Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-02-29

vert the errors and snperstitiOns OF SIX
thousand years. Progress is stamped upon
everything that God has made, and be 10
but dullard and slo,h who holds back
ward in the race.
But, sir, this idea is to be taken In con-
nection with another. Under a popular
government, the will Of the people, from
whom emauates all political power, must
not be disregarded- If it is, our enact
men.s will be disregarded, and lswlcssness
will be added to evils already existing.
This consideration, and this alone, impels
me to the course intend to pursue in vo-
ting for license law. do not cringe to
popular clamor for any effect it may have
upon myself or my political fortunes and
although 1 do not claim to be entirely
destitute of the sentiment which, the ven-
erable Senator tells US, distinguishes man
from the crawling worm, do not valso
those fortunes highly enough to sacrifice
my manhood upon their shrine. ! hsvs
never cast q vote, nor uttered word, IN
this chamber merely to advance them, and,
so help me God never will. If it de-
mands this sacrifice, my efforts must End
another channel, and my ambition another
career. While am here, sir, bribes shall
not sWerve me, threats shall not appal me,
nor persecution drive me from my course.
The sail is set, and my hand is upon the
helm. If am wrecked, the vates that
overwhelm me shall be pure and stainless.
And when my political carcase is dashed
upon the shore, trust no man will point
to i. and say-behold the spots and blot
shes Of corruption. Popularity is too Of
ten the boon of knaves and fools, to b
bought with the surrender Of freeman's
proudest privilege-independence Of ths'e
and action. He who comes here to play
the doughface or the demagogue, may win
the transitory applause of thoushtless
men, but be will lose that which he should
hold much more highly, his own self.re-
spect and the permanent regard Of those
whose regard il worth the most.
Mr.. Speaker, two sorts of petitions have
come here BY hundreds-one sort more
numerous than the other; some Of these
resking With the smell of rum; marked
with the stains Of rum written on bar
room counters, by hands made tremuloss
with rum; and dare the assertion shas
nearly all of these have originated in the
patriotism Of trafhekers in rum-usn
whose sounder judgments have been warped
and whose better feelings have been per-
verted by that too powerful incentive to
human action-the hve Of gain. We have
heard these, sir, and while We are giving
proper heed to their demands, let Us net
be uumindful of another sort, quite -
much entitled to our regard. In my hum
BILE opinion, one Of these is worth sll Of
the former kind put together. mean the
one presented by the Senator from PAila-
delphia, (Mr Browne,) and signed BY
500 women Of that great city. 1 mention
it particularly, sir, that I may not be out.
done in gallantry BY the trim and stately
Senator from Allegheny (Mr. M'Clintock).
He has alluded to them in the beautiful
language Of poetry. l am sorry I can not
emulate him in this line, for alas I have
forgotten all my poetic lore, except the
sweet melodies Of the venerable Mother
Goose, and can recall none Of these that
fit the case. But promise you, however
much he may get ahead Of me in words,
he shall not in feeling; I can feel As deep
ly as he. There never was . time, and I
trust there never will be, that wonan,
with her high and generous heart, and her
unerring love Of Right and Truth, could
not command me and my humble services.
If there is one thing which more than an
other attaches NE to this cause Of Tempe
rance, it j. that woman, in every condi-
ton, and in every age and land, has been
its advocate and defender Aud well she
may be, sir, for too often and too sadly
her wi,hered hopes and broken heart attest
the power Of her great enemy.
Surely, sir, thoughts like these should
temper somewhat the enthusiastic gratitude
of which have spoken, and which somS
Senators manifest on all occasions towards
the interested League that elected them.
Surely, sir, that gratitude should not make
them entirely oblivious Of earlier and bet
ter and kindlier sen:imsnts-it should Hoa
make them entirely forget, that in daya
gone by they entertained o more eompre-
hensiye humanity humanity that ex-
tended above and beyond the financial
prosperity Of whiskey- -monsers, and en-
braced within it the poor and helpless
the victim as well as the vietimiser.
Mr.. Speaker, I can not leave the subject
without few words in reply to the vaga-
ries Of the amiable but backsliding Senator
from the county (Mr. Iugram). l would