Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-10-12

very, anu inviting 10 the duopuph, e'e' "N"
and useful principal, and method OF opera,lon-
for its unparalleled advancement III wealth. num-
bers. and strength-for its facilities Of enlarge
ment over half a continent, and Of influence over
all the world-for the adoption OF It's employ
ments. purposes, and institutions, TO The rights OF
its large and increasing enjoyment oil
the esteem and favor of nations-and Tor its slo-
rious hopes of perpetuity, it would be as natural
as it would be necessary, that he should be a pa
triot. 1t would seem impossible Tor HIM to be
9th erwise. Penetrated with a just sense OF the
dignity and Importance of his great trust, he
should endeavor to discharge it, with parental and
equal regard to every section and member OF the
national family"
The following is the Constitution Of the Win
chester Temperance Society. drawn up by a Com
mittee. of which JoHN r. COOKE was the chair
man. 1t contains the best argument on the sub.
ject, in a short space, of any thing that we have
seen.
This instrument of writing %attests, that we,
whose names are subscribed to it, have formed
an association, whose object it shall be to incul-
cate in the community of which we form a part,
and in whose prosperity we are deeply interested,
what we conceive to be Just views OF a subject OF
vital importance. 1t is our belief
That the narcotic and stimulating substance
called alcohol, which is found, more or less dilut-
ed. in ardent spirits, VINE, strong beer and por-
ter, is properly classed by medical men among
the %poisons, or substances fatal to human life.
That to whatever extent it may be diluted, or
mixed with other substances, it is still, more or
less. pernicious to the human system.
That it is an enemy SD much the more danger
Gus, because insiduous: and insiduous III this;
that, by means of its stimulating quality, 1t ap-
pears to giue bodily strength and a flow of animal
spirits to those who use it; whereas, in fact, it on
~ lends this stock of strength and spirits, and
that on the very worst terms for the borrower
1t lends him an additional and superfluous stock,
when he is in health. and adequately supplied by
the bounty of nature: il sails IN the loan, bur-
thened with a heavy interest of indirect debility,
when sickness has already deprived him of his
n~atural strength. 1t lends him vigor in youth,
when he does not want it, and robs him, in old
age, by the indirect debility which it occasions,
Of the slender supply which nature has left him.
Hence the augmented danger, IN sickness, Of
those habituated to the stimulus OF alcohol. -
Hence the premature and excessive debility OF
our aged men, which we are willing to impute to
climatic influences, to accidental causes, and in
deed 20 any cause but tine real one. 1t is time that
these decisions should be dispelled, and that all
men should learn the important truths, that the
strength and visor of men cannot be raised by al
cohol above their natural level, for a time, with
out falling below it afterwards thar the depres-
sion is in proportion to the extent and continuity
Of the stimulus-that pGy-day must come 10 all
that when it comes in Sickness, 1t often pro-
Dues 2 fatal termination which the disease. Of IT.
s',r. wculd not have produced-and that, when
il is put off to an advanced period of life, it &c.
casi0ns a deplorable prOstra,Ion OF the corporeal
and mental faculties, premature decay and unia-
mented death.
Let those who believe, as we believe, that the
moral, intellectual, and corporeal powers and "a
c%ulties of man, are more perfectly developed
without the aid of alcohol than with It, form sim
pie and unpretending associations, by the terms
of which the members shall be merely bound
(wh1e members) to abstain entirely from lntoxi-
eating drinks. Let rs leave the rest to time and
heaven. and the mighty force OF truth.
1t is moreover our belief. that the natural ten
dencv of the habtual use of alcohol in any shape
is to produce a greater use of it. For nothing is
more certain than that the excitabiiity OF the
human system is diminished by Excitement: and,
however slow this dimlnutlOn may be. 1t is not
the less certain that IL is go,Uiag On. Hence it
is that those who use alcohol require more, and
generally use more. as they advance in life. If
this augmentation we're in all cases slow and
gradual the evil might be borne with. But ia
tai experience shows tina. this natural tendency
of the use of alcohol to produce a greater use il,
too often accelerated by adventitiOus Circum-
stances; such as grief, excessive labor, perplex-
tiles in business, pecuniary Embarrassment. and
a thousand other nameless causes. Hence the
prevalence of drunkenness, the immediate cause
of bodily suffering to the victim. of mental an
suish to his relatives, of proverty. crime and
death. Hence it is that our fair land is strewed,
like a field of battle, with the corpses of those
who have been slain by alcohol. Hence the voice
of the mourner is N heard through the land. Hence
it is that the houseless widow and helpless little
children are seen wai!ing over the body of him
who was lately their hope, their stay and their
strength.
1t IS surely the duty OF those who are impress
sed with these affecting truths to make an effort
to arrest the progress of general and fatal delu-
sion. And this is to be done, not nv pouring
out a torrent of ~invectIve against drunkard.-for
they are miserable enough without this agsrava-