Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-06-24
lNrEMPERANcE.

len were addressed. among others, BY the Hon.
EDWARD EVERETT, at their late quarterly meet
ing The Salem Gazette says he event beyond
the most high raised expectations Of his friends
even Of those who rauk him second TO only one
man in all New England. Highly. very highly
as his speech will rank, for its elegant STYLE Its
Just sentiments, and it natural and thrilling de-
scription, his delightful oratory gave it grace
and charm which the mersfsader can scarcely
appr eciate." We make the following extracts
from the address, which cannot be read without
thrilling interest and deeper felt convictions OF
the importance o! attention to temperance
IF there is any cause, IN which il IS right and
nroner to employ the social principle. the promo.
t;on of temperance is that cause; for intemper.
ance, ia its origin, is peculiarly social vice.
Although, in its progress, men may creep away,
out of shame, to indulge the depraved appetite in
secret, vet no man, in state OF civilization, is
born, imagine, with a taste SO unnatural, that
he would seek an intoxicating liquor, in the out
set, for his ordinary or frequent drink. Ii Is
usually tasted, for the first time. as the pledge OF
hospitality and the bond Of good fellowship, Idle
men. who meet casually together, with kind
feelings towards each other,-ask each other to
step into the dram shop and stake something TO
drink" fur want Of any thing else to say or DO;
and there they swallow the liquid poison "to
each others health."' The social circle. the stat
ed club the long protracted sitting at the board
on public occasions, the midnight festivities OF
priyate assemblies;-these, nine cases out Of ten,
teach men the fatal alphabet OF intemperance;
surprise them into their first excrsses;--break
down the sense Of shame; establish sympathy
of conscious fraiIty; and thus lead them on, by
degrees, to habituai, and at length craving, soil
tary, and fatal indulgence She vice of intem-
perance then is social It's origin, progress, and
agsravatIon; and most assuredly justifies US. by
everv rule of reason and justice, in exeTtlng the
whole strength Of the;socis principle, in the way
Of remedy.
But 1t must not be forgotten, that in addition
10 the crimes which people our prisons; in add.
ton 20 the poverty which seeks refuge 10 the
aims. house; there is an untold amount, both OF
want and vice in the world, which, although not
exposed to the public view either IN the prisons
or poor houses, exists, and Dtlicts the most cruel
sufarlngs and sorrows % large part OF the hu'
man famiiy-and Of this vice and.swa very
large proportion is PRODUCED by lntsmperance.
Take the case Of man, 70 easy circumstances,
in town or country; of intempefate habits; bu.
yet retaining se8.control enough to manage his
property; and honesty enough TO keep out OF
gaol. This man, Of course, will be neither
convict nor pauper; ON the contrary,
he may 6ll what is called respectable sta
ton N society; and yet, under the influence
of daily administered potion of ardent spirits,
he NAV be the very tyrart Of his household; ne
yer pleased. never soothed, never sratlfied, when
the utmost has been done by every body 10 gra-
sify him; often turbulent and outrageous: some
times cruel; the terror of those whom he is bound
by every law OF God and Man to protect; the
shame Of those, whom nature teaches to rever-
ence and love him. Such man falls not into
the clutches of the law, but in a moral point OF
view. deem him much more criminal, than
the ignorant, weak minded, needy, sorely tempt
ed creature, who cannot resist the temptation of
passing a counterfeit bill, for which he is SEN
fenced, for two or three years, to the States Pri
son. Such q man does not take refuge IN the
aims house, nor drive his family to it, but the
coarsest and hardest bread that is broken within
its walls, is dainty, compared with the Injuries
Of his cherries table,
Then-as to poverty l. believe the poverty
out of the aIms house, produced by intemperance,
is greater in the amount Of suffering which it oc.
casions, than the poverty in the aims house. 10
the victims Of Drunkenness whom it has con-
Quoted TO the alms.house, one bitter Ingredient
Of the cup is spared. The sense Of shame and
the struggles Of honest pride are at length over.
But take the case of person whose family is
supported by the joint labor of its heads. Sup
pose the man hard-working mechanic or farmer,
the woman an industrious housewife, and the ia.
miIv, supported by their united labors, frugaity
and diligence. The man. as the phrase is,
|" takes to drink" What happensl The imme.
date consequence is, that the cost OF the liquor
which he consumes. is taken from the food, which
was before barely adequate for their support
They must therefore reduce some other part Of
their expenditure. They have no Injuries, and
must accordingly pinch in the frugal comforts and
necessaries Of life, in wholesome food, in decent
clothing in fuel, in the education Of the children
As the habit of excess increases, there must be
more and more Of this melancholy Tetrenchment.
The old clothes already worn out, must be worn
longer; the daily fare. none too good at the be-
ginning, becomes daily more meagre and scanty;