Richmond Palladium

For the Palladium.

Messrs. Editors: -- A very small word, inadvertently dropped, has, in the history of the world, involved consequences of the greatest moment. But, the words we speak, are not of so much importance, as those we write and publish to the world: -- and, hence the unbounded influence of the press for weal or for woe. And, we may further remark that it is to the freedom of the press that we are greatly indebted for the rapid advancements we, as a free people, have made and are still making, in all that exalts human nature. It is true, as we said before, if not under the restraining influences of virtue, its tendencies will be most pernicious. And we are constrained to acknowledge that this is not the case, to any very alarming extent. A glance at the immense quantity of waste paper in the form of novels with which the press is teeming is sufficient, to convince any one of the fact.

But I have wandered from my design in writing these hasty lines; my object was simply to demurr to some things contained in an Editorial headed, "A time for all things" -- And first of all that which we read first; where may it be found written, or spoken, that the young people should dance around the May pole, as cold a day as last first of May was? What preacher said it should come to pass? Again; -- that THERE IS DANGER of young people, and old people too, who never use anything but the "sparkling water" overstepping the bounds of order, and that very often, needs not be proved by me. Listen for one moment at the stream of profanity issuing from that young man's mouth, (which I know the rules of etiquette at the "May party" would entirely forbid,) yet we know that there are those who drink only water that are not so temperate in the selection of their words as they should be. Now gentlemen, the truth of the matter is this: the temperance reform is Good, yes, its effects are glorious, and yet it may not be sufficient for a safe-guard against all evil; -- a reformation even in one thing only, may be good, and yet not adequate to all the wants of man. And before I close this article, I would just observe, that water is a very important substance. God saved the only righteous family on earth, once by water, and there have been persons saved by it since, in some sense.

Sylvan Hill, May 7.

J. W. H.