Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-08-23
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iERMASIcUs ia our next.
FOR THE E.NQUYRER

IN. 81
confess that il requires little effort to continue TO
deserve the encomium you pass my heart and since
rity, when hear you using the terms heresy, enhusi
asis, new lights, rash declarations reckless assertions
temperate zeal ntoleran spirit encroachment the d.
vine prerogative hurried conclusion. from
premises, &C., which you are pleased TO apply 10 some
oil the members OF the Temperance Socieiy-appealng
my defence in justification of the charge But as hard
words and names sometimes do very soft argu-
ment, and soft urneth away wrath | will en-
deavour to urge on my hobby" without doing you the
least personal injury never did " descend 10 the
personality Of iniircc y charging every who com
plains OF the Philadelphia resolution, rum and
luke-warm members" said that had heard of " no
complaints, Chat their conscences budened en-
cep from the lover of rum" SC. And ONLY spoke what
hen was and still is the fact Nor did "nsinmaie ,ba,
half OF the christian church lovers OF rum" II any
such reckless assertion has been made, it have
been in these words: The resolution condemns the
practice OF the tohoie of the religious world and the vr
and moral part OF the community for &C nures back
DO you know that nnetenths OF the virtuous and
ighiened portion OF the community have never joined
the Temperance Society? l believe this is your Ian
guage. And cannot conceive what il has TO do with
the subject unless these for centuries past
the nineenths who can now speak, recognized their
representative, those whom have heard complain Of
the resolution. Nor will do you The injustice of
supposng, that you intended avail yourself OF the
probable inference, that you really knew the opinion
Of nine teDtbs Of the community, and that il against
the resolution But, even supposng that the statement
was as you give II, II would not change my notions
about the morality OF the Of pirituous liquors.
do not derive my morals from the prevalence anau
~ of practice. Nor can conceive that fiji II respect
requires that the and mmoraies either Of past
or present, should he copied defended. hat chance
has Europe Tor improvement il the opinion and practice
OF her wises and best for centuries past the subject
civil and religious liberty, be nvolable and sacred Here
permit 10 assure you, that have long ago a,enively
condcred "the progress Of error under the sanction OF
public opinion - and, that il from the of
views like your own | joined the Temperance Society.
On subject has public opinion sanctioned error
and done injury than in the OF ardent spirits Will
public opinion counenaDce gambling houses the plea,
that am FIT for nothing else, nothing to sup
port my famiIy-that money is made by it-tha some
will make thus and why not people will gamble
&c.-I am not liable for the consequences, SCI" Yet
grog shops, those perfect sinks compsred with almost any
other hole oil ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS not only
but legdzed by public opinon this very ground =!
When ardent spirit first used il used medi.
cna poison. IL found greater favour PREVENT
tive than curative. But could il cure that which could
not prevent People had the premontory symptoms
OF many diseases, or often and grevously affected
with maladies, which nothing else could easily
In vain did Sydenham raise his voice against this
" marched on until public opinion established the doc.
trine that ardent spirits is b0num in Sc by ITSELF mixed
sweetened, soured-ior disesse-for heab-for heat
cold wet or dry-at any time, in all places, aud in any
way Hospitality was churlish without il. II must be
al the BIRTH the wedding, and the wake Candidates foi
Office must distribute IT, II required in the lanes and
byc-ways, as well as in the hgh.wayThe laugh nste
Of the rown, was ready for the drunken revel-Fathe
aud son, husband and brother expected, sometimes
get pso'icay and gofiousy druhk. Legislators reee,
into the hall-judges and magistrates on the benoliu
rors IN the box-wnesses at the sdDdand the red
priest and deacon at the altar all sanctioned by public OPT
nion which points the finger Of at him, who dare
declare, that all the evils OF inoxcaon have their
from the delusive doeue, that the moderate use Of ar
dent spirits is innocent Aud the "pudanc garb"
dy for the Utopan "Quxotte," who proposes the only
preventive aud certain Of drunkennesstoal absti
pence! Surely public opinion he reformed The Tenn
Pefanee Society Is attempting to DO THE no; 10y diota,