, and Jamie accordingly
true to his principle, had no sooner made his
best bow than he crossed the room, and stretch.
ed himself out upon another. At dinner he ate
drank. laughed, and chatted, amusing the guests
by his strange, uncouth jokes and remarks, and
even songs. As the good wine began to operate,
jamie grew familiar, after tickling every body by
his rapid advance from "Mr. Scott" to "Shirra,'
aScott," Walter" and "Wattie," he at last threw
the company into convusions Of laughter by ad-
dressing Mrs. Scott as "Charlotte." e."-Low's Life
Of Sir Walter Scott"
The VALUE OF PoLrrENE ss-Mr. Butler, of
Providence. Rhode Island, millionaire who
died some six years ago. was so obligipg that he
re opened his store one night solely to supply a
little girl with spool Of thread which she want
ed. The incident became known, (Mr. Butler
was young man at the time,) and the trading
public wisely thought that this accommodating
spirit, rs shown in this triing affair, and in the
general conduct Of his business, deserved good
run Of custom, which they gave, and placed