The Washingtonian. [volume], August 02, 1845, Image 2

About The Washingtonian. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1845-1845

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THE WASHINGTON!
w.
WASHINGTON.
SATURDAY. AUGUST 2, 1845
TERMS OF THIS PAPER.
To citizens of Washington, Georgetown, and Alex*
andria, the Wasbinotonmn will be delivered every
Saturday, at FIFTEEN CENTS per month, payable
monthly.
Single papers (sent by mail) will be TWO DOL
LARS per year, payab e in advance, in all cases.
Any person remitting us FIVE DOLLARS will re
ceive THREE papers, to any addreas, one year.
For TEN DOLLARS we will mail 8EVEN papers
on# year. Under this we cannot go, as the expenses
attending 'he conducting of a paper in this city is al
most tut great as in any part of the United States.
All persona friendly to the cause are requested to
aid us, by procuring subscribers.
Postmasters are authorized, under the law, to
remit the names of aubacribers and money.
All communications to the publishers must be free
of postage.
PROGRESS OF OUR CAUSE.
It is very pleasant to contemplate the pro
gress of the temperance reformation. It seems
but as yesterday, since, to this cause was
given, a "local habitation and a name." There
are hundreds and thousands now connected
with this great movement, who saw it in the
cradle of its first existence?a feeble and in
significant thing. It was like that "cloud
which at first seemed no larger than a man's
hand." It was the single dew-drop, which
scarcely bowed to the earth the humble hare
bell in which it slept. But the cloud has en
larged itself,?the heavens have been covered
by it, and the showers of its blessings have
fallen in rich abundance upon our earth. The
dew-drop has been succeeded by the rich, full,
gushing spring, or the mightier Ocean, encir
cling whole continents, and constituting the
wasteless source of human happiness and pros
perity. The progress of this cause is unpre
cedented, in the history of the world. We ex
cept, of course, the cause of Christianity, to
which it were almost impious, to compare any
other system of reformation. With the very
commencement of this reformation, the work
of opposition commenced. Old habits were
not to be reformed,?time-honored customs
were not to be renounced,?the avarice, the
cupidity of men, was not to be suddenly over
come, without a fearful and tremendous strug
gle. 1 he conflict has been carried on with
unexampled spirit. It is not claimed, that
perpetual sunshine has cheered our pathway;
that no defection has found its way into our
ranks,?that our counsels have never been agi
tated,?that our banner has not at times been
trailed, like a worthless weed, in the dust. No
?no,?we admit that all this is true. The
history of the temperance reform presents
many of these dark pages. The spirit of apa
thy has sometimes seemed to overspread al
most the whole host; and times have occurred,
in which scarcely a voice was heard from
the thousands of her subjects, animating the
timid, and urging onward to new successes in
the cause.
But these seasons have passed away, and,
like the lion refreshed by its slumbers, our
cause has risen up, in renewed strength, and
the voice of its authority, and influence, is
heard thioughout the lengths and breadths of
the land.
This cause has been progressive in its entire
character. The first blow struck was against
the use of spirituous liquors,?then followed
an assault upon the manufacture and sale of
spirituous liquors; then, under the direction
of Heaven, followed a brighter and better state
of things, in which the manufacture, sale, and
use of all intoxicating drinks, were all opposed
as injurious to the virtue and happiness of
men; and thousands banded themselves to
gether, in a vow to abstaiB from all intoxicat
ing liquors, and to use their influence to pre
vent their use in the community. Then suc
ceeded the movement designed to bless the in
temperate themselves. Other movements had
been taken with a view to prevent men from
becoming drunkards?this was intended to
operate upon those who had already fallen
into the snare, or whose steps were tending
to the frightful precipice. The revealments
of the last day will, alone, discover the amount
of good which has resulted from this move
ment. And onward, and onward still, with a
power which is irresistible, this movement re
eeives the blessings of ifllllions who were
ready to perish.
Thus far our cause appeared to be per
feet. All the objects of its original founders
seemed to be accomplished, or in a course of
accomplishment. Nothing appeared to be
wanting to render the system, in its principles
and workings, every thing which patriotism,
philanthropy, or religion, could desire.
