The Columbian fountain., 1846-09-16
From the Richmond Son ofTemperanee.
TETOTAL DECLARATION OF INDIE
= PENDENCE.
BY N. B. WEBSTER. ESQ

When in the course, Of human events, II
becomes necessary for people 10 break up
habit. or cutsom OF long standing, whlch mas
been found 10 be destructive OF human happl-
ness. and opposed TO the well-being oil society,
a decent respect for the opinions OF mankind
reou;res that they should make known the
causes which impel them so TO do
We hold these truths 10 be selt-evident: that
God has created men for a proper beverage,
not TO produce death, degradation, and misery,
but rather life and happiness; and that when
any beverage becomes destructive OF life and
happiness, il is the right, II is the duty OF the
people TO abolish il. tE1 Be
Prudence, indeed, would dictate, that any
beverage long established, should not be
changed for light or transient causes; and ac-
cordngly all experience has shown that man
kind are more disposed to suffer, than to enjoy
themselves by abolishing such beverage.
But when long train of abuses, when an
untold amount of wretchedness and woe are
caused by such beverage, evincing tendency
TO establish over the body and mind Of men an
absolute despotsm; il is his duty TO change or
abolish it., and provide such security as may
be necessary for his future safety.
The history Of King Alcohol is a history of
man in soul, body, and eslate.'
candid world: a
He has pretended TO be friend, and proved
himself an enemy.
He has called men together, in places unus:
ual, uncomfortable, and distant from their
homes and families, for the sole purpose OF
transforming man into brute.
III L. L. A. q. ,c e., a,,l
thrown the apple Of discord into the happy,
peaceful family and social circle.
He has established drunkeries throughout
our land, and raised up swarms of barkeepers
to harrass our people, and eat out their sub
stance. a
He has imposed grevious taxes on US with
out our consent, for the building oil Jais and
asylums.
He has exiinguished natural affection and
connubial bliss.
He has excited riots and mobs.
He has introduced disease in its most dread
full FORMS ,e 0 A
He has secretly favored The cholera, and
other epidemics, when all good citizens were
striving TO suppress them.
He has clothed our people in rags, and filled
our land with idleness, poverty, and crime.
He urged on the gambler, the counterfeiter
and highwayman.
He has disqualified voterss and consequent
ly corrupted our elections.
He has dishonored our statesmen, degraded
our citizens, and endangered our govern
ment
He has destroyed confidence and blighted
hope. ruined credit, and slain reputation.
We must therefore acquiesce in the neces-
sity of abolishing alcoholic drinks. and hold
them as we hold other poisons, carefully in q
vial, labelled as the law directs, with the we'll
known skull and bones
We therefore declare that we are, and of
right ought to be, absolved from all allegiance
to King Alcohol--,hat all bibaceous connec-
ton with him, or any of his imps, whether
brandy, gin, rum, or any other name, is en-
tirely dissolved; that we, as free and indepen-
dent Tetotallers, have full power 10 drink wa
ter, live soberly and happily, and to do all
things that honest men may OF right do
In support Of this declaration we have af-
fixed our names to the Temperance Pledge
July 4th, l846. smH