The Columbian fountain., 1846-11-05

best. Only let ~ know who are 10 be our Pefma-
nent patrons Ii may beconvenient for some to call
at our Office and leave their names we should pc
pleased TO see such persons as soon as practca1e.
Drunk euness- 1.-The Bond Of Depravny.
Moraliss and dyines do well no doubt to write
in the closet: bat il is not there that the materials
upon which they write are to be found, and those
which they there extract from their own minds are
not to be trusted the representatives Of facts Is
by observing the actual Of Enthusiastically without
partaking of its feeling that can form correct es-
timates of it. II must strike every observer at all
acquainted with the physical constitution, that the
nerves are in state Of disorder in these unhoy COM
munites Of people, and much Of this disorder is pro-
duced or perpetrated by intoxcation. Among ahun-
dred vulgar and loud swearers scarcely one can be
found, who has not the marks Of habitual or actual
intoxicaton and all the disorder Of the atten
dant on the use Of recently distilled spirits full of the
nAamatory principle. a
There seems to be evidence enough to prove that
vicious society is sustained by ntoxicaon. Isthere
one example Of society amsng vicious persons from
which intoxication is excluded This question can
only answered by the observer Of facts.
| We have seen no exception, we have read Of noone
We havo known great swearers individually who
were not in the habit Of intoxication, and few
drunkards who were not swearers; but the social
drunkards exclude not from their community the
language Of oaths and curses. We are persuaded,
that, wearing proceeds from soms dsordered state
of nervous excitement which il tends TO increase
hence it is SO commonly an accompaniment Of the
irascible passions. The passions of most vicious
people and especially hard drinkers become rrable
If in the fit Of drunkenness, they become foolishly
good natured, as they become sober they are apt to
| become peeyish What frightful examples ofdrunk-
enness and profanity are to be found in heabodes Of
ewdness Professed gamblers drink and swear
hard. Bands ofrobbers, bandni pirates, and fresh
water Sailors soldiers Sc, drink and swear in their
social interviews. Aa att8
May it not be made question, whether it would
be possible for human nature to become SO entirely
vtiated and depraved, If iwere not for drunkenness
the common action ofa the physical functions, there
follows state of exhaustion and fatigue in which
passion and appetite cease to be excited and to ex
cte. This is state Of rest or sleepo This natural
circle of operation is extended by drunkenness; this
is in part the disorder which drunkenness produces.
1t is artificial stimulus in kind and degree upon
the brain and the nerves, by which the passions and
appetites are enabled to extend their action beyond
their natural bounds. Drunkenness terminates in
an ecstacy or fit not in rest sleep, and when the
fit goes of, the brain and nerves not rested but
are more restless. c. a,n..# a
We SEQ, overywhoro, how tho vioes of eooioty in
volve intoxication and also how the intoxicated are
prone to associate in vice. May not drunkenness
then be regarded as the uniting bond of the
deprayity Of the world, the means oflling up the
measure Of human iniquity By dsordering the
nerves, it disqualfes men for religion. "There is
no peace to the wicked saith my God" There is no
peace, no tranquility, to the nerves Of drunkard,
saith experience. As
Race grounds, circuses, playhouses, and games
of diversions are all in fact associated with growing
habits Of intemperance, and without this stimulus,
there is reason to believe that they would decline.
Indulgence in the luxuries Of the table Is not named
without wine. The vices then are propagated and
perpetuated and carried to their extremes by drunk
nness The exceptions to the general rule if there
be any, are be found perhaps, in what is called
mono-mania, or partial malformation, or derange-
ment of the brain but in most cases Of this kind,
there is proneness to intoxication.
In all places where the dram-shops are located,
moralist might study the physiognomy and the man
ner of vice combined with drunkenness What could
nation, or world of such people do to prevent
their own perdition! What would piety and virtue
do for them 1t has Sometimes fallen to our lot to be
placed in the purlieus of such collections to be OBJ
ged to see and hear persons whose nerves were ha-
bitually and perpetually disordered- What looks
what words, what actions! Who can witness these
scenes and not be ready to exclaim,-Man is the ma
ker of his own bane! Number for number, we
make and drink more ardent spirits than any people
in the world and yet boast, that we are rethefree-
est and most vrtuous among the nations Why,
these societies of drunkards cannot be free, cannot
be virtuous; they cannot associate with viruous
men. Though they have name to live, they are
dead dead to all that is great and good. eftf n