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ik ICW'WBHHlMaMMMWI iwiiTwuwiunw g « ©ohtmftta, ffiolmniita, to (ftloi'y ^rtse.”- - d k . V O L . I .— NO. 26 J K . H U D S O N , O C I O B E R 20, 1842. ..P R IC E 3 C E N T S The Columbia Washingtonian, Devoted exclusively to the Temperance cause. Is published every Thursday morning, by the Ex ecutive Cell1™*11613 ofthe Columbia County “Washing ton Temperance Society, under tlio immediate super- ision of a Sub-committee, composed of tho following uainpd gentlemen : J am as M ’G i f f e r t , J o h n S. G o u l d , W a r r e n R o c k w e l l , C a r l o G r e e n , and J . R . S . V a n V l e e t . T e r sis.—One dollar per annum payable in advance. A limited number of Advertisements, of an appro ved character, will be inserted at the usual rates. Address J. R. S. V a n V l e e t , Hudson, Columbia County, N. Y., postage paid. From the Boston Mercantile Journal. T H E CONTRAST. Says Jam es to John, “ come, come along And take a cheerful g la ss; I f I were you, I ’d bid adieu To all that temperate class. Their narrow mind, with chains would bind, If they could rule the laod— And men born free, must bow the knee, And yield to tbeir command. They have no heart, to take a part, In all that makes life dear; The social glass, they never pass, And w h at's true joy they fear.” “ Ah Jam bs,” says John; “ too oft I ’ye gone Your merry, Werry round; The sparkling bowl, that'lured my soul, I’ve dashed upon the ground. Your cheerful glass I now can pass, And shun its fatal power— For well I know, there’s nought below Thai can such evils shower. 1 Could you but feel, tbe peace and weal, Which temperance imparls, You would desire the liquid fire To cease from burning hearts. Come James, give up the poor, poor cup, The source ofall your sorrow, And truly be al liberty, And nol regr.ct the morrow.” A H E R O. The following interesting fact was slated a few evenings since at a public meeting, by Rev. M r. Douglass. Mr. D . was professionally called to attend tbe dying bed of a lad about nine years of age. H e was a Sabbath School scholar.— H is teacher had taken great pains to show him the horrors of drunkenness, and impress the ptinciples of total abstiuence upon his mind. During his sickness his physician ordered that certain medicines should be given him in wine. The dose was prepared and brought to him, but he refused it, per tinaciously refused il, saying, “ my dear Sabbath School teacher has told me lhal 1 must nol krink intoxicating liquors of any kind.” “ My father,” he continued “ is a drunkard, and my teacher has told me that if it had not been for his drunkeuness, wc might always have been comfortable, well clothed, and plenty to eat and drink, and lhal he could havedone much good in the world,” “ And,” he added with much feeling, “ I am determined never to be like my father. Medicine of any kind I am willing to take if not mingled with intoxicating liquor.” A greater than Hannibal is here! A resolution worthier far, of eternal remembrance, than that o fthe celebrated warriour. His was a ■resolution, made and maintained amid llie racking, torturing pains of disease aud death. Samaritan A r i s e n from t h e D e a d . —At a rqcent meeting aboutseven miles from Hopkinsville, Ky., a man came forward to sign the pledge, who bad been a drunkard for 30 years, on the call of one of our Cincinnati Reformers. His wife was present with him in the meet ing. She had not the slighest hope or expec tation tbat he would ever join the Washing tonians. She knew that be had gone lor tbe ■purpose ofmaking fun of the meeting. Bui ■under the thrilling story which our brother told of his own downfall, his deep degreda- tion and misery, and his own happy and glo rious recovery, the appeal was made lo the oldest and most debased drunkards in the house to come up and sign the second declar ation. T h e poor man could no longer hold out. He pul bis name lo the pledge amid the plaudits and congratulations of an over flowing house. His long abused and neg lected wife could not repress her emotions.— all the wife was up in her bosom—she rusb- -ed to the tqble, threw her arms around his neck, and, while grateful tears were flowing down her cheeks, she thanked God for the recovery of her husband, and called on all to thank him. The effect was electrical and overwhelming—qv.erv heart was moved and every eye filled with teats—and tjie sobs of “ stiong.men” w ere'beard thro1S§hout the house. 