Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1849-04-04
IBr REQUEST


JOSIAH ]. EVANS, Esq. Solicitor Of the
Northern Circuit, (now JUDGE EvANs.)
in his communication to The Columbia
Temperance Society, in 1880, uses the
following language:
"Fully four 6lths Of all crimes tried in
the courts of sessions are those of personal
violence, aud have no doub, that three
fourlhs fIhese originate in The hot blood
of our southern climate inaamed by The
use ofspirits. In recalling to my recol.
lection The cases of homicide 10 the norlh-
ern circuit since 1909, can recollect hut
four, in which neither slayer, nor the slain,
were under The influence Of intoxicalion,
and in most Of the cases. both Of them. !
have been several times very much shock
ed at The close of the sessions business Of a
court, 10 find that | had consumed two,
three, and perhaps four days in trying
cases where The parties and witnesses were
all drunk, and the only question 10 be de.
cided was. who gave tho first blow. Other
crimes than those Of personal violence are
of rare occurrence in my circuit. have
more than once gone round whole circuit
and found no case o. higher magnitude
than assault and battery. or cases Of lar
ceny, which in number rank next to assault
and battery, more than half are perpelra
ted by The drunken wre,ches (mos,ly fer.
eigners,) who inlest our towns and villages.
B. far thergreater part Of the other half
are controversies about cows and hogs on
which it is very difficult to determine
whether The taking be lelnnious or with
color of right.
have known only three cases, in which
the writ de lunuiico :inguirendo has been
issued Two Of these were clear cases Of
mania a potu. ! have known several cases
of insanity. whic!, had no connection with
inlemperance. Since tie receipt of your
letter. have thought much on The inilu-
ence cf intemperance in The cases of insOl-
vency. This among The trading people is
Tho result of mercantile operations not
easily understood. But among the plan-
lers, the causes are more obvious and
comprehensive. In this class of our people,
cannot now recclect more than Two or
three instances Of insolvency among those,
no ever had any wealth, that are MOI
ascribable to extravaganza and neslecl Of
business consequent upon intemperance.
In the moral world, cause and effect do
mol follow each other 80 closely, that we
eau with any certainty ascroe every effect
10 irs legitimate cause hence il is difficult
to say 10 wIfat extent The moral sense is
debased by imemperance and its conse-
quenl train Of poverty and degradation.
Thai ii is corrupted by this cause, ard to
very great extent, / have no doubt.
Upon The whole am satisfied that do
not overra,c. when say more than too
Thirds Of all the crime, viee and wrefched-
ness Of the people Of Carolina may be as.
cribed TO The Incorporate use Of intorica-
ting liquors, Iflhis blot on our character
eau be removed, honestly believe that
the moral state OF society in this State
would be equal TO, il not better. lha :5'
sl any other country a2Ihs Isss
we are more guilty in this respect ian
others. Within my own lime there has
been great improvement: in this particular.
The gentlemen Of the country were once
addicted 10 il. This is moi The case now,
cxcep. in very limiled degree. indeed
percePtible improvement is visible every
where, and crimes bolh in number and
lurpirudc are considerably diminished.
How much Of this is ascriTabIe to Tenn
perancc Societies, (for these have existed
among US for three or four years,C how
mucfr to The progress Of learning among
US, how much to other moral causes, aud
how much TO The self denals and increased
industry and economy arising out Of re-
ccnt political causes, | am unable 10 say.
In a cause pregnant with consequences so
momentous To human happiness. all should
contribute their mite. and sincerely wish
you success in tho effort making in co,
lumbia."