Litchfield enquirer., 1861-02-28
2itt9fel6 Gnanlttt.

9ittgfelb Gnqalrer.
 THURSDAY. FEB. 2s, 1861. For the LITcHFIELp ENQUIRER
 COUNsELS TO YOUNG MEN. NEW SERIES.
 Mo- III.
 MOTIVES TO sELF-GovERsMRNF.
 I draw second motive for selfgovernment from the danger of letting your angry passions loose A man is no longer himself, than he has perfect self-command. The moment he gives way to passion, he loses the balance of his mind. In common parlance, he is beside him. self. His reason and judgment are overpow- cred and unheeded. He knows not what he says or does. He weighs nothing, needs noth- ing but the fiery impulse of the evil spirit that drives him on. A moments reflection might bring him to himself and stay his hand But no ;-he has been injured-he has been insulted or thinks he has, and the insult must be retract- ed or avenged at all hazards. No matter what friendly relations may have before existed be- tween him and the aggressor; his veracity has been impeached, or his honor has been touched and he will not bear it. For the time being, (in extreme cases,) he is in the worst sense a mad man, brandishing fre-brands, arrows and death Revenge boils and surges in his bosom his | is ot o1I I, fon o1 edctions till they choke his utterance, and noth. ing but blood will quench his wrath" The fla tai challenge is hastily sent the deadly weap ons are selected the ground is paced off, and if his aim is sure, his friend falls. The deed is done. He has sent an immortal soul into eter nity. He has crushed the hearts of father mother, wife, sister.
 When he comes to himself, he wakes up as il were from horrd dream. He never would have done it, if he had ruled his own spirit and one hour after, he would give the world if he could recall the deed. g...... ...........- But it is not in duels alone that men satiate their fiery and malignant passions in blood. We can scarcely take up daily paper, but that our eye falls upon some appalling record of street fights and bloody afrays. Men butcher one an other in this Christian land with more than say age ferocity. When read these accounts, my soul is sickened with horror and dsmay. What are we coming to? 1.-The land mourneth, and as if they were wild beasts, that could not too soon be exterminated. But would they ever do it, my young friends, if they had at your age and earlier, gained tie mastery over their own pas sions? Never, never lit would be impossible. Men cannot shed each others blood or infict any great personal injury, till they loose all self control and all regard for consequences.
 Be it, however, that indulging fiery temper does not always lead to fatal consequences they are always sinful, they are always danger ous. One angry word leads to another. The flame increases every moment, and no one can tell where it will stop. From the smallest spark it may burn to the lowest hell. You may feel quite sure, tlat though sometimes thrown of your guard, you can never yield to the fatal
 
 thousands thought, who have nevertheless been led captive by Satan at his will. Is thy ser want dog," exclaimed the astonishcd Hazael, that should do this great thing?' But he did it, and more. So you do not know your selves, if you think there is no danger in little indulgence. There is no safety but in total ab- stiuence, and in holding on to the rens with firm grasp. No man who yields little, can tell to what lengths it may carry him. Listen once more to the words of inspired wisdom He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like city that is broken down, and without walls There is no danger so great, as that which arises from self-confdence, in parleying with an un- governed temper.
 The third motive for the early establishment of self-government over the temper and tongue, is drawn from the mental sufferings to which in- duging them will expose you. It is impossible for passionate man to be happy man. He is selftormentor. He makes himself misc rable, just in proportion as he indulges his pas sion. This is a primitive law of our nature. You can no more indulge even fretful temper without pain, than you can take fire into your bosom and not be burned. This is matter of experiences and observation. You never saw man of violent and ungoverned temper, who was happy man, and you never will He can no more get rid of suffering, than he can of his existence. No earthly power can make him half so miserable as he can make himself and by no process can he heat his self-inficted tor lures to fercer flame than by giving full scope to anger, malice, and revenge. When all his wrath is stored up against an offender, be it an enemy, or even his bosom friend, how does his eye flash! how does every nerve in his body quiyer! The furies that urge him on have no mercy.
 TIE OI.D MAN OF TEE MoRHAMs. DEMOCRATS TO THE RESCUE-NO. 2.
 BROTHER DEMOCRATS At the close of my first number I was speaking of our duty to rec tify public sentiment at the North, on the sub ject of Slavery The task before us, is to remove