Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1836-04-21
1oa rnE xHQuiRRa.


In noticing the springs and operations Of the human
mind, We uDIrequen,Iy struck with wonder and
asiOnshment at their liability perverted action from
the nl'tariOus influences Ofnierest passion, and
imal appetite. Not only strange obliqOilies OF jndg-
meni from such causes are constantly occurring
observation but peryeraiODs Of the moral faculty,
| an ex,enI which nothing but our experience would
reader credible, are cOnaianlly exhibiting themselves
in all the affairS Of life. ~
This perversity, both OF judgment and moral facul-
~, ie moot s'rikingiy exeHp6ed in the opposition
which u made to the temperance reformation OF the
present day. The origin and tenor Of pamphlet laie
~ Published, with copyright secured, by MI. Benton
Barnard Of South Farms purportng TO be an address
delivered TO the Temperance Society Of that place,
for the avOwed phiIanthropic purpose Of aiding the
Of morality and The christian religion, be
accounted for any other principle tina" the suppoei-
lion tia. he was Influenced by such mental obIiqueS
as those above alluded TO.
Mr.. B. in the outset Of his book avows expressly
that he is one of those who believe that in relation
to the vice Of inlemperance something ought to be
done; that has spread, and 10 spreading wide, and
threatens the peace and happiness of this much
loved and happy country" and ye. after snch avow.
ais and without atiemp; TO show what the "some-
thing is which and ought TO be done reme-
dy he comes forward with long and abored array Of
scripture authorities to prove that the means which
are in operation, aud which by respectable part Of
the commupy believed 10 he in successful opera
ton, Tor the removal Of the evil, immoral, anti.
scriptura and highly criminal in the sight Of God and
man. And what are the means which, according 10
Mr.. B. in such violation Of the laws Of God and
man ConIessedly, ii is absaining from the Of
intoxicating drinks; this is all that 10 asked for by the
friends Of the temperance REFORM and obviously all
that is required.
Misunderstanding liquors" says Mr. Barnard, shave
been poured in abundance around us as blesaipg,"
and therefore they mus, he drank. Distilled spirits
TOO il hap been discovered I" is good" not made in
vain, and must not be refused" These are his
words. Mr. B. says he would drink it, temporarily
be sure hu, who will draw the line between temper
ate and incorporate drinking7 and will Mr.. b. tell
what proportion Of temperate drinkers stop short Of
ultimately becoming Incorporate sosiishness and
int But all be drank, because, forsoo;h, they
exist, aud not made in vain. One would sup
pose that Mr.. Barnard's Imagination was much FL
led with the idea Of drinking, that he believed the de-
sgn OF man's creation that he should be drink
ing animal, and that all created substances de-
signed 10 minister TO this one propensity. But why
did il no. occur TO Mr.. b. that alcohol, in commoa
with oil Of vilroi, aqua for,is, aud arsenic might be
good n its utility 10 the arts, and thus fulfil the design
uf ils existence, without the necessity Of its being
drank 10 the destruction Of and his best Interests
for time and eter0iiy?
But Mr.. b. not only attempts IN find scripture au.
thOri,y 10 shew that the principles OF the temperance
reform ofhe present day, advocated by many ofaie
wisesl aud best members Of our and other cO0H-
lres, 10 violation III God aud the rights Of man
that the universal and Ddiscrm use Of nioxica-
ting drinks is jus,abe and pr"per and lheir use mol
only approved Of N scripture, but that God commands
them 10 he used. His words are in page IL Of his
book: ~ come now TO shew. that God not only nj.
lows the oi Intoxicating drink, bot commands u 10
he used" He probably thought il would he going too
far 10 say that drunkenness commanded in scrip
hut in his zeal for the cause Of drinking he
deayors 6nd scripture authority in extenuation Of
absulule eVeOs for in the Of the Pa
rareh Noaha inioNiea,ic". and in manner savoring
somewhat of leyiiy he says. " as he was the first
drankard, God passed over without saying much"
lie adds ia another place, "ir"m the scriptures we
learn from the days of Noah down 10 those OF Christ.
that men got drank; and from Christ TO The present
time have every reaso" 10 believe the sa,ne, and
believe until there 10 cad ii sin IL will he s'." IL
these IL such propensity in 10 the Of imsoxi
eating drinks, and drunkenness, will human he
1gs he hurried TO destruction with sufficient rapidly
without scripture enc0Uragemenis being held Up be-
them anh Wl not the strong drinks Ot
and the ferncnted alcoholic drinks of modern times
do sufficiently without the aid OF distilled spirits p
Mr. b. thinks noa. for he says page 6. ~ also believe
thar distilled spirit good, and caa he usefa 10 man."
He adds, =" do not care how poisonous il s. the DIFF
fcuy does not lie in the Creator nor in the creature
ALCOHOL
Have ~e here the Mr.. BE- something tina, "mns, be
done 10 relation TO the evil Of iNiemperance"1 What
will he the effect Of this Of Holy Writ the
Fortunate hablaal drnker, who discovers the awlnl
rnh THAI he 10 on The borders OF in,emperance and
ruH aud who is about 10 attempt the HerculeRB task
Of reirea,ing from the horrors that him 10 the
face Will The contemplation 81 il tend TO fnr,ify and
confirm his already wRvering resolution, ~ the
tendency Of il inevitably deprive him Of all the i'm.
poran, aids which take hold Of the SOLEMN re.ribuOns
oi eternity?
Scripture authority Tor manufacturing and retailing
Intoxicating drinks are also aduced by Mr.. B. tho
the facilities for obtaining the Of hi"xicalio0
needed encouragement and Increase. After mention
ing number Of texts which he considers NJ proofs.
he exningly inquiries page 8, Can you now doubt
that God approves of the traffic 7? and adds. 81 think
have yet proof THAT God has approved Of the traffic
in alcoholic Intoxicating drinks" On page 10, he
says, nothing 10 said against the traffic, 10 il cal.
led immortality or sin." Aud on lage II. if scrip.
ure encouragement WINS wanted for bringing the "a.
cili'ie: ofgroe shops and tipping stores every mans
Bible drunk ards had such places resort as our
drunk ards have 7"
But were another person TO search the scriptures in
The same spirit which Mr.. B. evnces in favor Of the
use OF Intoxicating drinks would he not sind many
practices allowe incompatible with christian NOR
aly for which strong reasons, and as striking ex-
Tor his iavore cause The Jewish nation, although
Gods favored people, were a perSeTsc aud wicked
race, md in the inscruable economy Of the Divine
| Government there was mach immortality permitted 10
auences Of The Gospel. PoIygamy, concubnage,
slavery and the slave trade, were prevalea! among
them 10 NO email extent. And win probably be ad.
mied that evidenee and appreciation Of the practice