Litchfield enquirer., 1832-09-06

the owner is rsspOhsibls for all'the conse-
qUences.
This is a rule which God himself has es-
ltahlished; and it applies directly 70 the OBJ
tjeet of our meeting. Are ardent spirits
wont toproduce misery and wretchedness.
and death? Has this been testified TO
those who deal in them, Ice. makers and
Eretailers2 Ifthese two things can be es-
ltabtished, the Inference Is ineyitable -they
are responsible, on a principle perfectly
lintelligib:e-a principle recpgn ~ and
tproclaimed. and acted upon By GCd him
self II is possible that some may startle
at this conclusion, and look around Tor
some way to escape ii.
s What /! is a man responsihle to God for
the effects produced BY al the spirits which
he makes or sells.2 This Is a ntOst fearful
responsibility. Indeed tits. But il these
two things are true, every retailer and ma
ker must bear it. And can either Of these
be disppted? Turn yonr attention to
these two facts: LIST. Ardent spirit is wont
10 produce misery. 3D., Those who make
Or sell it, are perfectly aware Of IT'S effects.
/ will not insult any mans understanding,
by entering into a labored proof of either
OF these positions. UpON che trst point,
let me refresh your recollection, and bring
wildly before you the hopes which ardent
spirit has blasted, and the tears which it
has caused to flow. Most Of us cain re-
member many shocking scene which spir-
it has produced. Let any one of US set
dawn and count up the number ofits VIC
Tins which we have known--and their
character and their standing in society,
and their prospects and their happy fani-
lies, and what change few years use o.
ardent spirit has caused, and what they and
their families are now. What catalogue
OEwretchedness might any one Of US make
out. Very few but could remember 20,
80, SO, or 100 families ruined in this way
some of them once our most intimate
ffiends-and their story is soon told.
They were once promising excited
high expectations, were high spirited, de-
spised every thing mean, and had spec
cial contempt for drunkard and had q
prophet proclaimed that they themselves
should be all that they despised, they
would have repealed it as a thing impossi-
Bile. $ Is thy servant dog as said Haza-
81, that he should do this thing? z
But they could drink occasionally just
for spree, for the sake ofcompany. In
this way the taste was acquired, and dis
sipated habits formed. They became idle.
and of course uneasy. Aud they drank
par.lyato CRAFTY taste, and partly to quiet
conscience. They saw that the tide was
coming in upon them !; and for time,
perhaps, made some earnest but irregular
struggles against it. But it gained upon
them. Every fow Of the tide drove in
some barrier---the resistance became
weaker and weaker-by and by the strug-
gle is ended, and they float with the tide !:
and where are they One has been found
by the temperance reformation n mere
wreck--in property, character, body and
mind mere wreck, and, O, miracle re-
claimed. After years Of dissipation, after
calising unspeakable misery, be IS saved.
yet so as BY IRE. Another is dead his
constitutions could not bear such contin-
nod course of dissipation, Another died
in a fit-another was found by the road side
one cold morning, stiffsned corpse. An.
other was thrown from his horse, aud II d
cripple for life, but still can contrive means
to pay daily visit to the grocery. AM
other is mere vagabond, unprincipled,
and wandering from grocery
TO grocery--ft companion for the lowest
company. Drinking up their bounty, yea,
drinking their leavings--the mere rinsings
of the elasses--a nuisance 10 society, and a
curse 10 his kindred. Ahother--Go into
the crowded court house, and yOu may see
another; his countenance haggard and
ghastly, and his eye wildly rolling in des-
pair. What has he done2 One night
affer spending all his money. for drink and
lettering about till all the shops were clos
ed. he returned to his miserable habitatioD.
He found few Goals on tho hearth, and
his wife and children sitting by them. He
threw one child this way, and another that,
for he was cold. His wife demonstrated
and told him that what little Ere there was,
was none Of his providing. With many q
horrid oath he declared he would not be
seolded after that sort. He would let her
know who should govsrn, md BY way Of,
supporting his authority, beat her brains
out with the last remaining stick Of wood.
He did not mean TO kill her. Her dying
struggles brought him TO his senses, and he
stood horror struck. He would give al
most any thing that the deed were not
DONE. If,that could restore her TO life, he
would be almost ready TO give a pledge
never TO taste ardent spirit again. Nov
i.,L =. .ha vretchedness Oft famiIv..-