Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1833-04-04
uRAR ROTH SIDES.

HEAR BOTH SIDES.
Mr.. Adams-You will ObIige number Of your SOD
.crbers, who are opposed to "i"temPera"ce =" "''
,h;ng. nv giving place to article upon the sul]ec1
ofTsmr.rance Societies, herewith enclosed.
Yours, &c. r.
Bv Rev. Samuel PeItOn, Of ClGrkssO'OH' Rock
land Co., ~. Y.
From the Moral Daily Advertiser.
MrssRs. EDrroRs-Seeing you have prof
Esred. before the public, TO publish what
can saw in defence of what call Christian
Temperance, here send you one number on
the subject. should have sent it before, u
had not been sick, and unable TO write. 1t
;s rather longer than could wish. but can
.ee mn Mace II can be well divided, without
cramping my argument.
perceive that you condemn tho use of
,Oinc and all other alcoholic liquors. This, ]
acknowledge, is entirely consistent with the
doctrine of the Temperate Society for which
YOU plead. The Quakers and the Mahome-
fans have both done this, and they have no
dosbt matured the scheme to consistency !;
and believe that they are the only two de-
nominations, at least of any considerable num-
ber who have ever adopted the doctrine of
total abstinence from strong drink, to be
moral duty. The pious and learned DR..
Rdgeley IAN old Protestant) says, in one Of
his arguments, =" so gluttony and drunkenness
is forbidden il the word of God, but who ever
heard that christian was forbidden to eat, or
to use strong drink"
You seem to think that Wine and other al
coholic fermented liquors will produce all the
evils which ardent spirits can produce. This
is also fact, supported by the word Of God.
See Prov. 2S-Sl to IS inclusive, and also DR..
Beecher's explanation of that scripture, found
al the commencement Of six sermons on in
temperance. In those sermons, he seems to
charge all the evils of intemperance upon the
brandy, keeping the wine out of sight, but
what said his text?
You have likewise shown that alcohol
which is the part tina: produces the intoxica
ton, is not produced by dstiIIation, as some
ignorantly suppose; but by fermentation. anc
exists in the cider and wine before it is distilI
ed. and is composed Of the same materials
producing all the evil consequences of intem.
perance.
In that paper have named, you also show
that when the alcohol is taken into the stom-
ach, in fermented liquors, it is more unwho
some than the same quantity of it would be,
if taken after it be distilled. You say
that the process Of distiIlation is merely a
separation ofthe alcohol from the grosser sub
Stances and concentrating its virtues" You
also say, Z" that if any person supposes that
the use of aOine or other fermented liquors is
not so pernicious to the health as distilled
spirits, and is willing TO be convinced to the
contrary, let him follow these directions
Get quart OF alcohol from an apothecary,
and mix it with. zone quart Of water; take a
small quantity, say quart of wine, and about
the same quantity OF cider and beer; put
them into separate vessels, and boil them I'M
til the alcohol is all evaporatcd. After the
remains are cooled, it must be obvious that
those of the alcohol and water would be less
pernicious on any mans stomach than those
Of either of the fermented liquors. Every
man, who has been intoxicated on both, will
say that the fermented liquor is much worse"
Now, these are your correspondents
own words; and think that your reasoning
on the subject is, SO far, perfectly just. And
in addition to this can add, that brandy, when
it first comes from the still, is much stronger
than when used. tits reduced with water to
common pi oof; in this state it is sold by the
retailer. And distillers say, the more water
it requires to reduce their high wines las they
call them) to common proof. the wholesomer
and better the liquor. 1t must be evident to
every unprejudiced mind, that the pure water
naked with the alcohol in the brandy, is
much more wholesome than that stale sedi-
ment Whicn IS mixed win the alcohol IN the
composition of the wine and other ferment-
ed liquors. Besides, have often heard sober
good men say, that ardent spirits was more
wholesome for them than fermented liquor,
and have often seen them use it in preference
to wine, when both were before them. They
also used to say that IT did them good at Ger.
tain times. 1t is true, however, that many Of
their constitutions have changed within few
years, since their written constitution says
that it does no good
We then agree that it is utterly inconsis-
tent with reason to use wine, and other alco.
holic fermented liquors, and cOndem the use
Of ardent spirits; the use of the one is as law
full as that Of the other. If there be any diff
ference, the use of the mine and other ferment-
ed liquors is the most unlawful, because it is
the most unwholesome. And besides that
all drunkenness condemned in the sacred
scriptures, was produced with fermented Ii.
quors; no ardent spirits were then known.
1t therefore only remains, that we appeal to
the word Of God ia order to determine wheth
ar he has allowed the Use of wine il he has,
then it follows, Of course, that brandy is not
condemned; because, If we are allowed to use
alcoholic, Intoxicating drink in any form,
surely it cannot be unlawful to use it in that
form 10 which 1t is the most wholesome.
When Isaac pronounced the blessing of the
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