Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-05-05
CONGRESSIONAL TorAL-ABsriNESCs
SOCIETY

formed among the members Of Congress, embracing
some Of the highest worth sod best talents of that
body-Messr.. BRIeGs, Of Mass, FiLLNoRE, OF
New York, MARSHAL, OF Kentucky, SUMMERS
GIlnER, and wIsE, Of Va, and We know not how
many Others. The second meeting was in Febrs-
AIRY, when, after speeches from MIR Briggs and ON
ers DE- Sewall Ia professor in the Medical College
of The Ds,tie,, delivered an able address, laying
open many startling facts with regard TO the ELECTS
of alcoholic drinks upon the human frame. iie
illustrated his remarks by engravngs, exhibiting
the inner coat or membrane OF the stomach, as at
feeted by such drinks. First, was the stomach IN
perfectly healthy state-that OF a cold water drink
or. Its lining membrane 10 Of a pleasing, ruddy
hue, equally suffused. no veins being visible. Sc
cond, the stomach Of a temperate drinker or rins'
bibbsr. Its iue veins IRE so distended with blood
as to be visible in s,Ieamlels running about under
the MISUNDERSTANDING the statement oil Dr.
Sewall that even the temperate OF strong drink
predsposes to disease mpairs the constitution, and
makes oil disorders more serious. Third the siom'
ach of n drunkard. Here the veins are angrly
swollen; lurking Inflammation is discerniOle; and
dark lvld spots, about large as 25 cent piece,
appear frequent upon the surface. Fourth, was the
stomach OF drunkard immedatey after adebaueh.
The blood here is no longer confined in veins; but
seems difrused in one broad sheet beneath the mem
brane, with occasional bleckness, as if clothed
Fifth, was the stomach OF one who had died OF
dslirium fremsns. IL is all over dark, like colted
blood as il modification commencing and is
the most (rishtiu picture OF all.
Justly, indeed, and happily, does MIR Marshall
say of these pats that they impart the force OF
scientific reasoning, "Ihe startling certainty Olsen
sibe representation"
When Dr. Sewall ended, Mr. Marshall rose ana
said:
1.-The world at large is under great and lasting
obligations to the gentleman Who has iavoured
with the able lecture 20 which have Just listened,
for the inquiries he has instituted into the plholo
Nv OF drunkenness. lie has published one o. the
most ntercstin: and scientific essays on that sub
ject which It has ever been my hrIne To examine.
les accompanied and illustrated By some splcn1dly
executed drawings similar To those exhibited To
night, porrayins the various changes OF the hning
or coats of the human stomach from s,nte al per
feet health 10 the last 81 &c OF cansrenous inhana-
ton, produced by intcmperance-lmpiriin TO the
force OF scientific reasoning the startling Certainty
OF sensible representa- ION. The style of the essay,
ns of the lecture IS admirable indie ed The Doctor
confines himself entirely to physical effects. There
y no, the least ,fectnton OF rhetorical display no,
the slightest percep,ble s:rainng after stage effect
not the smalrs; infusion OF personal professional
vanity end rot the ialntest tnss OF tinatcal enthu-
siism, IN the matter or manner OF his writing or |
discourse. The whole IS simple and unldorned as !
truth itself His demonstrGtons OF his subject are
rs lucid. as conclusive, and as unpretenG,hg, as
those ot Sir Isaac Newton in mathcmntics. To
call Doctor Sewall man Of snliUs, according to
the modern accepiation of that much abused term,
were insult his merit and lower his understand
ing. To designate him an orator, would be To sink
science from the stars 10 the Slump-io throw the
tawdry drapery OF an actress over the Fiorentne |
Venus-to clohe the cold, clear, naked vet modest,
symmetry ofruth, IN the glazing gewgaws OF har
lot. lie is then, neither genius nor orator, but
HI, ID
est enquirer into the economy OF nature, exhibit
ed in the animal structure OF man-armed with the
love ofruh to guide him IN his researches, and si-
INFLATED by regard for his kind TO communicate
their results, in language exactly fitted be the
vehicle OF scientific ideas, untanted by the cant OF
religion the dogmstism Of ethics. though he be
both Christian and morast. The Doctor must ex-
cuse nae Il love TO praise man who never, even
m manner, vaunts OF himself. lie has succeeded
IN satisfying that the conclusion at which he has
arrived is certain and rrefuiable. He has demon
s'riisf that alcohol is substance which organ,
with vhl,h nature has furnished the human system,
IS of power sufficient 10 appropriate as aliment To
the body. Ii undergoes no change from the action
Ut the castle Juice, the great solvent provided by
lure 10 convert food into nourishtnent for our
frames. Il goes into the system alcohol; it circu.
