Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-06-07

honorable Christian traffic. The Temperance
Reformation, which il now achieving so much,
and which promises such a mighty revolution, in
the sentiments and habits of the world, was not
then commenced. And hence, no one ever
thought at that time Of any regulation to exclude
it from the Colony. II never occurred to aoy
one as a measure that would even be advisable.
Nor did any one, so far as | have ever heard
think Of condemning it, or Of Irifhholdiag h's
affections from II, because such a measure was
not resorted TO. If it was approved and loved
and fondly cherished, a. it seems to have been
even by MIR. Tappan himself, this appreciation;
and love, and aid, were given to II, under a fu'i
consciousness that the article IN question was not
excluded. II could not well have been other
wise. So far, then, as this article is concerned,
the Society is deserving Of the same warmth of
/, affection still: because it remains precisely the
same now. ia this particular, as it "as at the
6rst. And as Il has undergone no change, 50
| neither, to be consistent, ought Nc. FPS regards.
But when the great temperance movement be-
Gan to excite interest, it was his deslre-and, l
presume, that of erery good mUl-that its hap.
py influence should be extended TO this rising set.
Element ON the Coast OF Africa also. And be.
cause no measure was resorted to to force II
here-that is, to prevent the colunists from all
use and ali traffic in ardent spirits. by posture
statute his affections began to cool. Now. was
there thing in such a cause as this, rightly
considered, which should have led to precise.
IL such an effect? Was it likely that any posi-
tire enactment, on the part Of the SocIcly's
Board, could have succeeded in this object, had
such a measure been trieds To pot down a mo.
raj eri, by the colnnists, not considered or
known to be such at all, (nor by a majority in
our own land,) by means of positive statute, and
perhaps brute force! Ought the destruction OF a
doubtful moral eri ever To be attempted in this
way at all:-or indeed any other moral evil, ex.
cept such as is known TO III pinge directly against
the peace and order of civil governments! To
me il seems-I may be mistakcn-that as the
evil had been permitted at the first, aud without
the whisper Of q suspicion that il was an evil at
oil. the best and only proper way of rradicatlns
Il would be in the ~cxertion Of moral force. the
power of reason, the diffusion Of lighi-in ener.
getic eudeavofs to induce decided conviction
that it uas an epH, and therefore right and pro
per, and necessary, that il should De abandoned
THIS is the mode resortpd to in our own country;
aud the success which has attended it is, | be.
liese, far greater than what could ever have been
anticipated from the interposition Of Gouernmen.
tai enacimeatS. Intelligent beings do not like
t. be drirea; while, il drGWn |" with the cords
Of man and the hands ni love-" they will run
with chee,fuiness aud delight. Such u moral
power IS exerting ITS influence. at this very mo-
meet, IN the Colony; and there is no reason to
doubt that its results there will eventually be as
happy as here. cannot, therefore. help think.
ing. that Mr.. Tappan's first cooling objection,
conside red rightly. was not adequate to that ef
feet. His second is
g That, in addition to ardent spirits, tobacco,
powder and ball, are permitted at the Colony, as
articles OF trade!! Nov, though a learned Pro-
lessor in one OF the Colleges at the North has re.
Gently discovered that tro men were actually
killed by using tobacco, l wonderi If no two men
have ever been killed by the use Of bread ADD
meat!-I think | have heard of several who died
with the Cholera from eating peaches. Still |
say. Notwithstanding this fearful and most ANAL
ling discovery. on the tobacco part of the subject
l mean to say nothing. IL would do well enough
to laugh about; but to reason on IL, would BE- i'm.
parting to it a dignity to which, of itself, it can
have no claim. 10 think of withdrawing from a
great National Institution OF Benevulence. be-
cause its bene6cIaries are permitted to trade in
tobacco! Proh pudor! And I do no, know
that it would be worth while to say any
thing concerning the powder and ball part vt it.
1t is true the C0lonists are a very feeble band,
and, without the means Of defence, might very
easily be cut OF: but no ma'ter-let them have
nothing to do with po,eder and ball. 1t is true
they were assaulted by a mighty host, aud, had
they been destitute OF powder and bail, would
have been utterly exterminated: but no natter
they should notShave been permitted to. have
them. Il is true they are required to repel the
efforts OF slavers, from one extreme OF their coast
to the other: but no matter-let them not have
powder and ball to do it with. 1t is true that. if
left nnarmed, the slave pirate might carry on his
traffic with perfect ease, and to any extent that
might suit his inclinations: but no matter-let
him r~avage-let him steaI-let him murder: but
don't let the ColoDists have po~der and ball to
stop him! d. no! this would furnish the means
OF killing bad people; and lions, and tigers, and
other beasts Of prey. with which Africa is known
to be greatly infested! 0! but these killing things
are leading articles Of trade! 1t may be so, for
aushf ! know to the contrary: but if powder and
ball have had the effect Of diminishing the evils
Of war, and the destruction Of human life, as
some moral writers have con,ended, and as Mr..
Tappan, ! think, will admit; then / do not sup.
pose that the statement, If literally true, ought to
grieve him much. And much less, should | sup.
nosp that n tvOnld ho .Joou,to b.. 81. e. c