Diary in America Volume I Part 33

I cannot help inquiring, how is it, if the Americans are, as they a.s.sert, both orally and in their printed public doc.u.ments, a _very moral nation_, that they find it necessary to resort to all these societies for the improvement of their brother citizens; and how is it that their reports are full of such unexampled atrocities, as are printed and circulated in evidence of the necessity of their stemming the current of vice! The Americans were constantly twitting me about the occasional cases of adultery and divorce which appear in our newspapers, a.s.suring me at the same time, that there was hardly ever such a thing heard of in their own moral community. Now, it appears that this subject has not only been taken up by the clergy, (for Dr Dwight, late president of Yale College, preached a sermon on the seventh commandment, which an American author a.s.serts "was heard with pain and confusion of face, and which never can be read in a promiscuous circle without exciting the same feelings;") but by one of their societies also; and, although they have not a.s.sumed the name of the _Patent Anti-Adultery Society_, they are positively doing the work of such a one, and the details are entered into in promiscuous a.s.semblies without the least reservation.

The author before mentioned says:

"The common feeling on the subject has been declared false delicacy; and, in order to break ground against its sway, females have been forced into the van of this enterprise; and persuaded to act as agents, not only among their own s.e.x, but in circ.u.mstances where they must necessarily agitate the subject with men,--not wives with husbands, which would be bad enough, but _young and single women_ with _young and single men_! And we have been credibly informed, that attempts have been made to form a.s.sociations among _wives_ to regulate the privileges, and so attain the end of temperance, in the _conjugal relation_. The next step, of course, will be teetotalism in this particular; and, as a consequence, the extinction of the human race, unless peradventure the failure of the main enterprise of the _Moral Reform Society_ should keep it up by a progeny not to be honoured." ("A Voice from America.")

Let it be remembered that this is not a statement of my own, but it is an _American_ who makes the a.s.sertion, which I could prove to be true, might I publish what I must not.

From the infirmity of our natures, and our p.r.o.neness to evil, there is nothing so corrupting as the statistics of vice. Can young females remain pure in their ideas, who read with indifference details of the grossest nature? Can the youth of a nation remain uncontaminated, who are continually poring over pages describing sensuality; and will they not, in their desire of "something new," as the Prophet says, run into the very vices of the existence of which they were before unconscious!

It is this dangerous running into extremes which has occasioned so many of these societies to have been productive of much evil. A Boston editor remarks: "The tendency of the leaders of the moral and benevolent reforms of the day to run into fanaticism, threatens to destroy the really beneficial effects of all a.s.sociations for these objects. The spirit of propagandism, when it becomes over zealous, is next of kin to the spirit of persecution. The benevolent a.s.sociations of the day are on the brink of a danger that will be fatal to their farther usefulness if not checked."

Of the Abolition Society and its tendency, I have already spoken in the chapter on slavery. I must not, however, pa.s.s over another which at present is rapidly extending its sway over the whole Union, and it is difficult to say whether it does most harm or most good--I refer to the Temperance Society.

The Rev Mr Reid says:

"In the short s.p.a.ce of its existence, upwards of seven thousand Temperance Societies have been formed, embracing more than one million two hundred and fifty thousand members. More than three thousand distilleries have been stopped, and more than seven thousand persons who dealt in spirits have declined the trade. Upwards of one thousand vessels have abandoned their use. And, most marvellous of all! it is said that above ten thousand drunkards have been reclaimed from intoxication." And he adds--"I really know of no one circ.u.mstance in the history of this people, or of any people, so exhilarating as this.

It discovers that power of self-government, which is the leading element of all national greatness, in an unexampled degree. Now here is a remarkable instance of a traveller taking for granted that what is reported to him is the truth." The worthy clergyman, himself, evidently without guile, fully believed a statement which was absurd, from the simple fact, that only one side of the balance sheet had been presented.