But the season of its full orbed glory had
not yet come. The darkness of midnight had
departed. The feeble rays of light had beeu
seen struggling up through the intervening
darkness. The dawn had been blushing deep
er and deeper?and mountain and valley, and
lofty tower, were illuminated by floods of
light.
The time came when it was perceived, that
wise and beneficent purposes, not originally
embraced in the organization of our Tempe
ranee societies, might be promoted. Could
not some plan be devised to extend relief to
the reformed inebriate, and his family? Could
not temperance men unite themselves together,
not only for the purpose of diffusing the bless,
ings of temperance, but for mutual help and
succour in the hour of sickness, in the dark
days of adversity?
The thought originated in the same source
from which came the first ray of light in re
gard to the Temperance cause itself. God was
iu author?Heaven the bright world of its
creation.
I Acting upon this thought?cairy tag out these
high and holy impulses?the Sons or Tempe
rance, the Brothers or Temperance, and
other kindred associations, h.?e been origi
nated, and mark a new and most important era
in the history of the Temperance reform.
Whether new measures of success and use
fulness are before us, we know not. It is our
duty, with hearts full of gratitude for the past,
to wait the openings of Divine Providence, and
to enter into every opened door. If, in the
changes which mark all human things,?if, in
the improvements which are constantly occur
ing, it should be ascertained that wider fields
for successful effort are spread out before us,
temperance men, acting in the s-irit which
haPcorstantly influenced them, will go forth,
to the destiny to which Heaven may point, with
rejoicing hearts. In every thing that is excel
lent?in every thing that is of good report?our
cause has been progressive. There has been
no retraction of any of our principles,?there
has been no concealment of our purposes,?
there has been no letting down of the standard.
The only change has been in placing that
standard higher and higher still, and pointing
men to measures of comfort and happiness be
fore unthought of.
In our next we propose to consider, to some
extent, our duty, in view of our present posi
tion, and the great things which have already
been accomplished through this instrumen
tality.
THE FUTURE.
Dom be alarmed good reader! It is not
our purpose to discourse to-day, of that great
future, which is beyond the limits of man's
present frail existence. On the morrow, the
pulpits of our city will be found faithful to
their trust, in this matter. From lips touched
ivith that fire which burns on Heaven's high
lltar, the men of God will tell of those scenes
if future blessedness, or of future misery,
which lie beyond the narrow span of human
life, and point the path which leads from the
sorrows, cares, and troubles of this present
life, to the future rest and happiness of the
redeemed. May divine light shine into their
minds, and their ministrations be rendered
abundantly successful!
It is ours, at present, only to speak of the
future, so far as this paper is concerned. Our
friends must know then, without any attempt
it concealment, that additional patronage is
absolutely necessary, to the continuance of its
existence. - Before we entered upon this enter
prise, we were assured of help?real, substan
tial help?from different quarters. And some
nf our friends have done well. It is true,
however, that from others, who have the abil
ity to help us, and who stand pledged to do so,
we have, as yet, received no aid whatever.
If they are willing that the paper should be
discontinued, we have no right to object to it.
It must not be thought that we intend to in
iulge in any paroxysm of grief, in making this
mnouncement. We have vanity enough to
believe that our part of the contract has been
serformed; and our friends here, and else
where, have been very complimentary, in re
jard to our general character. But these
things, however flattering they may be, do not
enable us to purchase paper, pay for Editorial
services, and meet all the other expenses con
nected with the publication of six or seven
hundred weekly copies of the Washingtonian.
