State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-02-23
To the Editors Of all Papers, friendly TO tn

To the Editors Of all Papers, friendly 10 the
cause Of Temperance and Humanity:
GentLemen-In letter, which | lately
received from distinguished American
gentleman in Smyrna, dated October 90,
1885, is the following, viz:
Since last July, according to the publish
ed accounts i'll the Journal of Smyrna,
about one thousand hogshead of Rum
have been imported in American vessels,
about twenty in number. 1t is fact wor-
thy of being known, that more than one or
two OF these vessels, laden with from fifty
to hundred hogsheads of rum, were
Temperance reSSelS; not drop of spirit
being used on board, either by the officers
or men; and that by the express injunction
of the owners, who send abroad such cur
goes of poison. Might we not say TO every
such owner, slightly varying the language
OF the Apostle Paul, on another occasion,
! Thou that sayest, Il man should not drink
rum, dost thou send forth whole cargoes of
rum to be drunk? 1t was painful to know
that member of the Government of the
| first city of New England, was the owner
of the spirits on board one of the vessels
mentioned above"
| cannot help hoping, that the respecta-
BILE merchants in our country, would abstain
! from dealing i'll ardent spirits, and especial
| ly from sending cargoes of them abroad.
Surely they would, if they were fully
informed Of the disastrous consequences
of this traffic, to the bodies and souls Of
men. AS men, as philanthropists, not to
say Christians, would entreat them, were
| it possible to reach them with the sound of
my voice, to abstain from this traffic, which
feeds death so prematurely with mems
bodies, and scatters so many millions of
bones around the mouth of an untinely
grave. How heavy must be the curse
resting upon him, who takes pains 10 put
the bottle to has neighbours mouth, on the
opposite side Of the globe; when he should
rather have sent him the gospel of salvation;
who has become rich through the ruin
which he has sent TO hundreds whom he is
destined to meet at the judgment seat of
Christ.
1t is earnestly hoped, that all such men
will consider aud cease from thus, for the
sake of gain, destroying the bodies and
souls of men. All must acknowledge,
that it is as really sin to be instrumental
in the destruction of men on the shores of
the Mediterranean, or the Black Sea, or
Caspian Sea, as tits to be instrumental in
the destruction of men in Boston, or in
Salem. How great the inconsistency of
enjoining upon officers and seamen, absti-
hence from the use of inebriating liquors,
that their lives, and the property entrusted
to their care, may more surely be prescrv-
ed, and they thus be instrumental of
more securely conveying the means of
intoXication and ruin to multitudes in other
lands.
Another gentleman, after mentioning II
murder, occasioned by the use of it, and
the execution of the murderer, writes from
another foreign port. ooh could the mer-
chants, who live quietly at home on their
gains of this traffic, see the register of its
work of slaughter, pollution and wretched-
ness among seamen, and among the nnciv-
lized and partially civilized tribes of men,
and duly feel their responsibility, they
would sooner sink their cargoes of spirits
beneath the depths of the ocean, than send
them to foreign ports for gain. Surely,
they could not for trifling compensation
supply madmen in their streets with fire.
brands, arrows, and death, if they supposed
that their fellow citizens would hold them
responsible for the mischiefs which should
result from it. If they felt themselves
accountable for the mischiefs that may
most reasonably be supposed will follow
from this traffic, they would rather beg
their bread, than lend their capital and
influence to perpctuate these nameless and
numberless evils among the numerous
tribes who have confcssedly never gained
the smallest benefit from the commerce of
ardent spirits, as counterpoise to its i'm
mensely disastrous influence The writer
Just referred to, also mentioned that ten or
twelve murti FRS had been committed, within
few months, in consequence of excite
ments at the coffee and wine shops, and
says-'probaby some of these murders
were committed without the aid of wine,
or any other intoxicating drink, but in
most cases there can be no doubt, that wine
had inflamed the perpetrators He also
says, Il was called, while at Malta, To attend
man at the gallows. at his own most ur-
gent request, for shooting man dead,
while in fit of intoXication, occasioned
by drinking wine.' Ifmen, with knowl-
edge of the nature and effects of intoxi-
eating liquor, in disspating the property,
demorali2ng the character, destroying the
lives and running the souls of men, con-
tinue to furnish it to be used as a drink,
and thus be instrumental in bringing these
evils upon their fellow-mcn, even should
they dwell on the other side of the globe, it
is kindly aud earnestly commended to their
consideration, whether reason, conscience,
and the scriptures, do not declare that, al
the divine tribunal, they will he held an
swerable for its effects; and whether n
know and active instrumentality in the
making of drunkards, will not involve the
soul in a portion of their guilt and their
plaques.
Truly yours,
J. EDWARDS,