That 7,000 Temperance Societies have been formed is true. That 3,000 distilleries have stopped from principle may also be true; but the Temperance Society reports take no notice of the many which have been _set up in their stead_ by those who felt no compunction at selling spirits. Equally true it may be that 7,030 dealers in spirits have ceased to sell them; but if they have declined the trade, _others have taken it up_. That the crews of many vessels have abandoned the use of spirituous liquors is also the fact, and that is the greatest benefit which has resulted from the efforts of the Temperance Society; but I believe the number to be greatly magnified. That 10,000 drunkards have been reclaimed--that is, that they have signed papers and taken the oath--may be true; but how many have fallen away from their good resolutions, and become more intemperate than before, is not recorded; nor how many who, previously careless of liquor, have, out of pure opposition, and in defiance of the Society, actually become drunkards, is also unknown. In this Society, as in the Abolition Society, they have canva.s.sed for legislative enactments, and have succeeded in obtaining them. The legislature of Ma.s.sachusetts, which state is the stronghold of the society, pa.s.sed an act last year by which it prohibited the selling of spirits in a smaller quant.i.ty than fifteen gallons, intending thereby to do away with the means of dram-drinking, at the groceries, as they are termed; a clause, however, permitted apothecaries to retail smaller quant.i.ties, and the consequence was that all the grog-shops commenced taking out apothecaries' licences. That being stopped, the _striped pig_ was resorted to: that is to say, a man charged people the value of a gla.s.s of liquor to see a _striped pig_, which peculiarity was exhibited as a sight, and, when in the house, the visitors were offered a gla.s.s of spirits for nothing. But this act of the legislature has given great offence, and the state of Ma.s.sachusetts is now divided into two very strange political parties, to wit, the _topers_ and the _teetotalers_. It is a.s.serted that, in the political contest which is to take place, the topers will be victorious; and if so, it will be satisfactorily proved that, in the very enlightened and moral state of Ma.s.sachusetts the pattern of the Union, there are more intemperate than sober men.

In this dispute between sobriety and inebriety the clergy have not been idle: some denouncing alcohol from the pulpit; some, on the other hand denouncing the Temperance Societies as not being Christians. Among the latter the Bishop of Vermont has led the van. In one of his works, "The Primitive Church," he a.s.serts that:--

"The Temperance Society is not based upon religious, but worldly principles.

"That it opposes vice and attempts to establish virtue in a manner which is not in accordance with the word of G.o.d," etcetera, etcetera.

His argument is briefly this:--The Scriptures forbid drunkenness. If the people will not do right in obedience to the word of G.o.d, but only from the fear of public opinion, they show more respect to man than G.o.d.

The counter argument is:--The Bible prohibits many other crimes, such as murder, theft, etcetera; but if there were not punishments for these offences agreed upon by society, the fear of G.o.d would not prevent these crimes from being committed.

That in the United States public opinion has more influence than religion I believe to be the case; and that in all countries present punishment is more to be considered than future is, I fear, equally true. But I do not pretend to decide the question, which has occasioned great animosities, and on some occasions, I am informed, the dismissal of clergymen from their churches.

The teetotalers have carried their tenets to a length which threatens to invade the rites of the church, for a portion of them, calling themselves the Total Abstinence Society, will not use any wine which has alcohol in it, in taking the sacrament, and as there is no wine without a portion of alcohol; they have invented a harmless mixture which they call wine. Unfortunately, many of these Temperance Societies in their zeal, will admit of no medium party--you must either abstain altogether, or be put down as a toper.

It is astonis.h.i.+ng how obstinate some people are, and how great is the diversity of opinion. I have heard many anecdotes relative to this question. A man who indulged freely was recommended to join the society. "Now," said the minister, "you must allow that there is nothing so good, so valuable to man as water. What is the first thing you call for in sickness but water? What else can cool your parched tongue like water? What did the rich man ask for when in fiery torments? What does the wretch ask for when on the rack? You cannot always drink spirits, but water you can. Water costs nothing; and you save your money. Water never intoxicates, or prevents you from going to your work. There is nothing like water. Come now, Peter, let me hear your opinion."

"Well, then, sir, I think water is very good, very excellent indeed--for navigation."

An old Dutchman, who kept an inn at Hoboken, had long resisted the attacks of the Temperance Societies, until one night he happened to get so very drunk, that he actually signed the paper and took the oath. The next morning he was made acquainted with what he had unconsciously done, and, much to the surprise of his friends, he replied, "Well, if I have signed and have sworn, as you tell me I have, I must keep to my word;"

and from that hour the old fellow abstained altogether from his favourite schnapps. But the leaving off a habit which had become necessary had the usual result. The old man took to his bed, and at last became seriously ill. A medical man was called in, and when he was informed of what had occurred, perceived the necessity of some stimulus, and ordered that his patient should take one ounce of French brandy every day.

"An ounce of French brandy," said the old Dutchman, looking at the prescription. "Well, dat is goot; but how much is an ounce?" n.o.body who was present could inform him. "I know what a quart, a pint, or a gill of brandy is," said the Dutchman, "but I never yet have had a customer call for an ounce. Well, my son, go to the schoolmaster; he is a learned man, and tell him I wish to know how much is one ounce."

