Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1833-07-11
MIR. EVERETT, ON TEMPERANCE.


MIR. EVERETT, ON TEMPERANCE.
The following extracts are derived from
speech by the Hon. Edward Everett
at the anniversary Of the Young Men:
Temperance Society, at Salem, Mass.
1t is not week since read, in one o
the public prints, notice Of the trial o
wretch, in Pennsylvania, who, under
the influence Of intcmperance, beat his
wife and drove her from beneath his roof;
beat child and threw it out of doors
where it was found in the morning, al
most chilled to death; murdered his other
child outright, and then went to sleep.
He was arrested, tried, and found guilty
Of murder in the second degree. \ few
years since, if my memory serves me,
read in the public journals, an account
Of another monster in the human shape,
who, under the influence of liquor, tied
his wife by the hair to the bed-post, and
beat her to death. He too was found
guilty in the second degree. The facts
in these causes have very possibly been
misrepresented; and far be it from me J
on slight grounds, to censure the tribu-
mails of the State which led the way in
the great reform Of penal jurisprudence,
which has taken place in the last thirty
years. But if the facts alluded to are cor.
rectly stated, and if our brethren in
Pennsylvania regard this as murder in
the second degree, heaven preserve them.
In the hour when the incarnatc spirit of
malice and murder shall come, hot from
his abode, TO commit murder in the first
degree.
In a word, sir, when we contemplate
intemperance in all its bearing and ef-
fects on the condition and character of
men, | believe we shall come to the con-
clusion, that it is the greatest evil which,
as being Of a compound nature, we have
to fear; the greatest, because striking d.
rectly at The ultimate principle of our Con-
stitation. Within this point is compre-
hended, if mistake not, the whole phi /
losophy of this subject. Our life exists in
a mysterious union OF the corporeaI and
principles, an alliance Of sim
gular intimacy, as wei! as Of strange
between the two extremes of,
being. Who can thus contemplate the
W wonder, the vast utility, the benev volence,
the indescribable fitness of this organi-
zation, and not feel that this vice Of in
which aims directly to de-
stroy it, is the arch-abomination Of our
natures; tending not merely to create a
conflict between the nicely adjusted
principles, but to assure the triumph of
that which is low, base, sensual, and
earthly, over the heavenly and pure; to
convert this so curiously organized frame
into disordered, crazy machine, and so
drag down the soul to the slavery Of gro-
Yelling lusts.
In the first place there is a shameful
abuse of the bounties Of Providence,
which, after making the substantial pro-
'isions for the supply Of our wants-aiteri
preadlng out the earth, with its vegeta-
lie stores as a great table for our nutri-
nent, and appointin. the inferior animals
or our solid food, was pleased-as il
would seem Of mere grace and favor,-II
o add unnumbered cordial spirits to gra-
ny and cheer us-sweet waters and
ively spices-to fill the fibres Of the :
zane with its luscious syrups, the clusters :
u the vine with its cooling juices, and n 8
hundred aromatic leaves, berries, and .
ruits with their refreshing and reviyinp d
ssences; and even to infuse into the e
opp an anodyDe against the sharpest I
aims our frail flesh is heir to:-I saw it b
) the first aggravation Of the sin Of in !
ernperance, that it siezes on all these .
ind and bountiful provisions, turns them G
nto source, not Of comfort and health,
'ut OF excess-decently reyelling at the
modest banquet Of nature, shamefnlly
at the sober table Of Provi-
'ence, and converting every thing that =
las life alike the exhilarating and sooth- s
ng, the stimulant and opiate, into one l
'ccursed poison.
Next come the ravages Of this all de- Z
troying vice on the health of its victims y
You see them resolved as il were. to an. =
lcipate the corruption Of their natures ;,
hey cannot wait TO get sick and die r
hey think the worm is slow in his an h
roach, and sluggish at his work. They "a
ish to reconyert the dust, before their n
our comes, to its primitive deformity e