The Columbian fountain., 1845-12-23
For the Columbian Fountain


Messrs. Editors,-I am an advocate fol-
the freedom Of speech and the press. We.
as Americans, place this liberty among our
greatest blessings. The right OF private
Judgment the privilege of expressing our
views on any subject of interest, either to
individuals or to the nation, is ever to be
valued as boon of incalculable importance
There is danger, however, Of abusing this
privilege, as there is, in fact, of every other
valuable blessing. Most good things are
frequently abused by the mconsiderate and
the hasty zealot
! wish to take some NOTICE, if may
have few squares in column of your pa
per, of communication published in your
10Th number, over the name Lewis. That
bold writer may intend well, but he ought
to know that good men and true do not
like to be held up to their fellow-citizens as
being deficient in love to their country mere
ly because they deal in the article Of ardent
spirits. Is not this free country Are
not those who make and vend this valuable
drink secured in their rights by the excel
lent laws of the country Is it to be sup
posed that the legislators Of the land are
less competent to Judge what is for the ben
eft Of the nation than our sapient Lewis,
who pretends to be so great patriot, and
who denounces all dealers in ardent spirits
as mere pretenders to love Of country Is
this champion for "Total Abstinence" a
youth? Then can excuse his precipitate
ndiscretion. 1t is to be hoped that, as he
advances in years, he will see his folly and
mend his manners. Is it courteous for him,
or any one, to spread out on the folds of
public newspaper, the broad declaration that
these respectable, high-minded and honor
able men, who are dealers in the fine BRAN
dies and wines of the country, actually love
them, or the money they make, more than
they love the nation2 scorn such an un-
worthy insinuation. am actually weared
with the continued " hum drum" about Al
cohol, Alcohol, as if citizen of this free
and independent nation had not the right to
sell any article he pleases; and especially
SO as the laws of the country authorize him.
How dare any man to presume to publish
so many honorable men as being the less
attached to their country merely because
they choose to be wine and brandy mer-
chants My next door neighbor is bread
merchant, and am brandy merchant; and
he is permitted to sell his bread in peace,
but | must be tormented by these pestifer-
Gus Teetotalers almost continually. 1t has
been bad enough all along; but now the
"Fountain " " is opened, am to be flooded
with its impure streams, that come rushing
on me like furious torrent. am quite
out of humor. If my brethren feel as
do, they will certainly assist me to expose
the false reasonings of these giants of "To-
tai Abstinence" High times, indeed, when
the gentlemen who make and sell this de-
lightful beverage are to be published as en-
emies Of their country! And who does
not know that some of the excellent of the
earth, and not few either, use it every day,
and enjoy fine spirits, and love their coun-
try as much as any other patriot
advise Mr. Lewis to learn how to rea-
son before he undertakes again to scribble
on that subject | counsel you too, Messrs
Editors, not to permit 50 much to be pub
lished in your paper on the Temperance to-
pic. We are quite sick of such "stuf"
Your paper will do well in other respects
but let us have less of that scolding and saar-
ing Of honorable men and honorable enter
prize. If you do not, promise you will
open flood-gate, and let an overwhelming
torrent down on you and your Lewis.
This is but mite of what shall follow.
BAILEY.
For the Columbian Fountain.
IN