Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-05-13

| proceedings have been published in pamphlet FORM
we are, Sir, your subscribers and obedent servant
i WIN. n. WOODLEY,
FRANKLIN MINOR,
J. III. GlLMER,
/ p. CARR,
D. HEDERlCK.
CONGRESSIONAL ToTAL-ABsTlNENCE SOCIETY.
An Association bearing this name hns been Iorne
among the members of Congress embracing some
the highest worth aud best talents Of that bodyAlessr
GILaER WISE, SMITH, and SUMMERS of Virgin;
MARSHALL of Kentucky, BRiGGs Of Massachusetts
FILLMORE oi New York, and we know not how man
others She second meeting in February-wher
after sfeechsh from Mr. Briggs aud others, DIR. ST.
WALL, (a Professor in the Medical College of the Di.
lrict,) delivered able Address, laying open man
startling facts with regard to the EFFECTS Of alcohol
drinks upon the human frame. lie illustrated his re
marks by series of engravngs, exhibiting the lnne
coat or membrane Of Tie stomach, Effected by sue
drinks first, The stomach in perfectly health
statc-that OF a cold-water druker. Its lining mem
brane IS oil pleasing, ruddy hue, equally sufused-
no veins being visible Second the stomach of
temperate drinker or nebiJ6er Its fine veins arr
so dlsendtd with blood, 10 be visible in streanles
running about under The membrune-co nfrmng the
statement of DIR. Sewall, that even the tmpernte ust
Of strong drink predsposes 10 disease impairs iht
constitution, and makes all disorders more
Third, the stomach of druakard. Here, the vein,
are angrily swoollen-a lurking inflammation is dis
cernible-and dark, liyid spots, about as large
twenty FIVE cent piece appear frequent upon the sur
face-FOurih, the stomach of drunkard mme
diately after debauch The blood here is no longer
confined in veins, but dused in broad shee
beneath the membrane, with occasional blackness, Us
If clot'ed-FF, was the stomach OF who had died
of derimm tiemens 1t is all over dark, like clotted
blood as if notification were commencng-and is The
most fearful picture of all.
Justly indeed, and happily, does Mr.. Marshall say Of
ihaca p1afe that In fho of
they unite e startling certainty of visible represen-
tatlon"
Mr. MARsHALL's SPEECH,
In The Hall IF the House Of Representatives., Feb %
At the elise of DR.. Sewalrs Address, Mr.. MAR.
SHALL and said -
'The world at large under great and lasting obi
gations 10 the gentleman who has favored wh The
able lecture which have just listened, for the in
quirIes he has instituted into the pathology of drunk
enncss. lie has published Of the most interesting
and scientific essays that subject which has
been my fhtune 10 examine. 1t is accompanied and
illustrated by spenddly executed drawings, SINH
lar TO those exhibited tonight porraying the various
changes Of the lining coats of the human stomach,
from state Of perfect health TO the last stage Of gan
grenous Inflammation, prodnced by lntemperance-lm-
parting the force of scientific reasoning the startling
certainty Of nsble representation. The style Of the
essay as Of the lecture admirable indeed. The Doc
tor confines himself entirely to physical effects. There
the lenst nectaon of rhetorical display, not
the slightest perceptble staining after stage effect,
not The smallest infusion OF personal professional
vanity, and not the fanies tnge Of anatcal enhusi
asm, in the matter manner of his writing dis
course. The whole is simple and unadorned as truth
itself His demonstrations of his subject lucid,
as conclusive, and unpretending, those of Sir
Tsnac Newton in mathematics. To call Doctor Sewall
Of genius, according to the modern acceptaon Of
l hyes his understanding oGcs%sHdt a merit and
would be to sink science from the stars 10 the slump
10 throw the tawdy draprry OF an actress over The
Florcrtne venus-to clplhe the cold, clear, naked,
vet modest symmetry of truth, in the glazing gewgaws
of hirlo He is, then, neither grnius nor an orator,
bu, learned physician, profound, patient, and mo-
desl inquirer into the economy of Nature, as eShiht