If ihe present enterprise should be permitted
to fail, when will the Temperance men of this
District expect to establish another organ in
their midst? Years must pass away, before
this can be possible; and a failure at this time
will weaken our cause to an extent which it is
impossible to conceive. It will afford ground
of satisfaction to the enemies of our cause,
and may even impart a gleam of joy to the
starless region of the Prince of Darkness. We
have no sinister object in stating it, as our
deliberate conviction, that a Temperance pa
per, in this city, such as we are endeavoring
to make ours, does exert a more powerful in
fluence over this subject, and all the questions
connected with it, than any other mode of op
eration whatever. Let no one suppose that
we are pleading for our bread. Far, very far
from it. The Editor and the Publishers alike,
disclaim any such motive, in bringing .this sub
ject again to the notice of the friends of our
cause. The former has not received twenty
dollars for his services, up to this time, and
the latter, without compensation for their ac
tual labor, have been losers so far.
It is for the temperance public to judge,
whether the publication can be continued un
der such discouraging circumstances, or not.
Thank Heaven, we are not dependent upon
this enterprise for our bread. " The world is
all before us;" and with some little talent,
and a moderate share of experience and indus
try, we have no fears, whatever, for ourselves,
whatever may happen in regard to our pape/
But we confess that we should feel, (what
we never expected to feel,) ashamed of the
men with whom it has heretofore been our
pleasure and eur pride to associate, if they can
permit this undertaking to fail, when so much
depends upon its continuance.
We appoint, then, by virtue of these presents,
every temperance man, woman, and child, in
this District, an agent, to solicit subscriptions,
for one month from the present date. Let re
turns be made to us as early as practicable,
and let us be relieved from all suspense on
this subject.
" FAIR PLAY," IS OUR MOTTO.
During the past week, the following per
sons have ordered the Washinotonian to be
stopped: John D. Clark, W. W. Whitney, L.
A. Gobright, and Z. K. Offutt. Now, we ad
mit that every man hat the right to do as he
thinks proptr in such matters; but, in this
case, we cannot but suppose, that there is
some low, underhanded work going on for the
purpose of injuring this paper?in fact, we are
certain of it. The following circumstance
alone, fully establishes the fact to our satisfac
tion: On last Monday week, a notice was given
in a certain temperance society, that we had
committed the crime of publishing an adver
tisement for a colored temperance society, (the
name of which some of the above persons pre
tended were offensive to them,) and that a
resolution of condemnation against this paper,
ourself, or both, would be forthcoming at the
next meeting. We know, very well, this was
only an excuse to stab us secretly; the adver
tisement appeared in our third number, and
none but the veriest idiot would take exception
to it.
No, we understand the movement very well
?it was done, secretly, with the intention of
drawing others from the paper; the above
facts?the simultaneous movement of the
clan?admit of no other conclusion. Such con
duct we consider base and unmanly. We can
admire an open, bold, enemy, but those who
attack in the dark we despise; and we should
not take notice of this attack, were it not to
let them know-how heartily we despise such
low, contemptible principles. Perhaps our
friend Gobright can inform us of the contem
plated intention of the resolution; we would
wish to be informed of particulars, that we
may lay the decision of these Censors before
our readers. And we would inquire of the
same person, whether there is not a sinister
motive connectcd with the above proceed,
ings??Pubs.
Reported for the Washingtoman.
CONFESSION, TRIAL, AND EXECUTION,
OF KING ACOHOL.
Was executed, in Washington, on the even
ing of the 2d of June, 1845, after a fair trial by
jury, King Alcohol.
After the rendering of the verdict by the
jury, Judge Savage proceeded, in the nios*
emphatic manner, to pronounce the sentence
of the law?that the prisoner be taken to the
place of execution, and in the presence of the
multitude be burned with fire. His honor the
judge did not, as is usual, add, and may the
Lord have mercy on your soul; for, said he,
the prisoner has no soul, but is of evil spirit.
Just before the executiou look place, the fol
lowing confession of the criminal was deliver*
ed by Dr. Matchett.
My mother, who was a Miss Amonia, was
a native of Arabia. She spent the years of her
minority in teaching young ladies the art of
painting their pretty cheeks, eyebrows, &c.
She afterwards married a European by the
name of Atropa Beledona; the ceremony was
performed by an old chemist by the name of
Spirits of Wiqfe* The prisoner was the first
born ot a numerous family descended from this
illustrious couple. He emigrated to this coun
try at an early period of its history. In all the
pride of his ambition, he sought to impress his
high spirit upon the people; at first he met
with rather rude treatment from the Puritan
Fathers of New England, and for a time was
banished from their shores, but finally return
ed and gained a citizenship among them, was
naturalized, and had the protection of law.
