Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1808-09-05
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BUT what can be done TO prevent the
prevalence Of drunkenness and its attend
Ant vices ! answer mach can be done, u
thew who possess the b0zrer will have the
resolution 70 do it. cannot but consider
the determination" Of the Jury, before
alluded To, as a good omen, and as sacred
call for the CO operation of others. And, |
much NAV be done by those who are re-
rarded as example, in society, by evlncng
N their daily conduct their hearty detesta-
non .Df these sins, and by removing them
selves from the appearance 81 practising
them, bv restraining their children and de
pendants, not only from the commission Of
the crimes. but from the company Of those
who do commit them. Much may be done
by the ministers Of the gospel, in preaching
against them, by word and conduct, IN
ceasinglv and decidedly. Much may Be
done BY those who deal III spirltuousN liquors,
by resolving to sell only IS the law permits,
and adherIng 10 their resolves. Much NAV
be done bv Keepers Of licensed houses, by
= strict adherence to q prudent resolution
20 keep respectable houses for the accom-
modation and entertainment Of people, and
not for the unlawful qualification Of the idle
and dissolute. Much nay Dc done BY Tv-
thingmen, Selectmen, Constables, Sheritfs,
&c. by a firm and inAeXible adherence 70
the laws Of the state, tempered with that
humanity and feeling in the manner, which
will convince even the offenders, that they
desire their good, and the public peace
And it would add much to the influence Of
these officers, If the character Of the oE-ey
should not only be dignified and decided,
bnt ALWAYS be attended by coincidence Ut
-. H. ~ rr,.l .t. a.
well as Official capacity, he should ever APP
pear on the side of good order and virtue.
10 be useful in discOuEtenancing others, an
officer vi the peace should not swear him
self
People deprecate the Embargo But Of
the two evils, think the prevalence vi
these idle and vicious habits to such an ex-
tent, much more TO be lamented. That is
= hindrance to the spirit OF enterprise, and
prevents people from amaSslng property 50
rapidly as they could wish many must e.
ven sacrifice all, or portion Of what they
have alreadysamassed and perhaps there
are none who feel not its effects. But If
the amount 81 time and property which are
spent in idl-ness, drinking, &c. could be as
accurately ascertalned, II is believed the sg-
gregate amount for AN equal time would
CASGCd INC AC9S~9 " kLAC CliiOalE Os ~ Auah
If the evil stopped here, operating only 10
the destruction ct time and property, we
should have IS great inducements 70 wish
and contend for repeal OF these ruInaus
customs, AZ IF that ruiaDus law 10 wish
that the demon Of wee may cease his bale
full influence III the hearts, and On the pas
sions Of our fellow ciLlzens, with as much
earnestness, as we desire that OR national
councils may be rescued from what We are
apt to suspect to be the influence Of for
eign usurPer. But loss Of character, health,
and morals incapaclty for even 4cquu ING
properly, Or reEAning that which las been
sCuAnlered crowded hospitals anu wOfA-
houses, and enlightened poor lists, arc items,
with many others, 70 be added 70 The sLIn
Of those evils winch run and It's assistants
H.o luce.
Ia VARIOUS parts Of the country, people are
assembling IN 4 peacea5le manner, to unite
their endeavors for the removal or Mtg
ton OF the existing evils OCc4sIOned by the
staEHatIOn Ot>CUUmerce, or at least, for the
purpose Of expressing their opinion on the
subject by which, unity of sentiment and
action Is obtained. / submit It to the deci-
sion Of better judgments, whether a similar
proceed. w.tI regard To the greater evils
Of which WY are speaking, would not con
dIce To the public good. Suppose Lhe most
influential inhabitants Of town should vol
unfairly aase mole, and unlteIly express
their adherence Of those crimes, their re-
greet for their prevalence IN society, thcir
fears OF the dc tructiye consequences not
only 70 individuals but 10 the public and
then unite ID 4 resolution and solemn en-
g4Bement To each other, t. use every cxpe-
dent and lawful means To prevent them and
stop their progress Suppose they should
then, III their collected wisdom, agree on
some particular measures which shall APP
pear calculated to effect the object in that
place Ii these resolutions were drawn up
Al that tender and persuasive style, which
com passion for the victims Of vice, and a re-
Il concern for the welfare Of society would
dictate II the measures adopted should APP
pear dictated by the same spirit, mild, yet
decided If these resolutions should then
be made public, and fulfilled by individuals
IN their respective stations, might not good
consequences be nationally expected Each
member OF the community would then,
perhaps, have more confidence to perform
whatever IN The course Of Providence would
deVOlYe on him in Support o1 law. knowing
that others, also, tclt interested, and en-
tertained the same opinions with himself,
and would act a. decidedly in the same sit
uation. THIS agreement Of influential char
acters would also give confidence and
strength to executive officers. And per-
haps one motive more, and that sometimes
Of great influence, might be laced before
offenders to induce them III abstain, tie
idea that theil views becoming disgracetul
IN the view of the world. This spirit of
reformation should embrace "a is objects
not only tue wees IN question, but those
practisls which lead 10, or encourage them,
especially IA tic retormeIs tArinselYes.-