'Oh, the joys of tltis glorious reform! —-Cincinnati Star. . ST. LO U ISjU flM H N A L COURT. S t a t e . W ’ 1 Indictment for passing vs. > counterfeit money. A u g s t u s V . J o n e s . ) The defendant in this case, vvas probably twenty-eight years of age, but wore the ap pearance of a t least thirty-five. He had evidently once been a fine looking m a n ; in stature he was something over six feet feet, and his strongly marked features and prom inent. forehead, gave evidence of tnore than ordinary intellect. But you could cleai’ly discover that he had become a prey to the monster intemperance—them a rkof the beast was stamped on his countenance, vvhicli gave it a vivid and unnaluralglare. He was placed in the box, with others who were to be arraigned upon the indictments preferred against them. All the others had plead not guilty, (as is usual,) and a day was set for their trial. The defendant was told to stand up, and the clerk read lo him the indictment, which charged him with having, on the 16th day of August, passed to one Patrick O’Neil, a counterfeit Bill, purporting to be issued by the 2nd Municipality of the City of New Orleans, for the sum of three dollars; 'and upon being asked the question, Guilty, or not guilty? he replied, “ Guilty—guilty!” Then, turning to the court, he remarked that, as this was the last time he ever expected lo appear in court, he would beglad if he could be allowed to make a few remarks. The Judge told him to proceed. After a pause in which he was evidently endeavoring to calm his feelings, he proceeded as follows: May it please the Court— in the remarks I shall make 1 will not attempt to extenuate my crime, or ask at your hands any sympathy in passing a sentence upon me. I know that 1 have violated the laws of my country, and justly deserve punishment; nor would I recall the past, or dwell upon ibebiuer ptes- enl, for my own sake. A wish to do good to others is m y only motive. I shall, with the indulgence ofthe court, give a brief narrative of my life, with a hope that those young men around me may take warning by it, and avoid die rock upon wSiich I have split. 1 was born o f respectable par ents in the State of New Jersey, and during my childhood, received every attention that fond parents could bestow upon an only son. It was eatly discovered that I bad a fondness for books, and my father, although in limited circumstances, determined togive me a liber al education. I was sent to a high school in the neighborhood, and such was my progress, that a t 12 yeats of age my preceptor declared me qualified for college, and I accordingly entered one of the oldest universities in the country. Here I so distinguished myself that, at sixteen, I graduated with the second honors of tho institution, and returned home flushed with the brilliant prospect of success that lay hefore me, I soon after commenced the study of( law, and when only in tny twentieth year, 1 obtained license to practice. Acting upon the advice o f friends, I deter mined lo try my fortunes in the west. I accordingly arranged m y affairs for departure early in the fall of 1S33. I will not detain you with an account of my separation from those I held most dear—suffice to say, that I received the blessings of my parents, and in return, promised faithfully and honestly to avoid all bad company, as well as their vi ces. Had I kept my promise I should have been saved this shame, aod been free frotn tiieload of guilt lhathangs around me contin- nally, like a fiendish vulture threatening to drag me to justice, for crimes as yet unre- vealed. But, to return. I left my early home, where llte sun o f posterity shone, and where my pathway had been strewed with flowers, to try my fortune among strangers, and to try my strength in buffeting the storms and tempests of the world. W ith a light heart I looked forward to the future; and taking the usual route, I soon reached Wheeling, where I took passage on a boat for Louisville. On the boat a game of cards vvas proposed for amusement, and although I had promised faithfully to avoid such things, still I argued tn myself, there was no harm in playing a game for amusement. Accordingly, I joined the party, and kept up the amusement most of the way down.— After we left Cincinatti, it vvas proposed to bet a hit a game, merely, a s it vvas said, to make it interesting. My first impression was to leave the table, hut I vvas told that it vvas only a bit—that I could not loose more than one or two dollars, This argument prevailed, for I lacked moral courage to do what vvas right. I feared my companions would say 1 vvas stingy of a little money. Influenced by these feelings, I played ; aud as the fates would have it, I won. Before vve reached Louisville, we had twice doubled the stake, and I found my luck enabled me to pay my passage out o f winnings. It was the first time ever 1 had bet money, and my success ruined me. Again I played and was successful; ?nd in shott, I continued to play for amusement, until I had acquired