Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-02-29
For the Spirit of the Age.
Hindrances to the Progress of the Tenn
perance Reform.

PGA AAANO &AOAV4A2. 4
Bro. GoRMAN There are lets and him
drances to the great temperance reform,
that have not existed heretofore to the same
extent, and which will doubtless operate
disastrously, and tend in no small degree to
cripple and retard the progress of this great
and glorious cause. The public mind at
no former period of our historv-in my
humble opinion-as nation, has been so
much, or so intensely agitated, or con-
vulsed, as it has been for soiae time past;
and is even now, and probably will be for
some time to come. | am aware that the |
same causes which led to, or produced the
agsstlon and s9aznsle9 ii sat S=g s1aasa SsaEs to
and have occasionally produced intense ex-
citement4or time; still do not remem-
Der ever to have witnessed one so general,
and SO overwhelming, and one which so
completely absorbs almost all our thoughts,
and is consequently the topic of conversa>
tion in every crowd, at home-abroad-a
church-at court-in short everywhere.-
1t requires but little penetration to perceive,
that should the present excitement contin-
ue, that not only the cause OF Temperance,
but also the cause of Christ, as we'll as the
cause of good morals, must languish, and
droop-and a state of things be induced,
which all good men must deprecate; and
which in the end, must produce anarchy,
confusion, and every thing else, revolving
to humanity. This state of things, is una
voidable, perhaps-and who ask is culpa-
BILE? Surely every intelligent man Will
agree with me in charging it on those de-
luded, fanatical, wicked men of the North,
who have wautonly and wickedly plotted
our ruin; and whose nefarious purposes
and aims have been partially developed in
the "Harpers Ferry Foray." But this
great evil is upon us-and what, | ask, is
to be done? Shall we tamely submit to
Northern aggression--to Northern impu-
dence-to Northern dictation--to North
ern robbery yea, to Northern assassina-
ton? Shall we of the South, who have
equal rights in the Union, like dastards and
towards submit to be robbed of our prop
erty-our wives and children butchered
before our eyes-our houses pillaged--and
the whole sunny South laid waste by these
Northern fends in human shape2 And
lOI WudGS OcCduoC VIC IOiO SpCClSS vi
property, guaranteed to US by the Consti-
tuition
| answer, before we will submit to such
an outrage, let us avail ourselves of every
means in our power for self>defenee. Let
us defend like uAsn-7brave and patriotic
msr--ssS hapess na wives cur ,childreH
our property, our honAr and II rhese ielu
ded, fanatical, and wicked men attempt an,
other invasion of Southern soil, let us show
| the North that "we know our rights, and
| will dare maintain them," either in the
Union or out of it. In the mean time, le
christians everywhere, both North and
South--for there are thousands of good
christian conservative men in the North
send up their earnest petitions and prayer
to the Throne of Gods grace, implorin'
| His aid and His blessing -beseeching Hin
to avert the dreadful calamity impendin,
over US as people, and defeat and thwar
the counsels of those deluded men who pre-
tend they are doing Goods service" an
acting from conscientious motives, whe
they are endeavoring by every means i
i their power, to instigate our servants to Gu
our throats, and by fire and sword to es
terminate US and our families from the fac
i of the earth. The South everywhere, &
you know, are arming and preparing for th
. conflict, come when it will and if we mus
4 be robbed of our property, at can only
done over oar dead bodies. Would to Go
we could hope for better times But thes
Northern nadrauders seem to be 'possesse
by the DEVIL and nothing will satisfy the
| but our blood.
Can even the most sanguine Sons
i Temperance hope to advance to any gre
e extent the glorious cause of Temperan'
! whilst the public mind is under such i
tense excitement Will not outsiders e
n erywhere regard the Temperance NOV
e ment as small matter-as insi ipid-whil
our very existence as an independent pc
d pie is threatened and in jeopardy? F
j. my part, can scarcely hope to mainta
$ our present ground or position whilst Il
present agitation continues. But let l
r nevertheless, urge the Importance of Tel
e perance, as it is perhaps more necessa
|. than ever, when we will need sober, than
v ing, prudent, ret9ecting men to direct t
!. public mind whilst under such extraordir
d ry excitement. And surely we do not nc
leI need the excitement produced by alcoho
d beverages. 1t is intense enough witho
ot it. And may not hope and venture t
s, prediction-that should the crisis con
i'll and pixies and revoIvers and other instr
e, ments of war be in demand "old, F,
It's triotic Mecklenburg" will, by practical {
if monstration, prove that they have not
ell generated from their noble sires, but ca,
at our Northern foes to exclaim, like some
O. Briton's sons did when they were in
= County Seat, the noble city of Chariot
We "that they had gotten into Hornets Ne,
Of We have in our midst men compet
til to lead Us on to victory, either in the ca
IN of Temperance or the cause of our ci
of political or religious privileges-and
Cd Gods blessing we will not bow either
,e> King Alcohol or Kings Cheever, Beecf
. Smith, Douglas, Seward, Hale, and Q
lu- ers of like ilk. However great and m,
we our hindrances in pushing forward
we cause of Temperance, let us press forws
he and never yield to discouragements-
led though lowering clouds seem to overh,
ich both our Political and Temperance b
on zon. We cannot but hope that the $
: is shine of prosperity will ere long break tt
hat these dark and lowering clouds, soutl
to Mason's and Dickson's line, and be g,
offre for us"-while those vile, incend
aholitionists North, will either be arre