The Washingtonian., 1845-07-05
sELEcTE. 8


can Temperance Union, recently published.
"An interesting letter from the American
consul at port in the Mediterranean, &c. Ed.
ward Lester,) to friend in New. York, gives
graft wing account of the condition, conduct
and reception, of the American squadron al
that place last summer. He says:
Commodore Smith you may possibly know
he is from Boston, and is New Englander
Every ship in his squadron is in perfect order,
aud as neat as Shaker kitchen. Every Off
Ger and every man knows his place. Count
Admiral de Very told me, after examining the
vessels, that he had never seen a squadron in
such perfect order, nor such beautiful vessels.
Our naval vessels always excite universal ad-
miration, but this squadron is what the Ital-
ians call uermente un incanto, and the Column
bia is without doubt one of the most beaut
ful frigates in the world. You may judge of
the perfect discipline of the feet when tell
you, that 1900 men came on shore, and not
one broke his liberty, and only one got drunk.
But the Temperance reformation must take its
share of credit for this, for the flagship is
teetotal ship, and very little liquor is drank in
the other vessels
This impression created in the Mediterra-
mean by Com. Smiths squadron, will be inf
nitely more to our credit than any other that
has recently entered il; for generally, the Ital-
ians at least, supposed our seamen were
fighting and drinking Sc, Of fellows. The
squadron. remained twelve days, and it was a
season Of festivity.'"
"From return recently moved for in Par.
Lament, by Mr.. Hume, it seems that not only
has drunkenness greatly diminished in the
metropolis, but that the improvement bears
decided marks cf the operations of temperance
societies. The returns for drunkenness there
in 1881, were 81, ,353; in 1885, 81 1863; in lS40,
l6,505; in 1913, 12,336.
"These are statistics which show that the
temperance cause has gained firm footing in
that mighty nation. and is destined, ere long,
to gain signal triumphs, where the gospel has
been SO much loved and honored. Not few
influential minds are being enlisted in the
cause; men who can put block to the wheels
hearts, and tens of thousands of ruined souls,
could not do. Such is Joseph Surge, who,
from conscientious scruples has declined, with
his firm, the sale of malt, or the supply Of any
grain to distilleries, and to let no longer their
cellars to be used by wine and spirit mer-
chants. Says this noble man, and, O! that the
voice was echoed by thousands of Engand's
princely merchants:
'Intemperance produces such an incalcula-
BILE amount of vice and misery, that consider
it right to use my influence to promote the
principles of total abstinence. This feel
more bound to do, as nearly twenty years
personal experience, and much observation,
in this and other parts OF the world, has con-
vinced me that fermented liquors are not ne
cessary to health: and that those who refrain
even from what is called the moderate use of
them, are in consequence capable of more
IL - - CroS
maladies which SO often greatly aflict others.
has long altogether declined the sale OF malt,
or the supply of any grain to distilleries, and
converted to other uses cellars which many
wears ago we let to wine and spirit merchants.
Our continuing to take commissions for the
sale and purchase of Barley for the purpose Of
Mailing, has for some years caused me much
uneasiness; and have recently been so fully
convinced that it is wrong to do so that
must have withdrawn from our concern had
il not been relinquished. The belief that we
are responsible for the means Of acquiring, as
well as for the use we make Of our property,
and that we cannot exercise too rigid watch
fulness over our conduct, is compatible with
perfect charity towards those who differ with
US in opinion"
Said the Rev. Francis Wayland, President
of Brown University, Providence:
at may be said that the grocer's property
is his own, and he has right to use ii in any
manner he pleases. l. Now this is manfestly
false A grocer has precisely the same right
as any other man, and he has nothing more
He has no right to employ his property in the
slave-trade, nor in the purchase and sale Of
counterfeit money, nor in the manufacture Of
false keys All this every one sees. II is not
true of him, or any one else, that he has a
right to use his property as he pleases. 2. His
right in his property is the same as that Of
any other man: it is the right Of using it for
the promotion of his own happiness in any
manner he chooses, provided he do not so use
il as to diminish the innocen; happiness of his
neighbors and of the community. Now, as
the traffic in ardent spirits does diminish that
happiness, he has no right to use it in this
manner.
al think the prohib tion of the traffic in ar
dent spirits, a fit subject for legislative enact
ment, and believe that the most happy results
would How from such prohibition"
Said the Hon. Marx Doolittle, of Massa-
chusetts:
"The position taken in the Report is, that
laws authorizing the traffic in ardent spirits,
as drink, are morally ,orong. In whatever
aspect this subject is viewed by whatever
course of reasoning we are guided in our in.
nuiries-we are brought To the same concIu