ed in the animal structure OF maintained with the
love Of truth to guide him IN his researches, and Sill
mulntcd by regard for his kind 10 communicate their
results in language exactly fitted TO be the vehicle
Of scientific ideas untainted by the cant of religion or
the docmatism of ethics, though he be both Christian
and moralist The Doctor must excuse me if love
TO urasc n man who never even III manner, vaunts OF
himself He has succeeded in satisfying inc that the
conclusion at which he has arrived is certain and IRE
Gn,,Le He has demonstrated that alcohol is sub
stance which organ, with which Nature has furnish
cd the human SYSTEM is Of power sufficient 10 appro'
nr,,e az ument 10 the body II undergoes no change
from The action Of The gastric juice, the great solvent
nrovided Nv Nature 10 convert our food into nourls'
uen for our frames II goes into the system alcohol, 1t
np. and finally gangrening all the delicate surfaces
Win which i, comes contact, from the coats oil The
stomach 10 the membrane Of the BRAIN, Till is eeced
with the BREATH through the pores OF the skin, and
with all the secretons-still alcohol, unchanged and
reto;nnp its original properties lis effect always 10
nure in the smallest quantity 10 ia extent Is
!; INJURIOUS lis excessive use necessarily and new
thy changes the appearance and prostrates The pow.
or. not only Of the stomach, but of every part and
nrgon Of the human body. As opposed TO food, It is
oo;son-a poison not found in original and sepa.
r,te state any where in Nature. Diitused throughout
the greater part of The vegetable kngdom IN another
G,m and with other qualities, il has been extracted,
,nd cbanrcd into poisonous agent, By chemical
process and the ingenuity of man. Unlike food, u
doc. not satisfy, but stimulates the appetite Tor IT
sef and leads from this peculiar property, necessarily
tn excess Although the melancholy observation and
crperience Of every day satisfy and confirm the expert
msns and inductions OF pure science, still this poison
=; ,ho subiect of most extensive and every day con-
spmption among men, working all The fearful rum OF
mind and health which has this night been SO impress
sively painted 10 our view. 49,, g.
Oar aim is 10 Danish the use of it as drink from
oc;c,y altogether We declare in our Society openly
,bo, we will moi lake into systems substance winch
IN. God of Nature has rendered the human stomach
unfit 10 receive and pabe ofdgestng-a substance
which has all the properties Of poison, the ehect OF
which is not only to derange the animal economy ano
10 destroy life, like other poisons, but 10 WORK s.
more melancholy rum IN the moran cohsr,ut'on =, ~.
Vel. for nv share, for the very small and obscure
nort bear in this grca, moral effort, have seen my
self, within these few days. tainted in aPublc print as
!, fnnatic A fanatic in the cause Of temperance a
cold waller fanatic strikes upon my ear as something
strange and paradoxical. Be it SO, however Be ihl,
or any other tile applied TO me. so cold water an, ,he
temperance go along with It, The objects ano ,ne
character of our Society have neither knslp nor n
ance with fanaticism, political religious. Ours
The cause of morals, public and private irrespective Of
rank sect or party; is The cause OF peace OF n.pp
ness of virtue Let me here, Sir put case Tor 'he
consideration of our colleagues in Congress Let me
suppose for moment that the condition of the world
we're changed; that alcohol was but now discovered
TINT it had not yet commenced that career oil ravage
which has marked its course and progress, Let me
further suppose that the Congress OF the u states
the representation of the people Of this great empire
the sober likeness of sober nation in the case INA
gincd-were just now apprized the discovery una
some great teacher, who had penetrated The quai,e
and effects Of this substance, and lis future Posso,t
bearing upon the fortunes of the human race sn0ul.
here this night present. for the first time before t'