Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-01-02


show that he is not involved IN the guilt Of muir
der"
The Committee will here merely add, that in
our own little town there is large number OF
dealers, of every grade, in ardent spirits. and
some Of them, too, professors Of religion. Some
of them we know, are persons Of estimable cha
racter, and no doubt are temperate themselves
or such, we have reason to believe, we will not
ask in vain when We request them to consider
we'll the subject of their duty and responsibility
in this matter. We earnestly entrcat them to
ponder seriously and candidly an what we have
thus brought before them.
From the best Information which the Commit.
tee of the American Temperance Society have
been able to obtain, says their last Report. "they
are led to conClude that more than 100000 peo-
pie in the United States now abstain from the use
Of ardent spirit, and from the furnishing OF it
for the use of o,herk,' that there are more than
1000 Temperance Surieies, embracing more than
500, 600 members THAT more than 1900 distille.
ries have been stoppe., mure than 1000 mer-
chants ceased traffic in the poison, and more than
4,5OOdrunkarls ceased to use Intoxicating drinks.
There is also reason to believe that more than
90. 600 persons are now sober, who, had it not
been for the temperance reformation, would have
been sots; and that 10000 families are nov in
or ore who is becoming drunkard, Who would
otherwise have bpen in poverty, or cursed with
drunken inmate; that 5O,O00 children are saved
from thu blasting influence ot drunken parents,
and 200. 900 from that parental influence which
tended to make them drunkards.
The 4th Annual Report Of the American Tenn
perance society has been extensively circulated IN
the IT, States. and copies of it it have been sent
| TO various parts OF Europe, Asia, Africa. and
America, and to the islands of the Southern Seas;
aud the committee of that Society ''have re-
ceiveJ abundant assurances that II has been pro-
ductive of great good" In our Navy, ardent
spirits appears to be fast going out Of use. This
| is true also, to some extent. of our merchant
service. The Secretary Of War has recently
issued general order, Totally prohibiting its be.
ing furnished, as part OF their ration, TO the
soldiers of the Army, and forbidding the suffers
TO sell it to them--dr; citing that coffee and SUI
gar be allowed them as substitute. In Great
B itan and Ireland the cause continues to adj
vance with the most cheering rapldity. Agents
have been sent nut, by whom great number OF
thriving Societies have been formed on the total
abstinence principle. embracing more than l00,
| 600 members Temperance newspapers have
been established, two in England, two in Scot
land, and one ia Ireland; OF which, the last year,
million were circudted: and already among
the active advocates Of Temperance are some of
The most distinguished statesmen and divines OF
the Kingdom.
The principles Of Temperance Societies are
making gratifying progress. also, in other parts
of Europe and Ia Africa ard the Sandwich ISL
ands, where Societies have been formed: and
their light has penetrated even into China. The
! progress If this benevolent cause has, thus far,
been most rapid; and from the success which
ha, already attended it, we may indulge the
| pleasing hupe, that before quarter OF centu-
| nv shall have rolled around, wherever this de.
stroyer of mans happiness and peace. ardent
spirits. shall have found its way, these Societies
will also BE- found exerting the like happy intin'
ence And this country, 50 richly blessed Of
Providence, and to which so many of the benc.
VIOLENT in other nations are looking with the deep
est solcituae, will be hailed as the first to en-
gage 10 this noble work, and its promoters here,
as the instruments, in the hands of the Governor
of the Universe, Of cfftctng moral change. the
benefits of which no finite mind can calculate.
! Before consulting, the Committee beg leave to
state that, though. at the commencement OF our
Society, it was not expected that females could
become members, il has since been thought not
only expedient, but highly proper that they should
unite with their husbands, brothers, and friends.
| IN so go0u cause. Ana why Snouiu tney bot'
They are, it Is true, less exposed to the tcmpta'
tons winch beset the other SIX, and which 1t is
our object to counterfeit and remove; but, as
mothers, daughters. wives, and sisters, are they
not peculiarly and deeply interested in the des-
tructnn uf this The most dreadful enemy OF do.
mestic happiness? 1t is felt and admitted in
every Christian land, that their Influences very
great. more especially in the promotion OF OBJ
ierts IF henpyuIcnce objects SO much in harmony
with their own character-why, then. is it not
expedient, and if expedlent, their duty, TO ex
ert it. in this respect for the g"od OF their fellow
creatures and the security Of their own happiness.
As it is the will of the Almighty in all his crca
tons and pro,idences, to promote the true hap
pness of man, and as he has given to females so
powerful an influence in society, that influence
becomes 10 their hands an important talent, tor
the employment Of which in advancing the cause
of virtue and religion, they respOnslbe.-
Concerning the question of expedeney, there
can be little doubt, that il females generally
were to give their names aud influence to the
fenper.pco ,,uSp mid increase wuuld