a thirst for gambling, I settled in a thriving village in Tennessee, and commenced the practice of my profession tinder flattering auspices, and my first appearance in criminal court vvas highly complimented, and I soon became known throughout the circuit. Things went on thus for more than a year and I believed myself fairly on the road to fame and fortune. *1 occasionally played cards; but I consoled myself with the idea that I only played with .gentlemen for amusement. One nightT accompanied some young men te a gambling shop, and for the first time in nriy life, I saw a Faro Bank. My friends commenced betting and I vvas induced to join them, although I did not understand the game. Again I played with success; and when vve left the house, I was more than two hundred dollats winner. None of my companions had been fortunate, and it. was insisted that I was the lucky man, and that I must treat. We accordingly repaired to a room, where I ordered wine, and before we broke up vve were deeply intoxicated. With me it vvas the first time, and the next day 1 re.snlved that I would never play cards again. I adhered to the determination for nearly three months, when 1 again yielded lo the entteaiies of dissipated associates. I nqyjj played wiih varied success, and in all eases found an excuse for resorting tothe wine boitle. If I lost, I drank to drown sor- rovv; if I won, I treated my good fortune. Tims I progressed upon my downward course, until drinking and gambling became my chief employments. All my friends who were worth preserving, abandoned me, until my only associates were druukards and gam blers. When almost reduced to want, (for I bad left o ff business,) I received a letter informing me of the death of my father— that father who watched over tny early years — wno loved me so tenderly. And did I act as an affectionate child? No. Vice bad destroyed the human feelings of tny heart, and left only the animal passions and appe- as the letter contained a check for S500 a part of my poor father’s hard earnings. I drowned my giiefthat night in a Bachanalian revel, and in a few days I was again penni less. Iw ill nol dvvell upon the every day scenes of tny life, vvhicli were such as may at alljtiinesbe seen at any of the two hundred dram shops of your city, where wretched men squander the little piuancethat justly belongs to their suffering wives and children. But to pass on. For nearly three years I have been a drunken, wandering outcast.— Six months ago, I received a letter from my dear mother, enclosing $100, and informing me that she was fast sinking with disease, and entreating me with all a mother’s feel ing, to come home and see her before she died. For a time I fell the appeal, and re solved to comply with, her request; and ac cordingly look passage in a steamboat for that purpose. For two days I refrained from liquor; but my thirst became insupportable— at length I approached the bar and demanded tiie liquid lire. I vvas soon intoxicated, when I madly sought the gaming table, dnd before the boat reached Louisville I was stripped of every cent. Thus, all hopes of seeing my dying mother cut off, I remained at Louis ville several weeks; in which time 1 learned that my mother bad died, and that her last breath was spent in prayer for ber wretced child. From Louisville I shipped od board the steamer Brazil, as a deck hand, and came to this place where I was discharged for drunk- ennness. L e t every young man reflect on this picture. ], who had moved in thefirst circles o f society; had been the guest o f dis tinguished public men, and a favorite among the literati of our country—vvas now turned off unfit for a deckhand on a stemboat! yet intemperance had done this much. I loitered about this city for several weeks and was sometimes engaged in posting up the bonks of some dram shop, for which I was paid io the liquid fire kept for the ac commodation of customers. One evening I fell in company with a man who had lately been lodged in jail for passing counterfeit money. We played cards and I won from him the three dollar bill in question. The next day I learned it was counterfeit, apd did not offer to pass it for some days. But at last I got out of all employment.—I bad no olher money.