Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1837-11-25

uhiteHutl W uc@tth NAV De avoided. IL Is nov
an established fact, that the use Of ardent spirits
N almost any quantity especially IN the southern
country Is uniueudly 10 the regular performance
of the functions Of the body. That lis excessive
use occasions numerous fatal maedics of bndy
and mind, and other evils In society, the magni-
tude OF which cannot be calculated All good
men must therefore mite m the desire to see the
practice of using ardent spirits as an article Of
common use abolished from society. All efforts
10 reform the moral condition, and promote the
general happiness of society will be ina great
measure unavalllng until this gieat object Is ac-
complIshcd.
We have SAID that moral evil results from ar
Inllartion of the moral laws and moral good
from obedience 10 these laws We have sad
further, that the scriptures we'll as observation,
recognized IN the moral constitution of man
double nature; animal or selfish and spiritual fac
ultles. 1t has been also remarked that the self
Sh faculties have exercised an immense influence
IN the world, that they have governed almost the
entire movements Of society. This is clearly an
lniracton of the established laws Of nature, for
from the constitution Of the faculties, the Creator
evidently designed. that tn intellect and the high
er moral feelings should controle the inferior;
but instead OF this, the inferior have generally
| governed, and immense evils have resulted IN
consequence. But let us not be discouraged III
our efforts TO improve the condition of society
much has been already done arts and scleuces
| have advanced, morals and religion have nm
| proved, and altogether the present is beyond any
former age OF the world. Arguing from obser-
yatlon We have right to infer, that society will
still advance, that il will throw off the evils that
retard lis progress, and finally gam that intellect
ual and moral elevation which the Creator de-
| signed as It's ultimate destination. Though So
cety presents "a dark picture in many of its as
poets; the human mind possesses immense capa-
bIlites for good; ii is not when properly under
stood altogether dark and degraded; but reflects
| III part the image of an all wise and great Croa-
tor.
Let us now see how far the use OF ardent spr-
It's retard5 the intellectual and moral improve
ment of society We have said that it is the
source OF numerous diseases Of the body and
mInd which not only di>qualiiy individuals for
the discharge OF their duties as members OF socl-
ETY., but throw them upon the community as an
absolute bur'hen. Many OF these diseases, as
Apoplexy, Epilepsy and Dropsy are almost in.
varlably fatal IN their consequences, whilst othets
renders llle buuhen, as dyspepsia. When &C.
lual disease Is not produced by mlemperance Il
predlsposton is Impaired TO the organs, which
renders the operation Of the Ordinary causes OF
disease more active and fatal than under differ
eni circumstances, Mtn,al and moral disease
also results from incompetence these diseases ii
fact, more frequently result from this cause thar
from any other, they form the larger number o
the cases Of the kind that I'll the walls. of ou
hospitals and lunatlc asyums. When no palpa
bic disease of the bcdy or mind is produced by
iniempe anec; still the individual does not escape
with mpuniiy, the scnsIbllIty Of his moral feeling
is deadened, his mind Is impaired, and his body
is rendered more liable to disease he is CON, e.
quentIy unified for the discharge of the dutie-
that belong to him as a member OF society. He
is not only useless us IA member of society, but
does society great injury by his example, and
by the other tram Of evils that always tolluw il
the work of intemperance, he is like some nox-
lous plant that Inlees the whole atmosphere BY
which il is surrounded.
lntemperance does not select its victims alone
Iror the ranks OF the humble add uninhuentlal ;
men If the most brilliant minds aud of the most
extensive influence, men capable Of accomplish
my the greatest good IN society are not uuIre-
| quently It's victims; such cases are frequent in
their occurrence, and are 10 be deeply regretted,
as the mImy sustained by society N the loss Of
such men Is almost inc llculable. Men Of az.
dent tempelament> and active minds, especially
! men OF studioua habits are more exposed to IN
| temperance than any other class oil men, they are
peculiarly subject 10 fits OF deep depression Of
| mnd which they too often attempt 10 relieve by
resortug TO The use Of strong drink; aud the ia
tai result IN many cases IS habit Of confirmed
drunkenness. Such persons should remember
/ that the use of spirits under the circumstances
can afford at best but a temporary relief, and that
they run tie risk Of forming habit Of drinking
whlch they mag 6nd 1t difficult to TO abandon
Cheerful company under such circumstances is
much more efiectual remedy, and is one which
Is altogether unattended with danger.
| The poverty aud distress Of females aud CHI
dren are other evils Of lnlemperance, which one
must more deeply lament than any other effects
Of thus iatal wee ; because IN this case the lnno-
cent ale nude TO suffer for the guilty. We have
~ seen the lovely female commence life with all
thai buoyauce Of spirits and high wrought notions
OF happiness, which peculiarly distinguishes the
| character Of the female mind. She is innocent,
| lovely and amable, and regards the world as d
paradise, and life as a perpetual spring all APP
peaIs 10 her happy mind as scene of enchan-
menl. She blushngly yields her hand to The be.
ing on whom she has bestowed her affections |;
| be pledges to her his heart, his hand and promI-
ses 10 support her in sickness and health, aud III
every other vicissitude Of life. In these pledges
he may be siucere, but what in many cases. IS the
iesuIt; be has been IN the habit Of using mod
crate quantity Of ardent spirits; the habit grows
stronger aud stronger, until the poor unfortunate
beng links. INTERESTINGLY into ITS iron grasp. lie
has become drunkard, the world to him has
changed, the being whom he had promised 10
love aud protect has become odlous to him, all
her ahecti,nate advances are repulsed, and IN
sIghs, leufs and poverty, she is compelled 10