For many years he lived in credit in the new
world; respected by all classes, taken into the
very bosom of society. The clergy, judges,
lawyers, and doctors, took him by the hand,
and introduced him to their firesides; indeed,
made him the companion of their wives and
children. He was invited to visit the palaces
of wealth, the domains of luxury, and even the
institutions of charity. My society was some
times, said the prisoner in a hushed tone of
voice, sought after by the pretty ladies (here
he fell into a paroxysm ot grief upon the re
collection of his former associations.)
For the last twenty years, continued the
prisoner, I have been the subject of a relent
less persecution. New England, the first to
oppose my settlement in this beautiful coun
try, was the first to commence the war of ex
termination ; other States have joined in the
crusade, until at length I am deserted by many
of my old friends; and after having promenad
ed the halls of American legislation. I am
doomed to Hie like an enemy to the peace of
society, without even the benefit of clergy;
(Oh ! my spirit!) lamented only by a few of
my old tried friends, who, I am sure, will ut
ter, in deep anguish of spirit, alas! alas! that
?11 that good ( hampagne is to be burned up.
I was finally cited to trial, and, as might
have been expected, condemned. Tried by a
partial jury, and before a prejudiced judge,
and pursued throughout the whole of the trial
by the Savage, with the most inveterate
malice; deserted by my friends, many of whom
staid from the trial lest they should be in some
way or other implicated; others of them were
kept away on account of broken skulls or sore
shins, or occasional twinges of the gout; others
were positively detained by what my enemies
call the Blue Devils. I have neither time nor
am I disposed to speak to the several charges
set forth in the indictment.
[ Here the prisoner was at the point of deny
ing the charge of Murder, either in the first
or second degree, but was reminded that he
had been seriously implicated in almost num
berless cases; as, for instance, the case of the
man who through his agency fell from the
deck of a boat on one of the western lakes.]
The prisoner here contended that he did not
destroy the personal identity of the individual
' i? question; that there was only a decompo
sition of the component parts, which would
take place in the stomach of the fish, if, in
deed, h? was aotually destroyed Jby a cat-fish;
at ^ this ch?M'cal process the individual
would only become cat-fish. But, said I, there,
was the man who through your agency fell
into one of the vats at Deacon Gile*' distillery.
[Here the prisoner was shown one of the en
gravings representing the fact.] That, said
he, is one of my anatomical preparations; it
would have cost the medical student thrice the
same length of time-I prepare them at once,
without the usual form of dissecting, but the
student usually waits till the subject is dead.
he prisoner haviug so strenuously contend
e that in either of the cases mentioned he
had not destroyed the personal identity, was
reminded that some twenty years ago he
had been accused of pushing a man into a
boiling caldron of soap, iD 0r at the factory of
P. & Sons, in the town of L. I only made him
into soap, was the reply; the same chemical
process is only observed. But in the event of
the soap beipg taken to the washer woman,
and there made into suds, would not the per
sonal identity of the man be destroyed? was
the question. Here the accused appeared
thoughtful, and for a moment remained sullen
and silent, and then frankly confessed that he
had contributed not a little to the suicides and
other murders committed throughout the
length and breadth of the land.
In reference to the charge of compelling
men to break laws, human and Divine, I have
only a passing observation to make; that is
this, that I have no direct control over the
volitions of the will; but I confess that in all
probability I have somewhat influenced the
passions of men of choleric temperament, and
they have been led to deeds of violence; and
as for my having been the cause of so much
domestic misery as set forth in the indictment,
this charge is usually reiterated by some poor
heart-broken wife, or a beggarly set of half
naked and half-starved children. But, contin
ued the prisoner, there is the charge of my
having asserted kingly prerogatives or rights.