—I could meet no one who would ask me to drink. My appetite was like a raging fire within me. I canid not endure it. t sought a dram shop—offered the bill— it vvas accepted; and when found by tbe officers of justice, I was beastly drunk. Tbe evidence of guilt vvas conclusive ; and before my brain was clear of intoxicating fumes, I was lodged in jail to await my trial. I have not detained the Court with any hope or wish that clemency would be extended to ' my case. But with a hope that my exam- | pie may be a warning, to other young men _ j that those who bear me may, when asked to a social game o f cards , or drink a social glass, think of my fate and refrain. They may think themselves secure—they may believe they can stop when they please, but let them remember that I argued thus until I was lost [Here the defendant sunk down and appeared to be very much affected, and for a few mo ments silence reigned -throughout the Court House.] A t length the Judge, who is as much dis tinguished for the qualities of his heart, as he is for learning as a Judge, proceeded in a brief but appropriate manger to pass sentence upon tbe defendent, putting his punishment in the Penitentiary, down to the shortest lime allowed by lavv. W H A T SH OULD B E P O N E . The Executive Committee of the” Ameri can Temperance Union,” in their last re port, recommend the following tp the atten tion of the temperance public. Belter advice could not be'given, and we trust its impor tance vvill be apparent to all. 1. Constant and unremitted effort should be made insecure the reformation of every unfortunate drunkard in the United Slates. To that individual ant) to his family and friends such reformation is o f infinite impor tance. And the day will not have arrived for a general jubilee, until every such individu al is snatched ftom the alcoholic fires. 2. Iu the second place, constant and care ful attention should be paid to those individu als who have been reclaimed front habits of intemperance, to confirm them insobriety, ' They should be taken by the hand, furnish ed with employment, treated with kindness, compassion and respect, and made to forget ■ all their former degradation, and rise &it)i - their families to respectability, usefulness*nncl happiness. . 3. A third great object demandihg atten tion is, the seeming to as great an extent ns possible, a change in all the taverns, hotels and steamboats, anti prevailing on all enga ged in the business’To renounco ibeimanufag- ture ond sale of intoxicating drink. Thjs must be done by individual application, in a ' spirit o f kindness. Until il is done, intem perance is not subdued in the land. While thousands on thousands are dependent for their support on the sale, a constant and al most irresistible effort will he made to in duce the weak to buy and dtink. The en tire breaking up or the traffic throughout tho land should be a special object with all the three million signers tothe tempera nee pledge. 4. Signing the pledge. This is the great instrumentality of fastening the reformation upon the world. Tt interferes with no obli gations or duties. I t is a renunciation-of no privilege. A u d it places the individual, by his own voluntary act, b y self-respect and by public sentiment beyond all future use ofthe intoxicating cup. It should now be made national in America, as in Ireland ; tbe great business in every temperance meeting lo which a lecture, speech or song, should only be subservient. Old and young, high and low, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, should at once be invited to sign the pledge. Let no temperance man leave uninvited those within the circle of hisinfiuence. 5. The perfection of the temperance en terprise in the church. The church has a power to perfect and a power lo hinder this enterprise, which belongs to no other body. On her, therefore, rests a tremendous respon sibility which should be felt by every indi vidual member. And every individual un derstanding the subject should now give him self no rest until he is instrumental in the hands of God in bringing every minister and every professed Christian within the circle of his influence, to take a decided stand in the cause of temperance. The church may feel that she does not need the “ earth to help the woman,” but if she does not improve the present great excitement throughout the coun try to purify herself, aud actually suffers tem perance in the church to sink below temper ance in the world, the evil we deprecate will never be eradicated ; and not only will the chutch entail upon herself a curse for all fu ture ages, but the temperance enterprise will be left to struggle against an impassable bar rier. 6. An enrollment of a ll the children o f the nation in the ranks o fthe Cold Water army- The rising generation must be brought 10 breast the desolating evil tbat it may not pgss by to them future generations. Apd itis belie ved it may be done in everystateand.village at this moment with little to il; difiit’stng a- mong our youthful millions ne,w sources of purest happiness, and training thept up in the exercise of a moral influence whiph wiil unite them, and those who Pome after them, in every department of human benevolence in the cotinlrv and (lie world.
