The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-09-23

bult'iS W pu' tVuui1 papers bc TtsptCtlull1
solicited TO publish the following essay, de-
hvered before society by J. w. MuRPHy,
Esq upon the Causes ,tading 10 6iLemt erdnce.
JOHN MARSHALL, Pres.
ISAAC IIAMMs, Sec'y.
The principles involved in the order of
temperance. have been advocated by the
most learned and eloquent champions of the
cause;so much has been written and said re-
Gently, in denunciaton Of the use as bev-
erage Of Ardent spirits, wines, and malt IL
quors, that but little can be said or done, in
addition to what has already been done for
the cause.
On this occasion shall confinc myself
to the principal causes that lead to Jntem-
pcrance, in few brief and appropriate re-
marks, which hope will have tendency
to arrest the errine youth from The paths of
vice, which lead to the dark chambers of re-
morse and desperation.
Intemperauce is tho offspring of such va
rious causes, thnt it would be impossible to
enumerate them, but when traced to its ORR
gin, we find it in intimate connection with
the pleasures and enjoyments, as well as
with the miscres and misfortnnes of man
/ kind AS 20 the elementary, or uncomp poun.
ded principles Of the intellectual powers OF
mah, we can derive but superficial know
edge The capacity of the human system, In
telecual and physical when exercised in
strict conformity with the prime laws of ma
ture, is productive of happiness and enjoy
o'ents, which is temperance in the legal ac-
ceptation Of the term, and it is the preservu-
ton Of the dominion Of soul over sense, and
ofrenson over passion; it is the due govern
,,F al. II IN,
wolves a number Of evils, which utterly mar
the peace and destroy all the prospects OF
happy und successful life to the detriment OF
health and happiness. This is what may be
properly called intemperance.
Hence we are all liable to hunger and
thirst, which are our natural wants and theiI
moderate, qualification ID essential to health
anu happines; but on the other hand when
we run into excess and they gain the ascen
dency, over the moral feelings and natura
powers, thoy bring US into bondage and cor
ruptinn.
What has beer remarked ip regard to thu
natural wants and passions Of men, ma.
with propricly, be applied to the energle
Of the mind. Thus the faculties of th
mind require relaxation from intense appi
! cation, otherwise It becomes absorbed be
yond It's natural power, which has tenden
> cy to obliterate its brilliancy, the natural su
perstructon NAV be compared to the sun.
! beams rejecting in rainbow, which pres
ent to the natural eye the different relrang
bilities of its rays, which casts a smile o'el
elements, bat on the appearance of tht
evening shade the brilliant scenery is obsGu
red in gloom. a. ..
Such is the case with those who strain
their minds beyond their natural power; fol
instance, we will refer to the case of the
most distinguished astronomer and mathe.
Mathematician, Sir Isaac Newton, who was
second to none in his day, many years pre-
vious to the close Of his life, was unable to
comprehend the meaning of his own works.
But to more recent occurrence, when
the late lamented Thomas Moore was con-
fined to his dying couch, his friends sang to
him his favorite piece OF poeticul production,
which he pronounced very good g. enquireJ
Of them who the author was.
But these are but two cases, where scores
might be cited, where the most brilliant
minds have been reduced to the lowest ebb,
by continual excitement of their powers.
Man may be divided into two classes, first
those whose pleasures and enjoyments, and
"''SN p"'ho hHu
take of a physical character, who may be
denominated sensuaists, secondly, those
who act under the influence of the intellec.
tual powers, and passions of the mind
These may be properly denomnuted men,
talists.
Among the aggregate of the human fami-
ly, the distinction between animal and in
tnl al in %, l. IL.
acter, towards one or the other extreme, may
be demonstrated in Il few facts,--for in
stance, hunger and thirst are corporal wants,
and are essential to health and happiness,
but when we indulge beyond the natural re-
quirements, we violate natures primary law.
Love and ambition are the passions of
the mind and Imagination, when acting in
their natural sphere are 80 far distracted
from all corporal considerations, that they
but occasionally act on physical wants and
passions and then only for the attainment of
certain specific objects.
From this view OF the subject, il is very
apparent that there Is distinction between
those whose pleasures and pains are con-
nocted with the physical or corporeal charac-
ter, and those whose cnjoyments and mise
ries are more intimately associated with the
powers and passions of the mind, and when
traced to their origin. we find it in intimate !
and interviewer with the pleas
ures ono enioyments, as well as with the |
miscries and misfortunes Of mankind.
As to the most expedient measure to al
leviate the miseres aud misfortunes of the |
human family who have become victims to
The chief ofvices,is a question that still invites
The learned tn a more satislactorally investi-
CATION Of the subject.
lntemperance is confined to no particular
station in society, nor to no pai ticular grade
1f genius, and Intellectual powers. II we
ascend he thrones of princes, if we enter
he palaces OF the great IL we pry into the
nbodes OF poverty and indisence, II we min
gle with the poets or philosophers, with man
ifactures, merchants, mechanics, peasants
'r beggars --and il we survey the busy bus.
ling scenes the most populous cities, or
he sequestered village or the cot which
stands in the lonely desert--it 10 found Ia
III its hideous rorms.
Its causeS are as various as the capacities
'f man tor pleasures and enjoyments, and as
nultltorm as the various miseries and mis-.
ortunes to which he is liable, through the
Quincy Of life.