Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-03-31
NO. 81.


tive hall, to frame laws for the government
OF the peoplel Do not reason aud COM
mon sense, justice and humanity proclaim
that they should be men of sound under
standing, keen discerning powers and Of
upright moral principles! Does not the
prosperity of the nation require that these
places should be filled br men who would
scorn to perpetrate the smallest infringe
ment OF right and shrink from vice dis
gulsed in all the attractions which wealth.
fashion aud popular favor can throw around
her. Men who wodld raise their swords
IN the defence of right though they be
beaten by the enemy into pruning hooks.
and follow the dictates OF conscience and
Beveiatscsi, tEhesfglf iii the adverse powers
of a sinful world present tn Jagged spears
of broil and contention in the most appal-
ling form. But is this actually the char
acter Of those who compose the august
legislature What is the surest passport
through our own loved country TO political
honorl Is it not often gold and illegal
famel Are there not men in orr land who
are thoroughly educated men whose mo-
raj, social and religions integrity capacitate
them to transact affairs of state 7 We
would not insinnatc that true American
citizen would stoop so low as TO sell his
vote for gold, vet it is mysterious fact
that, not unfrequentlv, two men are can
didates for the same office, one Of which,
though in humble circumstance is in
every respect suited TO dis.harge the fune-
ton of that office; vet he is beaten by his
opponent, a man Of low principles who
would receive no patronage, did he not
possess much wealth. Is It MOI a lamenta-
ble fact that congressman often procure
many votes by the distribution Of ardent
spirits and the support of the fendish IL
quor traffic We would not disparage the
business of our civil code, vet it is an un-
accountable fact, that a cRlprit, however
base the crime he commits, is almost inva-
riably acquitted, if he has wealth and in
fuential friends. Thousands of paupers
from whom priest and rulers have wrung
the last dime, seek refuge in our aims
houses. Others ascending fortunes ladder
aspire to offices of trust. Is it not probable
that they, ifruling men, will infrse their prin-
ciples among the mass2 WiIlnot theiRfusion
ofsuch principles engenderthe most hostile
feelings and result In civil war 4 true
American has IL heart too wide, too gene
rous, too noble to refuse an asylum to the
poor alien, fleeing from the oppression Of
his native land, but let him beware how
he elects rulers that will subject his coun-
fought, bed and died to redeem it.
Our nation boasts of her republic, vet
is she not fostering in her own bosom the
most despicable tyrant that ever forged
yoke to enslave human subject A tv-
rant that blunts the keenest pcrccptive
powers, dims the brightest talents, con-
sumes every holy principle and reduces has
victim almost to level with the brute 4
tyrant that destroys both soul and body
and sends the soul unpreparcd in the pres
ence of its Maker, Thousands of dollars
| he squanders yearly. Broils contentious,
crime and blood-shed follow his footsteps
Broken-hearted widows, perishing orphans
and ignominious deaths are his legitimate
offsprings Is not an internal foe thrice
more to be dreaded than foreign enemy?
Mark, the hydra-headed monster, lurking
in the dark and concealed places, first
steals the reason and lulls thecoascence to
sleep and then induces his deluded mortal
to perpetrate the most heinous deeds
When the sons of temperance would thrust
him from the land, government, shielding
him under her protecting folds, forbids,
saying it would be taking from man his
liberty, to prohibit him to hold free inter
course with king alcohol. The laborer
returning from his daily toll, suddenly over
taken by dark night and lowering storm
clouds, loses his way. An olefent gas
light springs up before him, which he, ta-
king for friendly guide to direct his steps
homeward, follows. Now it carries him
through marsh and mud now, its warn
|, ing light extinguished, he strikes against
rugged rocks which precipitate him head
long over deep precipice in which briars
thorns and brambles prick him on all
sides, and though he makes every exertion,
he cannot cxtricate himself from the cruel
torture, or find any egress to his loathsome
prison. The woodcutter, perceiving his
condition, removes the briars and brambles
! and the captive joyfully comes forth from
, the thraldom into which he was so sud
: denly precipitated. So when king Alco-
+ hol has once wooed lover, he throws
around him the strong fetters of burning
h appetite which partially deprive him of the
4 moral power to escape his iron grasp
9 Does the individual who removes these
I fetters take from the captive his freedom
q or does he restore that which the treache
II rous fiend has taken away!
IS Does not the Bible plainly authenticat,
5 the relation between master and servant
s Should not every statesman endeayor f
), quell the hostile feelings the North enter
5. tains against the South as ito this point an
L to prevent the fatal consequences whic
d would result from the fdisorganization
n this relation? Have not men, honore
l. with seat among the august legislator:
lie stigmatized their name by endeayorihg
er suborn others to sell their vote for the proI
is agation of those abolitionist principle
k which woald engender civil war, break tn
es bond of our union and result in the owe
10 throw of our government Should nc
or every precaution be taken to exclude thos
he from office who would employ such bas
g means to accomplish their desires
ul (7Io L. en-, fsyafodl