Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-06-11
TO TIE EDITORS OF TIE rv,

N.
HaVng been ormany years subscriber to your paper
and protesting myself also friend what is now usually
caied the Temperance Reformation, and devoted adj
nrer OF the system which is founded as being in NV
opinion one oil the grandest practical schemes hc ever
has been devised for the promotion of human comfort ami
happiness when your paper of the 4 instant came TO
hand, looked its columns with no small degree NJ
avidy to lind whether any, and if any, what notice or in
formation was given of the proceedings the Temperance
convention, then understood 10 he session in phade
pha My attention was first drawn 10 an article trans
cribed from Philadelphia paper called The Pennsylva
man. under the caption OF Close OF the Temperance
Convention" The in which the Editor (or take
TO be an editorial arcle) thought proper characterize
the Convention, as you may well imagine, was not very
acceptable 10 a friend OF the Temperance system The
language, however, used in giving his description of the
proceedings OF the Convention, and the apparent DISPOSE
ton evinced to present them in somewhat ludicrous a.
pec and thereby 10 attach tie body an unmerited
degree oil odium and obloquy fully sufficient to
satisfy my mind that he in the ranks of the enc
my OF the whole system. The fact therefore, OF pre-
Jndlce being apparent on the face of the record |
consoled myself with the reflection, that with unpre.
JUDGED and candid readers ii would do but little if
any, material injury to the temperance Cause Bu, NV
emotions oil mor,caon and regret i'm the ne xt mo
ent revived, and indeed greatly increased by noticu
The paragraph under your editorial head whereby YOU
denounce also in no very measured TERMS The resolution
oil The Convention passed the last day of it, session
which declares, 1.-the traffic in the use of ardent sp
as a drink. TO be moral wrong" Knowing the exien.
se circulation oil your paper the degree respect and
Influence which its editorial columns have so uniformly
commanded, cannot but fear that much Temporary in
Jury at least may be DONE by those editorial remarks
from the encouragement and excitement 10 opposion
which they may afford TO HE of Tie Temperance
system and could sincerely WISH Messs Editors tha,
you had postponed your remarks conclusions until Won
han heard from other sources more in relation pro-
ceedngs OF the Convention, than presumabe Won had
heard when you penned those remarks IL may be anti
cPaed, from what has been said the subject OF the
resolution in question, that discussion will ensuc NJ
TO The sounness OF the principle embraced in it, viz.
hat the traffic in or of ardent spirits as drink is
moral wrong" have 10 doubt that the friends of the
Temperance Reformation will attempt vigorous defence
and vindicaiion of that principle; and venture TO predict
Mes'rs Editors that when full investigation of the sub
Ject shall have taken place, and you have become fully
acquainted with the facts which The Temperance Reforma
tom has addnced, and the results which exhibits YOU
VIII lind difficult 10 reconcile your ow ideas of moral
poprety the rdhc in ardent spirits, the practice of
using as common drink, when viewed in relation oi,s
effects as an example, and lis inevitable tendency TO pro-
duce such deeterious and destructive consequences TO
the moral social and religious interests of the human race
Are you aware that the friends OF the Temperance Re-
formation consider that they have, from sources entitled TO-
The highest respect and confidence testimony amply su
hcient TO establish the following facts, viz:
lst That ardent spirit il needfu or useful TO per-
sons in bea any OCCASION but on the contrary tst if
liquor which is injurious in its nature that il cannot
be taken without HARM aud poison whch Injuries both
body and mind
End That our-fifths of the amount of crime NAV be
justly traced to the habit Of drinking spirits to ex
3D. That three fourihs Of the Beggary and Pauperism
prevailing in the community, may be traced TO the same
source
4th That three fourrhs q all the disease and sickness
with which the community afflicted may be traced to
I
9Th That half OF the Of the dreadful visitation
OF insanity may be ascbed 10 the effect of
and all this harm result from the of ardent spirits
together with thousands OF other nameless ills 10 which
man heir, without the least good except the mere graz
hcaton, indulgence Of inodinate appetite not be-
slowed on us by the author Of Being and "of every
good and perfect gill; but created and acquired by habit
alone-bow the individual who encourages and per
Peuaes the OF ii by his example in drinking or who
IS instrumental in dhusing the poison by making or vend
ing IT, reconcile his conduct TO the dictates sound mora
hiy' The testimony which rely for the establish.
ment Of the facts enumerated is derived from the otser
walton and opinion OF who have had the best oppor
unes OF forming correct opinions in these matters the
most eminent Physicians Judge and Lawyers and many
others. Rush maintained, :" that men in all kinds Of
business would be better without the use Of spiiu
Gus liquors. and that there but or two cases in
which they can be used without essential inury;" and
Chapman, "Ihat the evils Of using them are so great,
that the emptying Of Pandoras box hut the ype Of
what has been experienced by the diffusion Of those H.
quofs among the human species" Even in Judge Hsles
tune, alter twenty years observation and experience he
cafed, all the murders and hefs and bur
gares, and robbercs, and riots aud iumults the sucte
orncations and rapes, and other great enories which
had been committed within that time, we're divided into
hve paris four OF these would be found to have been the
result OF intempersnee" Writ, In communication
which he made to meeting of the Baltimore city tempe