Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1807-09-25

sIbie fof their conduct. Undcf that age
their capacity is to be examined, aud If
capable Of judging between right and
wrong, they are punishable for crimes.
In respect of the capacity Of commit.
ting crimes. the rules, that ideots, and
persons in state ofinsanity are noePan-
ishable for their conduct--for they ere
not moral agents, and Of course are IN
capable ofcomm:tting crimes :---but that
partial insanity, that madness which is
sometimes the consequence of drunken
ness, Is considered in 1 very different
light. Drunkenness is ofitself crime,
md Instead of lessening, aggravates the
guilt of crimes committed under It's ope.
ration. A drunkard 10 . voluntary mad,
man, and is punishable when sober for
crimes committed In state of intoxica-
tion.--This truth, should make avery
serious impression on the mind. of all,
in a country where intemperancs .is log
only a very common, busavs Growing
vice. Il should make al IMPRESSION noe
only serious, but deep and l1ating, On
the minds Of oil, -whosinddlge tiems
selves in this vice, for they cannot FORE
see the crimes into which they may fali
in the delirium Of intoxication. Drum.
kenness is crime which more or less
EeTyades alt classes of citiaeus. As it
is the excess Of an enjpy1fent allowable
and innocent in itself, .iHs not confined
like other crimes so III 4 class of people,
who are destitute Of moral principles,
and regardlessae f moral character--hut
it extends to people Of q character in 0:
ther. respects uncxceptionable, and Often
respectable, Owing to this, the mild
law of,he State against IL, IS rarely exc.
cuted--aad It has become so common
and SO fashionable that very little dis
grace is attached to q crime, which is the
most dreadful scourge thai desolsses our
land, is the parent OF many other crimes,
add Of itself produces more wrrtched-
ness, and misery, than all the other
crimes combined, toSether. What "a.
wages does it make ON individual and do
nestle happiness! Not only do our com
mon iabourers devote so much OF their
earnings to crafty this Unsuitable appe.
tito, as to deprive their families Of the
necessaries Of life but men in afluent
circumstances, and respectable BY their
rank in :hfe,' often sacrifice their own
characters and fortunes, and the ~happi.
ness, and prosperity of their families ON
the altar of Bacchus. These examples
OF ruin and distress, which are constant.
ly passing before our eyes, have no EFF
feetin checking the progress. Of this dan.
gerous evil; bu. like the pestiicnce il
spreads wider and wider destruction, and
RACES with uncomfortable fury. =
How happy would it be could some ex.
Ped;ent be devised to check its progress.
In the present state Of things, no law
could be executed that would produce
this efect.-Public sentiment must BE
corrected and ehanged-- and this can on.
lybe done by cnkindling that abhorrenee
aud indignation against the practice,
which il justly merits. Drunkenness
shsuid beSconsidered as crime of the
Gesscst dye, and nfihe most dangerous
tendency. The character Of the drunk.
'ard should be gibbeted. on the gallows
nfpublic infA@S, aud held ID the utmost
de.sstatioa. This would at least pros
ldace the important effect Of deterring
TINT numerous class, who have q regard
for reputation, bsfore their minds have
been dsbased by habits of intemperance j;
and il might eventually operate an entire
and universal reform alton. How im-
msusely wpuld such . reformation of
N lnuers enercase the amount Of social
and domestic happinsss! Let me entTeat
the virtuous Part ofths community, 20
unite their exertions in directing the cur
rent of pablo opinion 70 this all -impor!
tant object: and I trust all friends of hu.
n unity will lift their hands and their
voices, against crime, whose alarming
progress, threatens destruction to the
dearest interests Of society. :, 4 81 :. ]
! But let US turn our attention from this