Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-08-08

h"ee oil Tire Virginia State Temperance Society we adj
uress yo" IN behalf OF that cause; te final ot which,
is to do much to sle- our country and the woL: W
mean the cause Of total abstinence from ardent spirits
you ask us why we make tins oppca iion we reply by
Offering the following reasons:
Ardent spirits is al this moment burenDg and disgrace
ing county with three hundred thousand
or one 10 every forty oil whole poaulaoD II stood
10y The census OF 1880 Virginia contained in 1880. 1873.
90i Tree whie inhabitants; her proportion OF
We think rot.
IL has made a, least hundred thousand paupers in
the " Sse'; many OF whom enjoyed competence,
II mol wealth, aud would still have enjoy il il had
been tor ardent spirit:
IL has annually destroyed the lives of thirty thousand Of
our fellow citizens, igning them dIunkard's
timely grave, and mul ing widows and orphans the
number at least one hundred aud fifty Thousand
u has made an annual reqnis,on upon population
OF at least thirty thousand citizens l the places those
who had arn not IN defence OF their CounIrys right,
OF the liberties OF men, but 10 crafty an Unsuitable and de-
grading appetite
IL has filled the jals aud the Safe prisons, and the
penienia'ies OF tho u -, with than seventy thou
sand criminals who have been seduced to sacrifice char
acier hop' society," and friends for strong drink. aud
pei the community o its own safety To deprive them oil Ii
berry and the rights OF freedom:
IL has involved annual waste Of property 10 The
amount OF thirty millions OF dollars aud more the first
cost oil ardent sp say nothing about the iIntnenfe
sums paid Tor il by those who purchase by the glass;
'erns aud groceries, amounting TO than twice that
IL has burisned the country with a OF from twenty
10 thirty millions OF dollars for the support OF occasional
permanent paupers made directly Indirectly by ardent
spsirit
iotwenty millions OF dollars in the shape fees law
yers pay jues, judges, sheriff., constsbes &C., all
Cured Tor The punishment of crime, occsioned ia
Guehce OF inemperance These two last items OF expence
tall upon the ,ober and industrious portion OF society in the
share OF taxes Recent examinations in every poorhouse
aud Jail OF N. Y State shew that t THU Dis OF the money
raised by taxes. is ch,rgesble to drunkenness:
In hne it has Pal-ied tho industry, burlcned the
sources corrupted the morals, and degraded in the
OF the world the rharcer OF Americans; proving itself
equally, II not injurious 10 the Interests and prospect
'y "i our country than war, or famine or pesilence
Where in the whole compass OF evils which abroad
upon The esr'h, shall find which will take rank
with he use OF ardent spirit Not one 1t stands alone
IL has no compeer.
And wha, good thing has done, will IL do,
terbainnce these deporable and alarming effects? NOT
ONE. There is not single redeemng quality. Ii nsi-
ther en disc II does aid the abouer
in his to II does increase the capital OF the merchant
give HIM responsible respectable cuso-
II does promo family ouie, or dome site ham
pness, or social enjoyment: IL adds nothing
iional wealth or prosperity its works only evil,
aud that continually. AS drink aIden ,piiii is per-
iectiy useless and uneqniyOcally injurious. No
can drink IL at all and not be injured in his eahor ha
bituAiy aud not incur imminent hazard OF becoming
druhkard. Such have been The decisions OF many medi
cal nsun onf and OF more than three thousand physi-
claus IN Europe and Ame'ics, such have the
ducons OF experience, and the OF physo.
logical inv est cations aud inquiry.
Aud ardent spirit he necessary beneficial why
should he used? 81 ii he Injurious, desoyin property
character, health, aud life, and imposing burdens .gre-
vOus To be horne, Why should it, be nedafey
discontinued? That The evils have mentioned do exist
and 10 far greater amount than have stated, adj
continue Must the use OF ardent spirit. with all
its consequences-poverty, crime, disease and deathbe
handed down om generation generation and he perpe-
tuaied to the very end o tne 1t reflection upon
American Character 10 indulge the idea a
Our fathers OF 76. when political oppression stretched
over them her iron Toi ana clanked her letters in heir
al once in viruoUs resistance and passed and
executed decree which gave freedom and its blessings
and brought nation being. In that strig.
gle, the voice OF Virginia FIRST heard aud her own
Henry hrs dared to say he owed allegiance 10 the Mo-
ther Country.
VI
lrn'ng seeks TO destroy liberties and iaen upon
his CALLING ferers.
Do you ask, what can be done We reDly by enouir.
ing, what has been done :
In eight short years, the public attention has been AVA
kened the nature and ell, cts OF ardent spirit have been
vesiga'ed-sn experiment oi proposed remedy for in
temperance has been successfully made proving by
al demonstration, thai the power TO terminate te evils OF
ntemp rance, with the people From six TO ten thou
sand drunkaris have been reclaimed; more than one mil
lion and hall OF persons OF both sexes and every age
and condition ia lite aud station society, have signed the
pledge of total abstinence and many more are pracs
ing upon the principle wihou, signing In one State
(aIane Than two thirds oS the whole adu, popula.
ton wholly abstain from the OF distilled liquors; and
"a ano her, New York; about hall, from ght ten
thousand merchants aud pers have dscon
nued the sale OF ardent spirit; thousands djseries
have put out her res aud every where the spirit OF free
dom from degrading vice, has b, EN- awakened All this
has heen done without coercion, and without any
except tile III cher and nUber sentiments OF our nature
Light and love have accomplished every result ava
kened every effort. aud they Will accomplish Tie object
This object distinctly announce to be The total dis.
and hroug hOu The World.
In this great moral reform, State may if she please
sustain active and honorable part The largest
pOpuous Slate south OF the Potomac, dising red
for the Intelligence and patriotism OF is cfizens, and
vered the native State Of sshngoD, oil Henry OF
Jefferson, Of Madison, sud OF many others hose names
ard whose memories dear every American her i
Guence is great, and IL rightly directed, will add to- her
claim upon nations gratitude aud the admiration OF the
world
We are not insensibe to The progress already made ia
our State toward The great end at which We simbut tits
evident, that the work sdrAggug heavily. While, ia
counties, sparay done, III others its Influence is hardly
et. lac efforts o lis friends III feeble and
desuoiy, aud there is want OF union aud aniza,on
which will he the pat Of this society supply.
seconded by the local societies hope may eHecu
ally done This u the main object OF the present Address
sud will he that Of future measures.
The Committee look with much Interest TO the propos
ell Temperance Convention TO be held in Cha Ioitest lille
every socety will end full aud efficient deeg alton TO
that Conventions in which case IL is hoped that syseIn
may be adopted hicb will give impulse cause,
that shall carry IL forward 10 glorious triumph.
III only remains IOT detail briefly thaplans OF
the Exf cutye Committee Tor the ensuing year. d TO ask
your JEALOUS co operation ia carrying lhem into eftcL
After much enquiry aud soliciude, the Committee have
engaged the services OF sxper enced Agent who has
long been actively and useully engaged IN his in
various parts OF county, aud wbo has become per-
fecy familiar with all the appropriate Tor
rying into toll effect plans ior the promotion Of the
which he has dc o eel his lie II is tie design, that
this Agent shall visit all parts Of Tie State, pfsc
teabe alter the first OF September TO deliver Addresses,
organize Societies aud in general 10 10 What appear
TO he expsden for the advancement Of the
As the way appears 10 the Cou'nittee TO he