Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-03-29

Laughter will stop it. I have
promised God, I have promised my
country; [ have promised that proud
Commonwealth which for so many
years has honored me with her public
positions, in the Legislature, as Gov
ernor, as member of both houses of
Congress; | have promised all who
love me, and have promised Katie
and the children loud applause =
that | will never touch, taste, nor
handle the unclean thing applause
and by the blessing of God and my
own unfaltering purpose, I intend to
fight it out on this line to the last
day in the evening of my life. Ap-
plause. If all you, gentlemen, would
do the same thing, you would lose
nothing in mind, body, or estate
Laughter.
Fellow-citizens; 1t may m
strange, but | would, as I feel now, as
soon drink fire from hell as whiskey,
for it is hell and damnation too. 1t
destroys the health, and mars the
beauty of the body; it can bow down
to earth the most giant intellect, and
make it weak as that Of a child. 1t
demoralizes and it annihilates the i'm
mortal soul. 1t makes a man forget
his children or the wife of his bosom,
and treat them with harsh unkindness
and barbarity, and even murder them.
Unaffected by intemperance, he would
peril his life for that wife of his love
he would dive into the oceans depths,
face the caunon'S mouth, or peril his
life amid the flames Of the burning
dwelling to snatch from death his
darling babe.
| do not suppose at all that | am
superior to any body else in intellect
| certainly have no special claims to
consideration from birth or fortune
but there is one thing ! do claim, and
that is, that God has endowed me
with nobility of soul, with warm and
generous impulse-a heart as unfath
Omable in its affections as the ocean
and as broad as the area of humanity
and appeal to you, Mr.. Chairman
from our slight acquaintance, if you
do not think | have enough of the ar
dent about me without the arden
spirits? Laughter.
Mr.. Wilson. Yes; you have.
Mr.. Yates. ! would say to the
young nan, that grandeur Of human
chararter does not consist of trans
cendent genius alone. 1t does no
belong alone to the statesman beneath
whose eloquence listening Senates 81
enraptured it does not belong alon,
to the warrior who bears his proud
uncOnquered banner over every field
but it does consist in force of charac
ter, in force of soul, feeling, thought
and purpose. C@ser was a weak MAJ
when he sacrificed the liberties oI
Rome by suffering Mark Antony t.
put the crown upon his head. Wash
iugton would not have been great i
he had yielded to the temptations o
his willing army and accepted crow
at the expense of the liberties Of hi
, country. The reformed drunkard az
I complishes more heroic achievemer
that did the Spartan band at The
> mopyl8,, because he conquers himsel
That man is only great who seek
p right, truth and justice, and adhere
q to them with strong, vigorous and pc
, petuaI purpose.
+ AS to the effects upon the natio
D Mr.. Jefferson said, many years ag
that
q "The habit of using alcoholic liquor
by men in Office has created more i
i jury to the public service and give
more trouble to me than any 9th,
o circumstance which has occurred
# the internal concerns Of the countl
+. during my administration. If | ha
! to commence my administration aga
Y with the knowledge l have from e
p perience derived, the first questi(
, which | would ask from a candida
. for public favor would be is he addiC
y ed to the use of ardent spirits"
al The man who is to legislate for
o great country, to help make laws al
e constitutions involving the destini
ID of millions of human beings, ought
le be man of reflection, moral princip
r integrity, and above all, sober ma
r [Applause.l Go into your legislati
at halls, State and national, and behC
er the drunkard staggering to his sc
N or sleeping at his post, and ask yo1
a self the question whether he is L
b. more fit to qe called a monument
i'll his country'S shame than the rep
h. sentative OF treemen. Would it I
e. be most fearful to contemplate tt
o. ilI-fated epoch in the history of G
at country when the demon Of intemp
be ance shall come into our legiSlat
Sc halls without shame, remorse, or
Of buke; when he shall sit upon juri
W. upon the bench, and drunkenness /
riot among the people. Who tt
nd will protect the ship of State up
m this maddening tide; who will stC
e. her in her onward course amid
ID dashing pillows; who spread her st
is. ry flag to the free, fresh, wild viii
of of heaven?
lis Watchman, what of the night ?
in have been engaged in mighty re
lp- luton. Your army and navy b;
sh carried your arms under Grant &
tes Banks against the Gibraltars of
ID; Mississippi, and opened that sire
we from its source to its mouth. Un'
me the gallant Joe Hooker your tro
to scaled the heights, and above
,he clouds unfurled to the sun the glori