Daily national Democrat., 1858-10-13
HUMAN wRrcKs.-The S. F. Call thus mar

HUMAN WRECKs-The 5. f. Call thus mar
rates and moralizes:
1t is painful to the last degree to witness
the wrecks of humanity occasionally to be
seen in our midst men whose natural quail
fications and artificial requirements fit them
for almost any position, who have hitherto
enjoyed the confidence, respect and esteem,
of their fellows, and have been honored with
positions of trust by their fellow citizens,
now fallen so low that none can be found so
poor as "to do them reverence" and all from
indulging fatal appetite for the intoxicating
draught Many such wrecks arc to be found
stranded on the shoals and quicksands which
abound in California society but, alas how
few, when they gaze upon them, realize that
but short time has passed since they were
brilliant specimens of manhood, gladdening
the hearts of friends by their unexceptona-
ble behavior, and reveling in the warm sun
light of bright prospects for the future
These human wrecks are to be found in the
insane asylum, on the street corners, in the
cutters, walowing amid the low purlieus of
vice, and incarcerated-th most miserable of
all-with the most besotted dregs of mankind
housed in the cells of the station house The
black taint of crime has not yet stained the
characters of these unfortunates their only
sin has been an inordinate indulgence in the
poisonous draught, which steals away the
senses of man, and places him beneath the
level of the brute Not long since, we had
occasion to notice at the bar of the Police
Court, among the bloated, beared and hag-
gard unfortunates collected there to answer
for their misdeeds, one who had graced the
Legislative Halls of this State with his pres
ence; had commanded the admiration of
thousands by the sparkling emanations of
his genius, had held positions of trust under
the National Government, and had enjoyed
in no common degree the confidence and res
pect of his fellow-citzens His course had
been downward, until at length he was found
wallowng in the lowest depths of intoxica-
tion and considerations of public morality
required his incarceration. Yesterday a sim
liar spectacle was exhibited within the walls
of the station house The fallen man, but
few years since, was the most prominent
among the citizens of one of our most popu-
lous northern counties; the people of his
county once bestowed uron him the most
important and lucrative offices within their
gift; one of the great political parties had
shown its confidence in his talent and iudg-
ment by bestowing upon him one of the
most important offices in the State; in fact,
he enjoyed reputation and popularity to be
eEvied. But he fell His social qualities
and warmth of disposition induced him to
indulge too frequently in the intoxicating
cup lie lost command over himself, and
was soon a wreck amid the shoals and quick
sands which abound in the course he pursued
In his fallen condition, the frieLds who gath
cred around him in the days of his prosper
ity and basked in the sunshine of his favor,
deserted him, and there was not one left 70
offer helping hand to lead him back to the
right path. Despair rs to his situation, and
burning sense of his own degradation, still
impelled him downward until now he is of
the most pitiful specimens of humanity to be
found in our midst. Forsaken by all, his
prospects blighted his constitution shattered,
not a solitary ray of hope to cheer him-his
fate may be imagined