The message was carried. The schoolmaster, occupied with his pupils, and not liking the interruption, hastily, and without further inquiries of the messenger, turned over his Bonnycastle, and arriving at the table of avoirdupois weight, replied, "Tell your father that _sixteen drams_ make an _ounce_."

The boy took back the message correctly, and when the old Dutchman heard it, his countenance brightened up. "A goot physician, a clever man--I only have drank twelve drams a-day, and he tells me to take sixteen. I have taken one oath when I was drunk, and I keep it; now dat I am sober I take anoder, which is, I will be very sick for de remainder of my days, and never throw my physic out of window."

There was a _cold water_ celebration at Boston, on which occasion the hilarity of the evening was increased by the singing of the following ode. n.o.body will venture to a.s.sert that there is any _spirit_ in the composition, and, judging from what I have seen of American manners and customs, I am afraid that the sentiments of the last four lines will not be responded to throughout the Union.

Ode.

In Eden's green retreats A water-brook that played Between soft, and mossy seats Beneath a plane-tree's shade, Whose rustling leaves Danced o'er its brink, Was Adam's drink, And also Eve's.

Beside the parent spring Of that young brook, the pair Their morning chaunt would sing; And Eve, to dress her hair, Kneel on the gra.s.s That fringed its side, And made its tide Her looking-gla.s.s.

And when the man of G.o.d From Egypt led his flock, They thirsted, and his rod Smote the Arabian rock, And forth a rill Of water gushed, And on they rushed, And drank their fill.

Would Eden thus have smil'd Had _wine_ to Eden come?

Would h.o.r.eb's parching wild Have been refreshed with _rum_ And had Eve's hair Been dressed in _gin_ Would she have been Reflected fair?

Had Moses built a still And dealt out to that host, To every man his gill, And pledged him in a toast, How large a band Of Israel's sons Had laid their bones In Canaan's land?

Sweet fields, beyond Death's flood, Stand dressed in living green, For, from the throne of G.o.d, To freshen all the scene, A river rolls, Where all who will May come and fill Their crystal bowls.

If Eden's strength and bloom _Cold water_ thus hath given-- If e'en beyond the tomb, It is the drink of heaven-- Are not _good wells_, And _crystal springs_, _The very things_ For our hotels?

As I shall return to the subject of intemperance in my examination of society, I shall conclude this chapter with an extract from Miss Martineau, whose work is a strange compound of the false and the true:--"My own convictions are, that a.s.sociations, excellent as they are for mechanical objects, are not fit instruments for the achievement of moral aims; that there has been no proof that the principle of self-restraint has been exalted and strengthened in the United States by the Temperance movement while the already too great regard to _opinion_, and subservience to spiritual encroachment, have been much increased; and, therefore, great as may be the visible benefits of the inst.i.tution, it may at length appear that they have been dearly purchased."

Note 1. Not long afterwards a prominent Presbyterian clergyman of Philadelphia thought fit to preach and publish a sermon, wherein it was set forth and conclusively proved, that on such and such contingencies of united religious effort of the religious public, the majority of the American people could be made _religious_; consequently they might carry their _religious influence_ to the _polls_; consequently the religious would be able to turn all the profane _out of office_; and consequently, the American people would become a _Christian nation!--Voice from America by an American Gentleman_.

VOLUME THREE, CHAPTER FORTY FIVE.

REMARKS--LAW.

The lawyers are the real aristocracy of America; they comprehend nearly the whole of the gentility, talent, and liberal information of the Union. Any one who has had the pleasure of being at one of their meetings, such as the Rent Club at New York, would be satisfied that there is no want of gentlemen with enlightened, liberal ideas in the United States; but it is to the law, the navy, and the army, that you must chiefly look for this cla.s.s of people. Such must ever be the case in a democracy, where the ma.s.s are to be led; the knowledge of the laws of the country, and the habit of public speaking being essential to those who would reside at the helm or a.s.sist in the evolutions: the consequence has been, that in every era of the Union, the lawyers have always been the most prominent actors; and it may be added that they ever will play the most distinguished parts. Clay and Webster of the present day are, and all the leading men of the former generation were, lawyers. Their presidents have almost all been lawyers, and any deviation from this custom has been attended with evil results; witness the elevation of General Jackson to the presidency, and the heavy price which the Americans have paid for their phantom glory. The names of Judge Marshall and of Chancellor Kent are well known in this country, and most deservedly so: indeed, I am informed it has latterly been the custom in our own law courts, to cite as cases the decisions of many of the superior American judges--a just tribute to their discrimination and their worth.

