Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-03-19

rent testimony OI every CuTlsL III tHc lduDj
is this an isolated instance, but the coun-
terpart of many which arc constantly being
here presented Indeed, Lawyers and
Judges would have to abandon their pro-
fesslons, were it not that men are so rash
as to venture too near this deadly Upas.'
But lend me the assistance of your arm,
and if | can manage to ascend to the Dome,
we will continue our exploring expedition
from that elevated position. Do you not
see that gloomy looking building surroun-
ded by high brick wall with iron spikes
That is our Jail, erected for the purpose of
incarcerating legal offenders as punish
ment for their transgressions. A few days
ago, visited it in company with distin-
guished Divine, and my heart sank within
me as | witnessed the many evidences of
human depravity and reckessness, which
there strike the eye of the beholder. My
clerical friend spent several hours in con-
vcrsing with the prisoners, offering spirit
ual admonition and counsel and inquiring
into their past history; and as result of
these Investigations, We learnt that large
majority were the victims of intemperance.
1t is mortifying fact, said the Jailor,
'but one that is attested by nv long expe-
rience, that at least nineteen out of twenty
of all those who are confined in this wretch
ed place may trace, their downward fall to
this monster vice. Alas that men will
fcloniouSly purloin their neighbor's goods,
and imbrue their hands in their brother |
!, blood, while under the influence of the en-
venomed breath which they have respired
while reclining under the shade of the
deadly Upas.'
Now cast your eye away over yonder, in
| the outskirts of the city, and you will see
: the same group of houses, which you ad-
mired so much in your ride the other day
: one Of which you recollect pointed out to
you as the Lunatic Asylum. The superin-
= tendant Of that humane Institution is an in
innate friend of mine, and he has often as
sured me that at least three -fourths of the
? unfortunate individuals who had been placed
in his custody, were either drunkards them
selves, or the descendants of those who had
been guilty of Incorporate habits. Surely
no spectacle on earth is better calculated to
elicit emotions of commiseration and SYM
/ pathy, than is here presented Sad refec-
4 tions that so many who might have been
0 brilliant gems in the social coronet or bla-
zing meteors in the literary armament, are
> now, with intellect shattered and reason de-
throned, cropping in the midnight gloom of
mania or raving in all the horrors of deliri-
um ; and more sad the thought that all this
e misery md wretchedness is caused by a cause
] which plight be renaoEsd-the- existence of.
i the deadly upas.'
: That large structure Just at the edge of
=. Potter's Field, in the midst of cluster Of
: small white houses, is our Poor house an
Z Institution erected for the benevolent purpo-
J. SEES Of providing homes for the destitute and
is houseless, and to furnish the means Of sub
b. sistence to those whom misfortune or mpru-
D, dence have rendered unable to earn it for
Il themselves. am a warden for this insti-
- tuition, and was forcibly impressed by a
- statement in the last annual Report Of the
- worthy Superintendent 9 Since my install
Is ment in this Office which / at present occu-
OF py,' said he, have, not only for my own
r satisfaction but for the cause of humanity,
rs made careful enquiries into the history of
of those who have been placed under my
~ charge, and after u patient investigation
have been forced to the conviction, that nine
III ty-nine hundredths of the recipients of pa.
e. rochial bounty, may attribute their depen.
dant and destitute condition to the vice OF
at intemperance.' Thus do the melancholy evi
10 dences of the existence of this deadly upas
~ multiply npon US at every step. There are
70 grey.haired sires trembling upon the verge oi
w eternity, here are men of middle age and
~ ~ youths OF tender years, aye here is woman
I'll lovely woman and innocent babes, and all be-
es cause they or their protectors ventured toe
w near this deadly upas'
at You have often visited Greenwood Gene
M terry +; that is it inclosed with a neat iror
railing, dotted here and there with white
slabs and tomb-stoncs, and ornamented Will
W. beautiful evergreens and shrubbery. Ther'
IN sleeps the remains of many who have paiC
as the great debt Of nature, and who have gon,
ny down to that bourne from whence no travel
NJ Ter has ever returned. | am an old man,
Nc Harry, and know that | must soon lay m,
,t trembling frame in this its last resting place
i,' but when l review the history of many VIII
hC- are here deposited, can but utter an inwar,
to denunciation, deep though silent, against thi
ne. withering curse, which has brought SO man
~, Of the loved ones Of my early days to thi
nd silent city of the dead Thirty thousan
A of the inhabitants of the United States, W
u are told, are yearly offered up as oblation
PIC upon the affairs Of the bloody Miniataur
DC aye, thirty thousand out Of twenty odd mi
ge, lions yearly fall victims to this monstsr vice
ng this deadly upas.' But my watch warn
the me that it is now noon and time to retur
en-. home. And now keep your eyes open an
tho you may be able to detect for yourself tt
- location OF tins POISONOUS Tree.
""' .'" We now turned our face homewards, bl
lti- had proceeded only short distance whe
up we were met by a gentleman carrying
ing pair of saddle bags upon his arm, who mer
cul- ly salutcd my Uncle Oscar by a nod of r
ain cognition and passed rapidly by. That ind
- vidual,' said my Uncle Oscar, is our tow
An. sergeant, and be is now engaged in collec
~. ing the taxes due the corporation. He call'
u n"0 upon me yesterday and in the course of OF
ne conversation | enquired of him why o.
Oy taxes were so much heavier than they b;
sem usually been. Several causes replied
,ral- doubtless contribute to it, but the princip
ton one may be expressed in one word, rum
has remove that from our midst sir, and our jai
a., poor-houses and other institutions WOu
soon become vacant, thus relieving US
rneu half the burden of which we complain.
pre- But so long as our people suffer themsely
y of to be duped by the specious arguments a
,riod fine spun theories of astute and crafty de
have agogues, and allow these licensed hells
loost iniquity to b)ast the sanction of law. go 10
-. must they groan under this oppressive loa
ceen These sentiments but confirm my own c.
rlgln viction, for l have long believed that m
lsten than half of our taxes were appropriated
= the the support of these miserable dens of
pro- morality and vice, and to the propagat
and growth of this deadly upas'
Tn. But hold boy, we are on danger
10Th. ground See there, (pointing to Great
- who had just tumbled head long into