Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1842-03-30

;Ssppose tige heroic dead, abe veterans ol
ssha reyoIuliens who eniailed on US the Ii.
berry re were lhRs day celebrating, had
been permitted 10 have LETT their aoodes'
and taken an elevated stand at some CEN
nal point, commanding view OF each.
Think yon not, wteG they looked at the
aas, scene described, that their manly eyes
would not have dinmed with The tears OF
grief, while they dropped the veil oil dis
gust, TO shut ont the scene from their gaze.
Aud in turning from: it, TO The former,
would no, the tears OF gricfchanse to those
Of Joy? Yes, Faelhinks their noble hearts
weiuld SVEN with delight, while they look
ed a, tho lovely scene beneath; and The
thunder Of their mighty voices as they as
ccndcd from that spot, would send back
the echo, as they receded, il was Tor these
and such as these, we bled and died. The
prico was great, but the boon was much
greater.
shall! view its effects, in one other in
stance. and that is the influence II exerts on
us as a nation. Do We not see arden, sPlr-
its used at the bailo, box, the only safe.
guard 10 American liberty, as seductive
and corrupling meaGa over our common
citizens. Is this notsapping the very toun-
dation OF our government? II then we tind.
our common citizens ahus corrupted ny H.,
how much more may we expect 10 find
.our Representatives so. who have used 1t
for such purposes; especially whcR we
consider that they car turn their corrup-
,ion 10 their own a.grandizemeti. Thus
'wc see TINT ardent spirits ia one OF the
grand causes Of that corruption in our go
vernment, which we have heard so often
complained of. Aud as an evidence OF this
fact, need only cite you 10 our late Pre-.
sideutial canvass. in which grog shops and
BRANDY barrels, were called, or nicknamed
log cabins and cider barrels. Ligh, as this
NAV seem TO YOU, my audience, II hum
buesed large majority Of the people OF
the United States.
Anain, let us look al the influence II cx-
crts on the finances Of the coun,ry; u Is
NECESSARY that we should do 81 10 arrive at
proper estimate Of the injuries we suffer
by il. The amount Of money taken from
! ne yearly. for The purchase Of foreign wines
and splrits, is immense. ! dc not know
tho precise snnuai amount. bn, suffice 1t
"a saw. that j, IL Of sufficient magnitude 10
have educated the INDECENT Of onr country,
and il tho amount ,ha, has been thus ex-
.nerded for the last 90 or 25 wears, had been
appropriated to this end, the United States
would shis day. have taken the highest
stand amongst the ntaions in point oi liter
alure, and instead Of what we are now cal
Ted on to witness, at no great distances on
our public highways and in our villages,
houses erected for The vending Of arden,
spirits, with their pi,iful reinue Of prose-
Iv,es around them, we would see literary
semiuaries lifting their noble fronts IN
anIepdi,l majesty, filed with learned in
na,es, dispensing tha, knowle,l sc which
is blsssing TO him who gives and him
who receives; spreading far and wide
those glorious results that are inscpcrable
from Information.
r,or, the sale OF ardent spirits, and the
time spcut TO purchase, consume, aud re-
cover from its effects had been spent in
;,,ern,l improvemeni, TO use the language
~ : t,is,irs ui.ned, but lameuled statesman,
i, would have gridironsd our country win
rail roads !rum the seabord to The noun
Gains. and | will further add. iunnrlled The
latter. introducing the plains on either siie'
dispensing their mutual benefits. And
further, 10 use the language of The great
r,acbinisi, Stevenson, when treating on
steam, hy its aid men would be able TO
trave! as though they were mounted on
The pigeon's wing, and thnt 200 Il, so cheap
y 4 ka fho oF al.
most every individual TO avail himself oi
the travelling privilege.
From this picture, my audience, we see
vba. We now are, and SHAT we might have
been, had II not been for the use oi ardent
spirits.
have now gone through with my fec
bls expose Of tho balefuI effects of ardent
spirits. have begun frs, with myself,
showing the influence il has excrtcd over
my person and conduct. Then on the in
d;yiiual who persists in its use; lis effects
on him and his family Then OH nssncia-
,;ons of more extensive character. And
lastly, the influence it has exc5ted on us as
a nation. Aud in por,raying these, be.
licye | have no, used too high co!ors; and
N i am cOTIecE, IL u HlSH ''i'S VIC stiouio
all wake up to The subject. man, woman,
aud child; rising in our might, aud dcciar-
ipc an unqualified war(are against 50 COM
imoud and destructive an enemy.
But perhaps some are ready 10 say. you
have given the worst possible account OF
i,s effects. j deny it. | have retrained
from leading you into The most degrading
scenes Of starvation, and also foreborc I"
,o,i back the curtain that shuts out the most
chastity subjects Of its rasases.
Let US now Inquire OF its advocates, what
rood has il ever done 1 challenge them
20 produce nne single instance where ar
den; spirits have ever exened saluiary
effec, on healthy man. IL cannot be
done. Then If there are so many reasons
against, and noue in It's favor, let my con-
lure you 10 rid yourselves oft.
will ask the druukard Two questions.
Were YOU cous,itu,ionally drunkard !!
No. Wha, then has brought you 10 be
uncl unfortunately at an early period Of
my life fell into association with those who