The Columbian fountain., 1846-09-25
From the Crystal Fount and Recorde,
THE FREE TRADER.


-5Itl. eF 3tta4E Hn----- ~ 80
We have received copy of this much
talked Of journal, and have perused 'itscol-
umns with much interest. One thing plea
ses us, and that the comparatively small
amount Of acrimonious abuse which i,
contains-less in fact, than we had expec-
ted, judging from the temper manifested by
some OF our contemporaries when replying
to its articles
We have looked in vain for the colors,
under which our neighbor sails, and have
therefore, TO rely upon our knowledge, (pre-
viously obtained and the build Of his
craft, in ascertaining his nationality and
character. The only article bearing any
resemblance to q creed or an exposition Of
the sentiments advocated by the editor is a
series Of resolutions adopted, as we ara
informed, by "a collection of wealthy, res
pectable, and independent farmers at Le-
banon, Madison CO., which appear perfect
ly satisfactory to the editor, and may there
fore, be supposed to represent his views
also. We propose, therefore, to look at
some Of them. }.J l8.t S'$Nla ittt
The first reads thus: leti
"Resolved, lin the outset-That we
claim to be the willing advocates of the
cause Of temperance. That we discard
and condemn all coercive measures for thei
promotion and success Of that laudable en-
terprise. That we-manfully repel the i'm
plication that WINES and spurious liquors
must be guarded, as with flaming sword,
to prevent our ruin; and, that we deny the
Iprerogatiye of man, forcibly to interfere
with the exercise, of our natural, moral and
social right" 3 s @.al lag stils
What is "temperdnceo which these gen.
tleman declare ga laudable enterprise and
Of whose cause they declare themselves
the e'"wil6ng advocates ~ 1t is simply. q
moderate use of that which is beneficial
total abstinence from that which is iniu-
rious, leaving with the gentlemen of Le-
banon the unpleasant necessity, either Of
proving the beneficial effects ssof the traffic
(and consequently, the use thereof, for
the former would be useless in the alb
sence Of the latter in WINES and spiritu-
Gus liquors in any quantity'' or, what is
probably more incongenial with their feel
ings, the truth Of their professions. If
this "traffic in WINES and spirituous Ii
quors" and the innocent participation in,
and the enjoyment of, the rich bounties of
a benign Providence |; which privilege is
denied them," are "benefcialn then is the
cause Of temperance of which they are the
@willing advocates" far from being lauda-
BILE enterprise for it declares that the said
traffic and use is "evil, and that continu-
ally" .'' ,..s ..s .ga
If, on the other hand, they are s'the will.
ling advocates of a cause which is "a laud-
able enterprise" and the traffic in, and use
of "WINES and spirituous liquors." are
really what that cause declares them TO
bean injurious practice which ought to be
remeded why do they declare that cause
to be one of "folly and absurdity," oppose
it, directly and Indirectly, seek to destroy
it, and counteract its effects by every means
they possess or can invent? We hope our
neighbor, or the gentlemen whom he rep
resents, will enlighten us, by explaining
how the temperance cause can be ga laud-
able enterprise" and, at the same time, can
outrage upon the genius of our free institu-
tions censure upon preceding genera
tions and blasphemous reproof Of that
Being, &c." and also by reconciling their
"willing advocacy of the cause, which, in
the very next resolution they denounee.
OF their condemnation Of coerciye meas
ures for the promotion and success of that
.laudable enterprise" cause Of Tenn
perance, we can say but little, nor is much
needed 1t is enough for us 10 know that
sahe law" requires the execution of such
measures, and we, as in duty bound, obey,
1t is true we may be called upon (as we
sometimes are) to obey or submit to a law,
the Justice or expediency of which we deny,
but our duty, as a good citizen, demands
obedience, and we. submit to its require
ments. We may seek the repeal Of such a
law, and use every exertion for the accom-
plishment of that end, yet so long as it re-
mains on the statute books unrepealed, it is
our duty and that of every citizen 10 see
that it is faithfully executed. The majesty
of the law and the public good demand ii
as is admitted in the 9th resolution, passed
by othe electors Of Lebanon. Z,
OF their ability protect themselves from
ruin we know but little, and even that is
from their own testimony. We know it is
natural for mankind to suppose they are