Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-07-15


Der, that according to Mr.. Eyerett's estimate,
"the use of alcoholic beverages has cost the
United States, directly. IN ten years, 81, ,200,-
900, 900, has burned and otherwise destroy.
ed, S5,000000 more of property, has sent
10000 persons to our prisons, has sent
100000 children to our poor-houses, has
caused 10000 murders, and 1000 suicides
and has bequeathed tc the ecountry 100000
of orphan children" Think of the heavy
tax, the trouble and vexafion, the lawsuits
and neghborhood contentious, the jealousy
and hatred, the habbhngs and backbitirsgs,
which intemperance generates. Ard 0ll,
think how seriously II inAeaes the pTogiess
of the gospel haTs F 8 8rrl zity and ho u4
bIsft gives the ohnrch, and how it affords
occasion to the sharp-eyed seorner to mock at.
religion. Think how many immortal souls
are ruined eternally BY the fiery draught-
Think of the unhappy influence which is
thus brought to bear upon the rising genera
ton. They are corrupted by filthy CONVEX
satlon and by wicked examples, and unless
brought into more wholesome atmosphere
than that of the drunkard's home, they will
be poorly prepared, when they arrive at the
years OF maturity, to be the guardians either
OF the church or of our civil liberties. Med
ltate seriously upon all these things, and
am much deceived if you will not agree with
the wise man, that wine at the last biteth
like serpent and stingeth like an adder
And now, what shall we do? If nv hear
ers, you have any philanthropy, if YOU have
any regard for the liberties and safety of your
beloved country, if you have any desire to
see families and neighborhoods peaceful and
happy, if you have any compassion for sor-
rowing wives and desolate little children, if
you would relieve the government of a heavy
expense, and reduce the demand for hospitals,
prisons, and aims houses, if you would bless
the Kissing generations, and prepare them
for the civil and religious duties of life, if you
wish to build up the church and advance the
kingdom of Christ, if, in short, you have any
concern for your own welfare, temporal and
spiritual, and that of your fellow-m you
will join me in raising the cry, strong and
earnest, What shall we do? As your spirit
ual watchman, and your humble adviser in
all such questions of duty, let me commend
few words of counsel to your prayerful con.
sideration
! Look not thou upon the wine when it is
red, when it giveth his colour in the cup,
when it moveth itself Alright Do not expose
yourselves to temptation. Keep away from
intoxicating drinks. and make no use Of them
as beverage. Except when they are nee
ded for medicinal or mechanical purposes,
never let them come within your dwellings,
And If this be your " eak place, and you think
1t probable that the presence of such liquors
might tempt you too strongly, do not even
make use OF them for such purposes as we
have mentioned, if there is any thing else
that will meet your wants We must not
iook upon TIE VF Wln6 Wben Il IS red msS
be tempted to put it to our lips; and the
more we drink, the more we shall crave un-
til at last, a powerful thirst will be created,
which may ruin our character, beggar our
, children, and lead us down to drunkard's
grave. Therefore, look not upon the spark
ling wine keep at distance, not ap-
proach it, for it may be dangerous to let your
eyes rest upon it. Do not use it at ALL on any
, occasion, as beverage, if you desire to be
perfectly secure. Ifyouare easily overcome,
shun the places where it is kept, if you can
do it prudently, and the company of those
who may urge you to drink. There are few
: men, very few, who can tamper with the in
. toxicating glass, and not become ensnared to
/, their ruin. We only advocate the total alb
t stinence grinciple because of the urgency
r. Of the case. There is nothing morally wrong
IN drinking small quantity of spurious liq
uor, in itself considered. But such is its in
II tiuence upon mans appetite that the moder
W atense OF 1t is extremely apt to lead to In
temperance. And rather than expose our
selves to It's seductive power, we should re
solve that we will neither touch taste no
handle it, unless our health and comfort ah
se solutely require it. This is evidently the wises
N and safest policy.
Is Keep an eye also upon your sons, and striy
u to save them from the fatal vortex. ShoJ
~ II them with anxious face and eloquent tongue
u the dangers of the glass, and teach them
III shun it as they would hideous viper. SUI
Il; u; fer them not to set foot within the threshold
~ Of those dens of iniquity where turks tn
alcoholic demon. Throw around them, as
: palladium of their safety, all the sacred er
le' dearments of home and of fathers, mott
=: ers' and sisters love, and hold them bac
u with strong cords from the snares that ar
p set for their ENHANCEMENT. Look aroun
,l 30 with a parents fondness over your lit
~, household. Call around you the circle
lU' your healthful and beautiful children. Wi
IL you bring contagion into such a circle ;
y, " this? Shall those sparling eyes become II
'ul famed, those rosy checks purple and bloate
:. that sweet breath be tainted those ruby Iii
llo blistered, and that vital tone OF unceaslr
art ot,oorf,l,oe - :; - +ro,nor and nt
'e0 ancholy? Shall those joints SO compact,
.n- unstrung, that dawning intellect be cloude
leS those affectionate sensibilities benumbed, al
; those capacities for holiness and Heaven
DIy filed with sin and fitted for destruction? o
ne thal father, was it for this that the son
70 God shed his blood for thy precious ofsprin
ey' that abandoned and even tempted by the
eSs thew should destroy themselves and pier
ART thy heart with manyasorrows? Wouldst tn
lar- let the wolf into thy sheep-fold among
ng- tender lambs wouldst thou send thy flo
the TO gaze about den Of lions? Close, tn
thy doors against more serious destroy
DO and withhold the footsteps of thy immor
rect progeny from places of resort more dang
= Gus than the lions den.'
ives And do all you can, my friends, to |
1ese down intemperance throughout the land.
OF void the appearance of evil in your nei
ect- bor's Slightest not before him the dang
his Gus glass-exercise your ingenuity to k
ers, him out of bad company-strive to bring t
{ OF under the restraints and influences of relig
beg and do all you can, if he be in great d
rust ger, to persuade him, by appealing to
1ud, reason. to his conscience, and to his fan
ana sympathies, to turn his back upon the
,spi -"sas>-----
the SALE OF VIRGINIA LANDs.-Wit
'eca' : the last three or four weeks no less t
tbe 500, 900 worth of land, in the immed
gin. vicinity of Fredicsburg, Va, has been
and nocad of Tn nersons from abroad who int