Tn this I pride myself; to this end was I born
My father, as I havealready informed you, was
a Mr. Beledona?or, permit me to add, King
Beledona; as you perceive, I am descended
from a King, even Beledona. Metaphysics to
that, said 1, what kind of foreign mixture is that
vou have. You must be very ignorant, said
the prisoner; have you not a scrap of Latin
in your garret? Is it the same as Alcohol in
the English, was the inquiry? vulgarly so
called, said he. Then, said I, I smell the
import of the term.
The criminal here remarked, that of all the
several charges in the specifications, the
one accusing him with having desecrated the
Capitol is the most unjust; for, said he, I
was invited there by the members of both
houses, and requested to remain throughout
the entire session. I have, indeed, greatly
assisted members in delivering their speeches.
Did I not assist a distinguished member in
delivering one of the most brilliant speeches
ever heard in the Halls of the Capitol; and
then falling in with the Savage party he be
came one of my most powerrul opponents,
abusing me both in public and private. But,
said I, you are charged with having desecrated
the Sabbath. Yes, said the prisoner, and that
too in relation to the race that came off with
so much brilliancy, where the Count displayed
so much skill in horsemanship, considering
the blood, &c. [ The prisoner here seemed
disposed to give pedigree; spoke of Balaam,
of his horsemanship, &c., but' was reminded
that Scripture quotations were out of place on
the present occasion.] It was not me, but
a Cousin of mine, thrice removed by the
fathers side; it was Lieutenant Champagne.
T hus, said he, I am accused of many things
that I am not guilty of; as, for instance, having
some agency in burning Pittsburg. But how
came the event to happen, was the inquiry?
I o give you the philosophy, said the prisoner,
in the abstract, there is no such thing or mat
ter as fire; fire, so called, is circular motion,
or air put in motion. Solomon understood the
philosophy of fire, for he makes the following
judicious observation: " Where there is no
wood the fire goeth out." But, said I, this
circular motion, or air put in motion by some
means, came in contact with the out buildings,
and thus the sad event happened. To be
honest, said the culprit, with his finger to his
lips in token of silence, and in a rather low
tone of voice, the old washerwoman was a
little how came ye so. I am, continued the
prisoner, charged with many or most of the
marine disasters which occur of late; as for
my agency in the loss of the Swallow^ I never
professed great skill in the art of navigation ;
pilots shouli never trust to my skill. My sight
is bad at best; I am as likely to mistake a
rock for the channel as not; and at the time
of the loss of the Swallow it was blowing a
perfect gale, at the same time was very foggy;
the pilot ought not to have trusted to my
nautical skill.
Here, for the time being, the accused closed
his confession, by the following request; Not,
said he, that 1 fear death, for I have no soul
J but a plenty cfspirit; and for the death I am
about to suffer, by being burned, I have not
so much dread; but had I been doomed to
suffer by being drowned in Cold Water, the
consequence would have been fearful. Here
'he prisoner fell into a paroxysm, as one labor
ing under hydrophobia, but in a feeble voice
continued the criminal, my dying request is,
that after my execution, all my firm friends
shall wear the usual badge of mourning for
thirty days; that all the signs and devices
going to designate the places of our former
rendezvous shall be placed in a reversed posi
tion for the same length of time; that all the
craft at Groggy Harbor, from the ships of
heavy draught to the fishing smack, place
their colors at half-mast for the same space of
time; finally, lest my name, and that of my
numerous progeny, become extinct on the
pages of coming history, and lest my children
come to want, from neglect or want of patron
age, I sincerely hope all of ray friends who
have so long encouraged me by their custom,
will, out of respect to the departed, continue
to encourage my children. 1.
COMMUNICATIONS.
" Commingling streams from pure tee-total Springs."
For the Washingtonian.
A YOUNG MEN'S LIBRARY.
