Litchfield enquirer., 1833-05-02

Ahere are, Mir. Editor, numerous individuals tn the O"Ned States, and elsewhere who believe and say that alcohol IS poison; that n the various forms or distilled spirit, it is the of forming incorporate haOs.-whO refuse to drink it, to manufacture it, to sell '' or to give it away; and who think sin do any one "fthese things, except as they might drink, manufacture se give away other poisons tn case of scS"ess. n which pOisOns sometimes benefi- 1 cIal. am one of them. Now iG as the principles ] maintained by the author would imply we are guilty 0' sue" daring mpi"y; if so far the subject before us IS concerned, we vastly worse than so many oru"kards, il is time that and the public knew it, that we may abandon evil ways, or at least that others may be prevented from entering into them.- But II we are innocent, if are engaged in good york; It important that be vindicated, that we may oe encouraged persevere, and that others may Oe induced to join us, in the good work. I hope, therefore, that what may be said in our defence will be candidly and patiently heard.
 lhe writer sets with the assumption that wine Is, on the whole, than ardent spirit, and that therefore, all that is said the bible respecting wine applies to brandy. The whole scope of the argumen, implies this, though it is no, expressly repeated in every one of his nerences. But it is stated with su-
 
 says utterly inconsistent with reason use wine and other fermented liquors, and condemn the use of ardent spirit the of the is lawful as that of the other lfthere be any difference, the use of the wine and other fcrmened liquors is the most unlawful because il is the most unwholesoMie:" "It, ;here- fore, only remains, that appeal the word of God ID order to determine whether he has allowed the ot wine; If he has, then it follows of course, that brandy is not condemned; because, if allowed o use alcoholic intoxicating drink, in any form, y Il cannot be unlawful il in that form in which 1 is the most wholesome" This language is clear and cannot be misunderstood; nor can any person avoid considering the author intending apply in each case, to brandy, the conclusions to which he may 1 fairly come in favor oi the use of wine.
 And first; to the sanction which the bible gives to the use o(wine. There is question that liquor which the bible calls wine was allowed in the bible. That liquor is spoken of of lIe gifts of God; it was of the temporal blessings which God proms- ed to his people, under the old dispensa,ion. But l whether that what we now have in this country under the name of wine, is very important question. lift no then what we call wine is not allowed in the bible.
 The fact is that there s not in this country any such wine as ;he bible speaks of That which is most like | il, is manufactured from grapes, which is to be found perhaps, in small quantity in Indiana; but is never seen the eastern side of the AIegany moun- tains One mpouan, fact is, that the ancicnts had neither brandy nor sugar to put into their wine. to give it flavor and preserve it. There is, it is believed no wine now made which has not one or the other o these added 10 it, if there is, it is not in general use, and cannot be obtained by the common people.- And even the wine which is the product of domestic manufacture is stronger than thnt which was used ge nerally by any ancient people. And that does not mount to ten housanth part of what s sold and drunk l under the name of wine.
 1 The wine which is imported, which, too, is but [ small part of that which is sold aud bought and drunl in this country under vvine is very nearl one half brandy. All wine cotains alcohol; but ,h quantity which is naturally contains, is not suicien l to preserve it for any considerable time. Unies there be added most wines nearly as much aIcoho as they naturally contan they endure the voy age across the Atlantic; but will become souri, eilhe during the voyage soon afer their arrival in .hi country. All the stronger imported wines near, half as strong brandy; and all the weaker, nor. | than quarter the strength of brandy. This was 1 the case with the wine of the bible.
 But by far the greater part Of that which is here called wine, and is sold and drunk such, is en imported nor all made of the juice oG ihe grape 1t is und srstood to be fact that the whole quantity exported from the island of Madeira does exceed two hundred thousand bottles year. This number may not be malhematicay accurate; butihere can be no doubt that times much liquor ever comel from that isand is sold in other parts of the world | der the name of Madeira wine. And of the winel which are in more general use, still greater prOpor ton probably from the other side of the | Atlantic. You will naturally ask, then, how comes i here? The answer is, it is manufactured here. Blu how is it madcl Not ofthe juice of the grape. Al to the actual composition oft, it may be difficult le state it; but this is known, tha in most instnnces il is made of substances which are highly pOisOnoHs- Sugar oflead is one ingredient which often enters in to the composition of wine.
 The argument of Mir. Pelton, then, far aS it ap plies to the actual state of things is this. God did, ir ancient times, give his people wine which had little alcohol in it. it is, thereors, now right to drink tha l which has twice as much alcohol in il. God did, ir ancient times allow his people to drink pure wine made of the juice of the grape and nothing else: il s Therefore, now right to drink liquor which is no made of the juice ofhe grape. and of which some ,he ingredients rank poison. The author applies 10 the pernicous liquor which have, wha inc bible says respecting the juice of the grape. Ii inaN S,I1 HE