Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-12-21
WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 81, 1851.
The Second Annual REPORT Of the Erecut,r
Committee Of The .Aisrandr'a Temperance 30


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Among the many benevolent institutions OF the
present day, whether having for their object the
alienation of the miseries of mankind, or the
promotion of their best interets. Temperance
Societies may justly CLAIM, we think, an elevat-
ed rank But few years since, the eye OF the
philanthropist, in surveying our favored land,
beheld with sorrow and alarm the subtle progress
Of the demon of Intemperance. This foe, more
potent than an army with banners, had instilled
its deadly poison Into the very fountains and
streams of public understanding the domestic
and social circles, and producing poverty and
discord where once reigned plenty and peace
The noble Institutions of our republic, had not
some means been planned to prevent it, must
have sunk under ITS fatal influence. The Judge,
the. Senator, and even tie Divine at the sacred
/. desk, were alike its willing and deuded cap
tives. Thirty thousand souls annually sunk into
the drunkard's grave, and multitudes were fast
fastening to swell the miserable throng.
We can, however, now look forward to a
brighter day; and we call upon you TO unite with
2 us in srateful Acknowledgements to Him from
whom proceeds every good and perfect gift, that
such is the fact. We believe the day is not far
distant, when an entire revolution throughout our
country. and we hope throughout the world, will
have taken place in public sentiment, In regard
q 10 the use of ardent spirits. What was once
considered as necessary in the polite and social
circles. public opinion is rapidly prescribing, and
-, hatt nf are 10
spirits presented to the visitor and the stranger
In the Northern States this is more extensively
the case than with US; but even here, every one
must adpit public opinion has undergone per-
ceptible change.
The American Temperance Society, in their last
annual report, give very interesting statement
Of the progress of the Temperance cause;-
from it we learn that, at the close OF the year
1928, there were formed and reported two hun
dred and thirty two Temperance Societies in the
United States. That State Societies had been
formed In New Hampshire, Vermont, Pennsyl-
vauia, Virginia and Illinois. And Society had
also been formed in Lower Canada; and IT Is sup,
posed that there were not less than $4,000 per
sons who had agreed not to use ardent Spirits
At the close of the year 1929, there had been
formed, and reported, more than 1000 Societies.
embracing more than 1000 members. Ele
ven of them were State Societies. Societies
were also formed in Upper and Lower Canada,
in Nova Scotia. and in New Brunswick. More
than so distilleries had been stopped, more than
400 merchants had ceased to traffic in ardent spi
rits, and upwards of 1900 had ceased to use the
drunkard's drink. That report further states
that fifteen Temperance Societies, on the plar
of total abstinence, were the past year formed
in the City Of Baltimore, embracing more thar
=. 5000 members. State Society was alst
&. formed in MARYLAND. in Delaware, and in Sc
..yen other States. Eleven had been formed
before; making in all. at the present time
as State 30, ieties. On the first OF May. 1851
"there we're reported 40 Societies in Maine
100 in New Hampshire, Iss in Vermont. 20G
sin Massachusetts,, 81 in Rhode Island, 2O2 II
Connecticut, 7s7 in New York. 81 IN New
Jersey, Ia4 in Pennsylvania. in Delaware
"sS in Maryland, 10 in the District Of Colum
.bia. lis in Virginia, 81 in North Carolina. II
in South Carolina, 60 IN Georgia, in Florida
40 in Alabama, I9 in Mississippi. in Louisi
..ana. Is in Tennessee, % in Kentucky, l04
..,n Ohio, 25 in Indiana, 12 in Illinois, in Mis-
:. souri,. and is IN Michigan Territory; making
..iu all, more than 1900, and embracing more
..,ban ITO, 900 members. These numbers have
{" been constantly increasing, and have, in many
1" cases, been more than doubled since they were
reported. There are also numerous Societies
, .. which have been formed, and some OF them
:. embracing large districts Of country, not con-
g tanned in the above list, and from which no re-
6. turns have been received. The numbers be-
:. longing to Societies which are not reported,
.. in the State of New York, are supposed, BY
.. the Committee of the State Society, to amount
8. IN more than $4,000. In other States, from
$. which the returns have been less general and