Litchfield enquirer., 1833-04-11

sabbath GS precIOu9, ana the nhscDtutu IS al hand, we will take measures to establish eve " fifth day for a sabbath; would the Lord be pleased with :hcir conduct, any more than with the conduct Of French philosophers when they appointed every tenth Would he not say, irnpiOus mortal! who set you to judge in a matter that had already determin- ed, and made known my mind and my will in my word? '? This was the crime of king Saul. God commanded him to destroy all that per tained to Amalek; but he legislated on the matter, and thought it more expedient to save some of the spells for sacrifice. His reasons, to be sure, sounded very plausible and pious; but Samuel told him, "behoId to obey is bet ter than sacrifice, and to hearken, than the fat of rains." For that conduct, Saul forfeit ed both the favor of God and his kingdom.
 Let us now apply this. By the word of God, 1t appears plain fact, that the Creator has seen fit to give to man an alcoholic liquor for his use, and counted it among his blessings to his own people; this liquor will intoxicate when taken to excess, and God has gi givpn law to regulate our conduct in the use of it. in which law he says, "be not drunk with wine, wherein is ercess." It is not, drink none at aU. If Jehovah had meant so, he would have said so. Every time drunkenness is for bidden, it is implied that man is at liberty to use tOxicatipg liquor, but not to that excess. If the Creator had intended 10 appoint total abstinence for temperance, he would have said so, as Mahomet did, and some others. The temperance of our Redecmer, we have seen, was not of that kind.
 Therefore, if God has legislated in this mat ter and given law, who dare to legislate af- ter him, and alter it have never yet seen an instance in which any thing that was per manently beneficial to religion, or to mankind, was gained, by departing from the plain letter of Gods word. know that the scriptures have been distorted to try to prove this expe- dient, but these distortions will yet be noticed.
 At the present time am well aware that have strong difficulties to contend with Fash ion and public sentiment is against me; many have subscribed their names to the opposite doctrine, and some have made public speech es in defence oft; they have made up their minds upon hearing one side, and such IS the natural make of mankind, that when they have made step, they do not love to retract. We hear many an anecdote on this subject. Permit me to conclude with one. In the times of slavery there was colored servant, who had little daughter that told lie. Up- on being charged with the crime she confess ed it, and for it she was corrected by her mis- tress. After the correction she went bawling into the kitchen to her mother, who turning to her with frown, said, "Kate, you fcol do you never do that again if you tell lie. stick to it." In that advice there was much human nature, but little morality.
 SAMUEL FELTON,.
 Fire at Washington-Destructi of the Treasury Building.-We regret to announce the total destruction, by fire, of the Treasury building; hut we are happy to add, that, as far as can now be ascertained, all the public accounts and vouchers relating to the receipt and disbursements of the public money have been saved.
 It is understood that the fire was discover ed at about half past o'clock on Sunday morning, by person accidentally passing.-| The flame was first seen issuing from the windows of the room on the upper floor ad joining the centre projection, on the north front. The alarm was immediately given and by great exertions on the part of the Se- cretary and other public officers, as we'll as on ] the part ofthe citizens generally, who seen1- ed 10 take an equal interest in the matter, the most important part of the public papers were preserved. The public records and docu- ments, being the chief objects of solicitude, the principal and earliest efforts were made for their preservation.
 The manner in which the fire originated has not been ascertained. The necessary meas ures have, however, been taken to obtain in- formation on the subject and as soon as the result is known, it will be communicated to our readers. It appears that the messenger whose turn 1t was to watch, was absent, from sickness; and that the person who usually
 sleeps in the building, was not aware of the fire until he was awakened from the outside.
 The Secretary has, with great promptness.
 engaged several contiguous houses opposite
 to Strother's Hotel, for the use of the Treas
 nry; the public books and papers have already
 been removed to them; and the business of
 the Department will be transacted there to.
 day as usual.-GLobe.
 The foregoing is the Globes account. The
 lntelligencer says, it is hoped indeed, that few books or papers of much consequence are destroyed. AUth books and papers on the ground floor are believed to have been saved : (in great disorder of course) and aU those in , the third story were destroyed. Ofthe books . and papers in the apartments of the second . story, much the greater part were saved. The offices on the first floor, the books of which are saved, were those of the Register of the Treasury, the Treasurer and the First Audi tor. On the second floor, nearly all of the
 books of the First Comptroller, whose office !, occupied the greater number of the rooms, were saved, and part of those belonging to the office of the Secretary of inc Tre.xSrv