Thousands, in this condition, are hurrying to a premature grave, and go down to that dark abode covered with infamy, having robbed themselves of all the substantial joys, that a virtuous conduct, and a good unsullied name are calculated to awaken in the heart.  Dissipation darkens the brightest prospects of life.  It rolls its floods of misery indiscriminately over the dearest earthly hopes of companions, children and friends, and paralyzes every pulse of joy that beats in the human bosom.  Many a child has been spurned from the presence of its brutal father, and been beaten for asking bread to satisfy its hunger.  Intemperance stupefies man to the moral impressions of the gospel, and hardens the heart with the touch of its benumbing powers.  It is the giant of human wo that slays his thousands and prostrates the happiness of man.  This champion of human war draws his sword of vengeance against the balmy repose of public and private life, and his fatal touch withers the brightest flowers of domestic hope and joy, and mingles the poisonous bowl with the bitter drugs of misery.  His government is absolute monarchy, and his subjects the most contemptible slaves.  When he lays upon them his cursed hand, they reel to the ground.  When he strikes the stunning blow, they drop insensibly to the earth.  The oppressions and scourges of the most wretched slave are enviable in comparison with those severe wounds inflicted by this merciless tyrant, this infernal scourge of the human race.  Intemperance is a monster that may well be personified.  He frolicks through the blood, preys upon the vitals, ploughs up the brain, dethrones reason and laughs at the feeble resistance of the best constitution, and finally bears down all opposition before him.  Like the devouring flame, he presses on with irresistible force, urging his deadly siege, till he consumes all that is fair and lovely in the eye of virtue.  His present gifts are poverty misery and distress, and his capital prize, a premature grave.

This champion is ravaging our beloved country, and seducing her sons of freedom to the disgraceful ranks of slavery and oppression.  Intemperance is that tyrant that has under his control many formidable evils that infest the world.  His boasted labor is to hurry on thousands of victims to the commission of crime, and bring down upon them the many misfortunes that attend man in this mutable world.  Intemperance involves public broils, tumults and disturbances, and domestic discord, misery and strife.

We trust the number among our readers is small, who are so regardless of a good name as to have abandoned themselves to the intoxicating bowl, or who have sundered all the ties of moral obligation, determined to tread the downward path of vice to a disgraceful tomb.  We hope they have a higher regard to the invaluable worth of a good name; and we pray that they may venerate its price far above the momentary glitter of silver and gold.  That shall live, when wealth shall have lost its lustre, and flourish immortal, when gold shall have corroded to dust.