The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-04-03
laa& CEIE1 J. a WRlG2WS.

the 9th OF February last oCcuiIS" ''O "A"''"'
Meeting of the Congressional Temperance 80
olety, at which Mr. BUCKINGHAM ofEnglnnd was
present. From lengthy and able speech made
by him on the occasion, we make the following
extracts:
Mr.. President: though | have reason to con-
rratulae myself on being indulged with the priv
ilege of seconding the motion now before you,
( cannot butd eply regret that at IA moment when
[ could wish both my physical and mental ener.
gies to be at their very topmost bent, painful
visitation which afflcts me with hoarse voice
and lungs oppressed, gives me cause to wish that
some other opportunity could have been selected
for the address which am now called upon TO
deliver; more especially, from the nature of those
expectations which may have been raised by the
kind remarks of gentlemen preceding me, but
which, | have too much reason TO fear, will have
been raised in vain.
Alusion has been kindly made TO my situation
in another country, which made me acquainted
with the extent and fearful results OF this evil
there, and which occasioned me to have some
share in the adv ocacy of the Temperance reform.
1t is proper that / should leave untouched the
question of the amount, either of the evil which
prevailed or the good which has been done in
America in reference to this subject. All that,
willingly confGe to her own able aud Jealous
citizens, who are abundanty capable OF looking
TO the interests of morality and virtue in their
own land.
1t is about seven years ago, that was selected
by portion Of my fellow citizens in one Of the
large manufacturing towns OF England, to repre-
sent them in the British House OF Commons.
1t was well known to my constituents, that was
then recently arrived from extensive travels III the
East. While pursuing that Journey, could not
hut be deeply impressed with the contrast cXhb-
tied by the sobriety prevailing throughout the
oriental countries aud the habits OF IntoXicatIon
which SO generally characterized the western
nations Of Europe. You shall judge whether
was not justified in this feeling. 1 prosecuted
my travels through Egypt, and along the Banks
OF the Nile, thence into Palestine, ny JopPa and
Jerusalem, onward through Syria, by Damascus
across into Mesopotama, by Ur, Nincveh and
Babylon, onw0rd still to Persia, by lspahan and
Shiraz and thence to llindostan. These extern
sive travels occupied nearly three years OF une
during which must have travelled not less than
10000 miles and held personal communication
70 IA greater or less extent with nearly three mil
lions of people. Vel throughout that vast space
ofcountrv, during that great length OF tine, and
amid all those muItIudes of people, | do not
thinl, | saw half dozen intoxicated persons
among the native inhabitants. But on my re-
turn TO that country which, amidst all had seen
Railways loved the most, and whose memory was
doubly endcared to my heart by SO long an exile
that heart was affected in a manner which no
language can describe, by meeting, within the
first hour set my foot upon her shores, greater
number of drunken persons than had seen IN
my three years. Journey Of thirty thousand miles
aud my intercourse with three millions of men.
Among these wretched objects which met my
view among the drnnkardS OF my own native
land, were not only men, but women and chill
dren.
Here Mr.. Il. spoke of the petitions presented
to, and the information laid before, the British
Parliament upon the subject of inexperienced |
will now proceed TO submit to you the re-
suits In the first place, the medical men pre-
sented to us written document, sigDed by the
most eminent members of the faculty TO the mum
Der of several hundreds, which declared that in
toXicatng drinks never necessary to men i'll
health, but on the contrary are always huuiuI;
that they are in fact poisonous, like Opium, and
arsenic, and nuX vomica, and prusslc acid, sub
stances which God has given to be used in smuI!
quantities for medical purposes, and which, if so
used, may be productive of wholesome results,
but which it would be preposterous to think Of
using as daily beverage. And hear cannot
hut bear my testimony TO the philanthropy and
high sense of honor manifested on this occasion
by gentlemen Of the medical profession They
gave bright demonstration of how much more
their minds were influenced by truth and the
feelings Of humanity than by mere personal IN
terest; tor of all producers of disease, from the
cure OF which their fortunes are derived, intern
perance is tho greatest; yet like honest and hon
oTahie men, they came forward, with one heart
and voice, entreating the legislature to lay the
axe to the root of the tree which brought them
all their gains and while this fact stands Il
monument to their honor, it gives at the same
tne inc utmost possible importance and value
10 tiler statements testimony They stated to
us that they could not venture to fix the precise
proportion of the entire mass of disease occas-
Ioned by Intemperance IN one form or another.
They could not exactly say whetherit was seven
eiglths or nine tenths. or nine and a half tenths,
or nine anu three fourth tenths but they all
agreed that the proportion was immensely great
and 1t is worthy of remark, that these gentlemen
made no distinction in their official statements
between spirits, wine, beer and other intoxicating
drinks, saving that some of these substances are
more potent than others. They seemed to he of /;
eplnIon that if beer was only one fourth or one
nun as strong as brandy, yet if man drank four !
oc I've times as much beer, it would be produc- /
1--WE OF the same effect, though its operation might
ne somewhat sloWar. In HE Ifs. Of d;scas no Q