Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-03-18

from the Richmond Whig.]

From the Richmond WhlgJ
Intemperance.
Ex-Governor Smith has entitled himself to the
gratitude of his countrymen, by bis weh-t'i'eu
resolution in Congress, which contemplates TIE
summary displacement of every military ofhcer,
who, under any circumstances, may he iouno in
state of intoxicaton. Drunkenness III MILL
tary officer, is not merely vice, it is crime
And if we are to measure the atrocity OF crimes,
by the evil consequences which flow from them,
it is a crime of the darkest dye The murder OF
an individual is, by the decalogue, and the laws
If all nations, classed among the highest offences
of which man may be guilty. But what IS the
murder of an individual, compared with the
wholesale slaughter of company, regiment, or
an army occasioned by the misconduct of ofl-
GERS, caused by Drunkenness? The safety and
welfare, not only of men who compose the army,
Ebut of the womec and children, and OF all who
remain at home, is entrusted to the omcers 10
command of the army. The proper discharge OF
this trust requires sleepless vigilance, untirlng
energy, wisdom in council, and prcmptness IN
action There is no position in which man
can be placed, In which it is SO necessary for hlE
to have all his intellectual faculties, and physical
energies, uuobscured and unimpaired by any ex
traneous influences. The officer, then, who in
the hour of danger beclouds his reason. and en-
feetles bis strength, by intemperance, is trait
or to his country, and forfeits every just claim
to coDfidel ce and respect. i- g1@ l
| We trus. that Gov. Smith will press his reso-
luton with bis accustomed energy, and We can
hardly doubt, that Congress will have the patri
otism, and good sense, 70 adopt it.
We should be pleased to see the reform push
ed still further. We should like to see drunk
enness made disqualification for any office, civil
or military. The President ought to appoint no
incorporate man to Office, and if he does, the
Senate ought promptly to reject the nomination.
Now is the time to introduce this wholesome
reform. If it be adopted, it will do more to re-
press iptemperance, .han all the Temperance
Associations in the land. You have only to let
it be known that intemperance is an insuperable
bar to official preferment, and you will at once
bring the vice into disrepute.
i The people ard the political parties OF the
country have much to answer for in this partc-
ular. They have heretofore looked only to the
party relations of candidates, without regard to
their moral character, or fitness for the stations
they were called on to ELL. Hence. many seats
in our Legislative Assemblies, both State and
Federal, have been filed by Incorporate men,
The old Congress was often the theatre OF drunk
en- brawls, and our own Legislative halls have
witnessed similar exhibitions. 1t is a matter Of
public notoriety, that, within few years past'
the Senate of Virginia, on several occasions, has
been compelled to adjourn. ct an early hour, lr
consequence OF the turbulent conduct of some Of
its members, superinduced by intoxioation. MOI
has the House of Delegates been exempt from
similar disorders.
As the old system has passed away, We hope
these evils will pass away with it. We might
as well expect figs from thistles, sober legisa-
tion from drunken legs!att re.
We call attention to this subject, at this early
day, in the hope that our patriotic contemporaries
of the press, and the people generally, will unite
with US in an ear est effort to root out, etfectu
t ally, this crying evil. Let all unite, hear
l ard hand in the effort to exclude from al pub
lie offices ell Incorporate men. We care net
where it strikes or whom it strikes. At the
next election let this test be made paramount te
all others. 1t matters not how shining a mans
abilities may be, how extensive bis capacities foI
usefulness, We know that, if he is q drunksrd
, we cannot rely on him. He may be unfit tor
service when there is the most urgent demand
for his assistance. Let the line DC distinctly
drawn, and let no Incorporate man be elected
to Congress or the Gen raj Assembly, OR any
other public station. The men who tll the high
places of the land ought to be bright examples to
the masses. By eieeting incorporate men to
Office, we give dignity and responsibility to the
/ vice itself.
| This is the way to cut up the evil by the roots
1t will not do to dodge the issue by war upon
whiskey, and make the innocent farmers pay
the penalty of the misconduct of drunken men.
| 1t is not the whiskey that is in fault, but the
bad men who abuse it. Whiskey will hurt no
one, if he will let it alone. 1t is very good
thing in its place-nay, almost necessary
The abuse and not the use of it, is the evil, and
those who war against it act with as much rea-
son as the boy who breaks the stone against
which he stumped his toe!
Let the test in all future elections then be -
| sIs ne honest9 Is he capa5leS is de SOBER!
Is he faithful to the OonstitutionS" What say
our brethren of the Press2
Death of Bishop Meade.
This distinguished Episcopal Divine died in
Richmond on Friday morning last. He was the
son of a jealous and not undistnguished patriot