Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1845-09-11


lutte their flag. They have threatened to
fire into her if she does not. Some music
is expected between the English and French
when an additional English force arrives.
Messrs. EDITORS send you an extract
from a temperance address delivered by
Gen. CHAPMAN in 1884, showing his views
in reference to the subjec: of free schools.
1t is relutation of a slanderous charge in
circulation, through the medium of print
ed placard. This extract refutes this SLAM
der, that Gen G.. said poor mems chiIdren
ought not to have the same chance of an
education with rich men's;' and if the au-
thors of that SANDER have Ealsfied in refe-
renee to this, they are not to be believed in
reference to any thing else. request that
the several papers in the First Congressi-
onal District will publish the extract, as II
have not doubt but that this slanderous
pIacard has been freely circulated through
out the district.
A FRIEND OF GEN. CHAPMAN.
1T has been truly said, sir, that intern
perance has cost more lives, demoralizedI
more persons, broken more hearts, beggar-I
ed more families, and sent more souls to-
perdtion, than all other vices put together
If then strong drink destroys the health,I
produces poverty and crime, and spreads
its Presidential influence over the moral con-
diton of society, in what manner does it
affect the fiscal relations of the country ::
Previous TO the American Revolution, ar
dent spirits were not generally used by the
mass of the people; but the custom of
drinking began to extend itself short time
thereafter to an astonishing degree. 1t would
be useless, even if we had the statistical
facts, to enumerate the steps which this evil
took in its advance to the alarming extent
to which it had progressed at the time Tenn
perance Societies were established. 1t is
however ascertained beyond doubt, that
there was an annual consumption of ardent
spirits in the United States of 60,000,00O
of gallons, costing on an average seventy
five cents, and amounting to S45,OOO,OOO.
This, sir, is au enormous sum; but when
expended for thirty or forty years the "a
mount would be incredible, if we had no
such proof of its correctness, as to leave
not shadow of doubt upon the mind Of
any man who will investigate the subject.
Forty-fve millions of dollars for thirty years
would without interest amount to thirteen
hundred and fifty millions of dollars. Sup
pose those means had been expended in inn
proving the country, establishing colleges
and schools, canals and railroads, what
would have been the present situation of
the United States?
Need we inquire, sir, what benefits, if
any, have resulted to our country by the
enormous expenditure for strong drinks
Need we travel over ground which has SO
often been trodden with a frmness which
defies scepticism, to arrive at a truth which
no man now questions, that ardent spirits
as drink never were necessary or did good?
Let us then bring the subject, in the rela-
ton in which it stands to dollars and cents.
nearer to ourselves, and enquire how our
county, which has never been in situation
to bear large unnecessary expenditures, and
which requires all its resources to be adj
vantageously employed, has been affected
by strong drink Charles County contains
near $4,000 inhabitants, whose proportion
of strong drink would amount to S3,07t
gallons year, costing not less than S62,
3O7-that is, if thirteen millions, the popu
lation of the United States, drink sixty mil
lions of gallons costing forty-fve millions
OF dollars-18,000,th the population Of Charles
County, would in the same proportion drink
S3,O76 gallons, costing $62,3O7
To prove to the mind of every man tina