State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-09-13

OiLlNttl JIu1 J IL
NATioNAL TEMPERANCE CONVENTION
The following are the resolutions which
were passed at the late Temperance Con-
vention at Saratoga. They are well cucu-
lated to promote the cause of Temperance
1t will be seen that ardent spirit" is hardly
alluded to in the resolutions, but "intoXica-
ting liquor" is denounced in the most de-
cided language:
!. ReSolred, That the great benefits OF
the Temperance Reformation are such US
call for deynut gratitude to tic Author of
all good, and for renewed and pcrsevcring
efforts from all men for the promotion,
throughout the world, Of this great and
good cause.
2. That the progress which has been CT
fccted, wherever suitable Efforts have been
made, during the past year, especially in
foreign countries, affords high encourage
nent to judicious and increased cXcrliuns,
and gives reason to believe, that with the
divine blessing OH human islrumcutality,
the time may be FASTENED when drunken
ness and its evils shall cease.
3. The proper means of accomplishing
the above mentioned result are,in our view,
abstinence from the Use, 6s Il beverage, of
Intoxicating liquor, and from the making
and furnishing it to be used by others.
4. That as MILLIONS of our fellow
men do not use Intoxicating liquor in that
form i'll which it has been most generally
thought in ibis country TO he needtrl or
useful, aud hundreds of thousands do hot
Use it in any forms and ils experience proGu-
cCs in all who avail themselves of it entire
Of 81, ~ III,
latter course, it is earnestly recommended
to all to avail themselves Of this most I'M
cXccptiouable and convincing species OF
evidence, and to lake the results known
to the world.
5. That rs imoxicaing liquor is ga mock
or" il is To be feared that those who come
under It's influence will often not Judge
concerning the propricty Of using it us Il
beverage, as thCy would Judge should lhCy
not use il.
6. That as abstinence from the use, as u
beverage, of intoxicating liquor, is the only
course in which it can be raiionaly eXpec-
ted HAT intGmperalc persons can ever be
permanently reformed, aud us the example
and kind moral influence of the temperate
is the grand mean of leading the intcmper-
ate to adopt and pursue Il course so essen
more extensively this course is adopted by
the moral part oflhc community, HE more
useful, in our view, will bc the influence of
their example, and the more speedy and
bright the triumph OF the Redeemer's
cause.
Z. That, ms it is proved by facts, that in
toXicatimg liquor, us beverage, is neither
neediul nor useful; us it produces many and
In NAfItI .l
the human frame is liable us it is the cause
of drunkenness aud lis numerous and APP
lmlng evils we most kindly and Affection
utely invite all, hy sustaining from it, to
permit those evils to cease.
{. i hat H. the IpreNai!ingl use Of intoXi-
eating liquor, us beverage, tends not only
to produce and aggravate diseases but TO
render them hereditary and thus to deter
iorate the human race as it often produces
II predispostiOu to insanity, and is in many
cases the manifest cause of that distressing
malady; as il occasions an immense loss of
property ana of social aud domestic enjoy
meut; AS 1t weakens the power Of motives
over The human mind to do right, and in
creases the power Of motives TO do wrong (;
ms i: tends to blind the understanding, scar
;hc conscience, pullute HE affections, ha'-
den the heart, and dchase all the powers of
man us il produces most Of the pauperlsln
aud crimes in the community; as ii tends
to prevent the purity and pernuuence Of
free institutions, and all the inestinablc
benefits which they are adapted to impGrt;
rs it tends also to hinder the efficacy OF tie
gospel and all means for intellectual ocva
ilon, lie moral purity, the social happiness
and the eternal good of men us it tends 10
shorten human life and TO ruin the souls of
men, it does not appear 10 use to be right
that men should so use it, or furnish 1t Ia
be so used by others; and we cannot but
hope that The time will come when no
enlightened friend Of humanity will do
either.
8. That we view with special alproba-
ton, and hail 0s II token for good, the Tor.
nation, on the plan of total abstinence from
all Intoxicating liquor, us II beverage, of
increasing numbers of,cmrcrance societies
especially among young men; and should
the example of that most interesting class
of our citizens be- universally follow Il by
the young, it would make them in this re-
specl, seminently the benoiaclors Of our
country and the world,
10. That the proprictors OF laVerns,
stores, stages, steamboats,, railroads, ana
other places aud vehicles of public accom-
mediation; aud also, of manufactures and
public works, who have excluded from
their promises Intoxicating liquor have
taken course adapted TO promote the ben