The general arrangement of that part of the American const.i.tution relating to the judicature is extremely good, perhaps the best of all their legislative arrangements, yet it contains some great errors; one of which is, that of district and inferior judges being _elected_, as it leaves the judge at the mercy of an excitable and overbearing people, who will attempt to dictate to him as they do to their spiritual teacher. Occasionally he must choose whether he will decide as they wish, or lose his situation on the ensuing election. Justice as well as religion will be interfered with by the despotism of the democracy.

The Americans are fond of law in one respect, that is, they are fond of going to law. It is excitement to them, and not so expensive as in this country. It is a pleasure which they can afford, and for which they cheerfully pay.

But, on the other hand, the very first object of the Americans, after a law has been pa.s.sed, is to find out how they can evade it; this exercises their ingenuity, and it is very amusing to observe how cleverly they sometimes manage it. Every state enactment to uphold the morals, or for the better regulation of society, is immediately opposed by the sovereign people.

An act was pa.s.sed to prohibit the playing of _nine pins_, (a very foolish act, as the Americans have so few amus.e.m.e.nts): as soon as the law was put in force, it was notified every where, "_Ten_ pins played here," and they have been played every where, ever since.

Another act was pa.s.sed to put down billiard tables, and in this instance every precaution was taken by an accurate description of the billiard table, that the law might be enforced. Whereupon an extra _pocket_ was added to the billiard table, and thus the law was evaded.

When I was at Louisville, a bill which had been brought in by congress, to prevent the numerous accidents which occurred in steam navigation, came into force. Inspectors were appointed to see that the steam-boats complied with the regulations; and those boats which were not provided according to law, did not receive the certificate from the inspectors, and were liable to a fine of five hundred dollars if they navigated without it. A steam-boat was ready to start; the pa.s.sengers clubbed together and subscribed half the sum, (two hundred and fifty dollars), and, as the informer was to have half the penalty, the captain of the boat went and informed against himself and received the other half; and thus was the fine paid.

At Baltimore, in consequence of the prevalence of hydrophobia, the civic authorities pa.s.sed a law, that all dogs should be muzzled, or, rather, the terms were, "that all dogs should wear a muzzle," or the owner of a dog not wearing a muzzle, should be brought up and fined; and the regulation farther stated that anybody convicted of having, "removed the muzzle from off a dog should also be severely fined." A man, therefore, tied a muzzle to his dog's tail (the act not stating where the muzzle was to be placed). One of the city officers, perceiving this dog with his muzzle at the wrong end, took possession of the dog and brought it to the town-hall; its master being well known, was summoned, and appeared. He proved that he had complied with the act, in having fixed a muzzle on the dog; and, farther, the city officer having taken the _muzzle off_ the dog's tail, he insisted that he should be fined five dollars for so doing.

The _striped_ pig, I have already mentioned; but were I to relate all I have been told upon this head, it would occupy too much of the reader's time and patience.

The ma.s.s of the citizens of the United States have certainly a very great dislike to all law except their own, i.e., the decision of the majority; and it must be acknowledged that it is not only the principle of equality, but the parties who are elected as district judges, that, by their own conduct, contribute much to that want of respect with which they are treated in their courts. When a judge on his bench sits half-asleep, with his hat on, and his coat and shoes off; his heels kicking upon the railing or table which is as high or higher than his head; his toes peeping through a pair of old worsted stockings, and with a huge quid of tobacco in his cheek, you cannot expect that much respect will be paid to him. Yet such is even now the practice in the interior of the western states. I was much amused at reading an English critique upon a work by Judge Hall (a district judge), in which the writer says, "We can imagine his honour in all the solemnity of his flowing wig,"

etcetera, etcetera. The last time I saw his _honour_ he was cas.h.i.+er to a bank at Cincinnati, thumbing American bank-notes--dirtier work than is ever practised in the lowest grade of the law, as any one would say if he had ever had any American bank-notes in his possession.

As may be supposed, in a new country like America, many odd scenes take place. In the towns in the interior, a lawyer's office is generally a small wooden house, of one room, twelve feet square, built of clapboards, and with the door wide open; and the little domicile with its tenant used to remind me of a spider in its web waiting for flies.