lales through the system alcohol, irritating lnfam-
ing and finally gangrening all the delicate surfaces
with which 1t comes into contac', from the coats of
the stomach TO the membrane Of the brain, till it's
elected with the breath, through the pores of the
changed, and retaining ITS original properties. Its ,
tfeci IS always TO injure-even in the smallest !
quantity, TO that extent II is injurious Its excess
sive use necessarily and inevitably changes the ap-
re,ranee ard pros,rates the powers, only Of the
stomach. but OF every part and organ OF the human
body. As opposed to food 1t is a poison poison /
not found IN original and separate state any
where IN nature. Difiused throughout the greater
.ari Of the vegetable kingdom, in another firm and
with other qualities, 1t has besn extracted, and
changed into poisonous agent, by chemical pro-
cess and the ingenuity OF man. Unlike food, II
dses not satisfy but stimulates the appetite for IT,
self and leads from this peculiar property, neces-
sarily 10 excess. Although the melancholy obser-
va,on and experience Of every day satisfy and con.
firm the experiments and lnduc,ions OF pure science
still this poison is the subject Of extensive and
every day consumption among men, working sll |
The fearful ruin of mind and health which has this
night been so impressivey painted to our view.
Our aim is 10 Danish the of il a drink from
society altogether. We declare 10 our Society
openly that will not take into our systems a |
substance which the God Of nature las rendered /
the human stomach unit TO receive, and incapable /
OF dgesling-a substance which has all the proper.
ties of poison, the effect of which is not only 10
detAnge the animal economy and TO destroy life /
ike other posons, but to work a still more mean-
ehoy ruin in the moral constitution Of men.
Yet, for my share, for the very small and obscure
part bear in this great moral effort, have seen
myself, within these few days, taunted IN a pu bic
print as a fanatic. A fanatic in the cause of TEN.
perance, A codwater fanatic strikes upon nv !
something strange and paIadoXlcAl. Be IL !
So however. BE this any other title applied TO
me, cold water and temperance 90 along with IT,
The objects and the character Of our Society have
neither knship nor alliance with fanaticism poti
cal or religious. Ours ~ the cause OF morals pub.
he and private, Irrespective Of rank sect or party:
3, is the cause Of peace, Of happiness Of virtue
Let here, SIR put for the consideration Of
our colleagues IN Congress. Let me suppose inr a
moment that the condition Of The world were chang
cd; that alcohol was but nov discovered; that IL
had yet commenced that career Of rayage which
has marked its course and progress. Let me fur. I
ther suppose that the Congress Of the United States
the reptesen alton Of the people o this great EN-
pre-tie sober likeness Of a sober nation 10 the /
case imngined-were Just apprized OF the dis /
cOvery; that some great teacher who had neretr1.
ted the qualities and effects Of this substance and
us future possible bearing upon the fortunes Of the
human nce should here this night present for the
FIRST Time before the mental vision, IN LONG and Az.
pning perspective, oil the consequences upon tins
people which have 10 fact followed It's use; that he
should fully satisfy every man in this assembly
that, poisonous as u D., and tuinous rs It's effects
must be, this hitherto unknown eVi! was approach.
ing our shores; that the only nntjote was absti.
nence from the FIRST contact; and that, II we once
venurod 70 TASTE, nothing could arrest Us urorress
until II had wrought that entire mass OF yretcned
ness which he had IN living colofs, pictured ~ our
view. Ard then let suppose that the PROPOSE
ton were made TO Congress, not cure but as a
measure Of preventiOn-as anticipating the com
mencement Of illimtablo evii-us seeking 10
guard a-d preserve our counrymen in that glorious
and hnpuv in which tLpv would - ,yc,c ~