The Litchfield County post., 1828-08-14

Hmu luSuCC yaHe uOt WIN Nun NusuS Wtt@0@e
meaning: he knows and feels their sacred
import, and aims in the whole tenor Of his
life, to exemplify the virtues they express.
Such man has decision Of Characteristic
knows what 10 right and is firm in doing 1t.
Such man has independence of character
he thinks and acts for himself, and is not
to be made tool otto serve the purposes
ofparty. Such man has consistency of
characterize pursues straight forward
course, and what he is to-day you are sure
of finding him Tomorrow. Such person
has true worth of character ;--and his
life is blessing to himself, to society, and
TO the world.
Aim then, my friends, to attain this char
acter-aim at virtue, and moral excellence.
This is the first, the indispensable qualifi-
ication of good citizen. ltimparts life,
strength, and beauty, not only to individu-
al character, but to all the institutions and
interests of society. 1t is, indeed, the dew
and the rain that nourish the vine and the
fig tree, by which we are shaded and re-
freshed.
EFFECTS OF ARDENT SPIRITS.
Extracts from an Address delivered by Jonathan Kit
teredge, Esq. ofLyme, N. H.
Have not ardent spirits one good quality
one redeeming virtue? None. l say,
none. There is nothing, not even the
shadow of virtue, to rescue them from u
UNIVERSAL and everlasting execration. But
they are as good as medicine. No, not
as medicine. There is no physician, who
does not love them that needs them in his
practice. There is no disease that they
cure or relieve, that cannot be cured with
out them. They add to no mans health,
they save no mans life. 1t is impossible
to name single good thing that they do.
Give them to the divine do they add to
his piety, to his mind, to his zeal, to his
faithfulness, to his love of God? No,they
destroy them all. Give them to the ply
sician-do they increase his skill, his pow
err to discriminate amid the symptoms of
disease, his judgment to apply the appro-
pirate remedies, his kind and affectionate
solicitude? Nay, verify they destroy them
all. Give them to the legal advocate--do
they increase his knowledge, his percep-
ton to discover the points of his case, his
readiness to apply the evidence, ability to
persuade court and jury2 No, they de-
stroy them all. Give them to the mechan-
ick-do they add to his strength no they
destroy it. Give them to the laborer-I
do they enable him to bear fatigue, to
endure heat and cold-can he do more or
better work? No, they are the ruin ofthe
whole. They reduce his strength, weaken
his frame, make him more susceptible to
the heat and cold. and disorganise the sys-
tenn of his labor.
But there are some men, you say, who
use ardent spirits, and who get along very
well. Admitted. They endure it. So
there are some men who get along very
we'll with poor health and feeble constitu-
tons. Are poor health and feeble const-
tutions, therefore, no evils Is the prosper
ity of such to be attributed to them? As
much as is that of the former to the use of
ardent spirits! Never, but millions have
been made beggars by it.
Yet some say they feel better by drink
ing ardentspirits. Letus examine this ex-
cuse. Let US see its nationality. 1t is !
nothing but an excuse, and he who loves
rum and is ashamed to own it, says he feels |
better to drink it. Let US enquire how
Are they conducive to health? On this let |
the physician decide. One, as great as the |
country has produced, Dr.. Rush, says that
the habitual use of ardent spirits usually |
produces the following diseases :-a loss Of !
appetite-sckness at the stomach-ob-
Of the liver-jaundice and dropsy
-hoarsness and a husky cough which Oft
en- ends in consumption-diabetis---r
ness and eruption of the skin--a fetid breath |
frequent and disgusting belchings-epi.
and madness. This is the |
train of diseases, produced by the use of ar
dent spirits, and the usual, natural conse-
quences oftheir use. And now ask, can |
that which of its own nature, produces these |
diseases, make man feel better? Reason
might answer; and were she on her throne |
ana unbiased by the love of
ardent spirits, she would unequivocally an
swer No. And we find that those who say |
they feel better to drink ardent spi- |
rits, are those who are in perfect |
enjoyment of health, but love rum, and it |
gratiies their appetite, and this is what