Messrs. Editors : I desire to draw the seri
ous attention of the young men of our city to
a matter that a mere glance will show deeply
concerns them. My eye has frequently, of
late years, been attracted by notices, in vari
ous papers, of Library Associations in cach of
our principal northern cities?notices contain
ing more or less information relative to the
foundation, rise, prosperous progress, and un
doubted permanency of those most excellent
and, indeed, invaluable institutions. Among
them, thus far, those of the " Mercantile"
title seem to stand pre-eminent; the reason
of which, in large commercial cities, is per
fectly obvious; and it was only a day or two
?iCf ,that 1 noticed' in a Paragraph of the
Philadelphia Ledger, that the " scaffolding
around the pillars" of the Mercantile Library
building, "one of the most beautiful specimens
of architecture in that city," was removed ; so
that the noble pillared edifice now proudly
stands a grand and enduring monument of the
intelligence, laudable ambition, enlightened
liberality, and real Americanism, of the young
men of Philadelphia of the present day. But
that worthy and patriotic community, honored
as it thus is, ranks, in this respect, little, if
any, ahead of those of Boston, New York, and
Baltimore, where similar associations have
long existed, and with most gratifying success.
But at this point the good tale is almost told.
In the middle and southern sections of our
eountry, such societies are almost, if not
wholly unknown. It is true, and it is only
just that it should be mentioned, that we
have in our own city a really valuable, though
very unpretending and almost utterly neglected
little institution, framed on a basis and con
ducted on principles somewhat similar to those
in operation in the cities alluded to?I mean
the "Jefferson Library Association, for the
benefit of Apprentices and Minors," (Adultt,
also, are allowed to become subscribers, by
paying $2 per annum?double the subscription
requiied of a minor. It is conducted exclu
sively by minors. Number of volumes, I be
lieve, about 1,500,) located in the City Hall,
which, alihough it has been for many years of
great and steady usefulness in its limited
sphere, has, from wapt of due attention and
encouragement, never arrived at what its
youthful projectors anticipated. The " Wash
ington Library," too, from some cause or other
perhaps the high terms of subscription, extends
its advantages to but a comparative few; in
eed, as far as young mechanics are concerned
such an institution might almost as well be
entirely out of existence. It will be seen,
then, that our young men, of all classes and
pursuits, must arouse and do for themselves
On them devolves the duty-a duty they owe
no less to themselves than to their country and
posterity, in the deepest meaning of the sen
tence?to congregate, and, under proper regu
lations, and a full sense of the important
results to flow from the undertaking, mutu
I ally pledge and exert themselves to procure,
for their common use, to be conducted on such
easy terms as shall make it accessible to all,
a good Library a great storehouse of intel
lectual aliment, "the blessings of which, like
t ie dews of Heaven, shall be dispensed alike
on the rich and the poor;" and well assured
may all be that it will not only repay a thousand
fold, whatever trouble and trifling expense it
may require to put the scheme in successful
operation, but will also reflect high and lasting
honor on all who shall have engaged in the
glorious enterprise. And then, as time rolls
on, might not we too see the " scaffolding re
moved" from the pillars of our literary edi
fice? a temple at once both of education and
of liberty ? Action can answer.
If any startle and shrink back at the magni
tude of the proposition to rear up among us,
simply by means of donations, solicited or vol
untary, either of books or money, an extensive
library, I 9ay ,0 them confidently, that their
ears are groundless?their misgivings without
reasonable cause- their hesitation absurd.
The thing can be done?perhaps not rny
easily, for some attention and perseverance
are necessary to every work; but, with a
moderate portion of these, it can be done, and
well done. The metropolis of the nation at
all times abounds with literary and other gen
tlemen, who would be proud, and whose
means would enable them to extend a helping
hand in a cause so noble and virtuous, when
ever called on. The institution, once fairly on
?ot, Wo?ld be enabled, by means of its sub
sequent subscription fund, to not only move
smoothly on in its operations, but to largely
and rapidly increase its usefulness, by invest
ing all surplus receipts, (and, even on a very
cheap scale, they must be considerable,) in
new books and other like additions to the
general stock. And there can be no doubt
'that, in the course of a very few years, we
would look back with pleasing wonder at the
ease and expedition with which an object of
such immeasurable importance and grand
moral magnificence was achieved.
The suggestion contained in this is respect
fully but earnestly made. Is it a good one, a