Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-06-08
COM UMIC.A>TIOHJS S.
FOR THE ADVERTISER.
LEGISLATIVE RESTRICTIONS ON TIE LIQUOR
TRAFFIC-Mo 4.

lS our last il intnated that the views set fort
in the present article, would probably be unacccpl
Die 10 many Of the friends Of Prohibition Shoul
this be 50, the writer will much regret it, as hi
= friends in this connection are not SO numerous tina
they can conveniently be spared and if after whl
l. has been written, the sentiments herein contained
y could, with clear conscience be suppressed, the
: should not sec the light. But rs this cannot b.
done, calm and unprcjudccd attention is requested
: to this, the conclusion of our series. "Prove al
things, hold fast that which is good, is the direction
: Of inspiration. Noe is asked to receive any thing
: that docs not stand the test of reason aud the
Scriptures
What has been written then, in favor of prohib
ton, wish 10 be understood as referring to distilled
liquors. do not include wine in the same class
with Rum, Brandy, Gin and Whisky. These lat.
ter are what regard as the scourges Of the earth
and but for them there would be no need Of Tenn
pcrancc societies and prohbtory cnactments. 1t is
these that have delayed the world in crime and
suffering and it is their expulsion which advocate.
But forbid the use, the not improper usc Of that
which was recognised rs lawful by Him who was the
mpcrsonaton Of Wisdom and Holiness is what
would not dare to do. And that Christ the Saviour,
the great Teacher, compared with whom all human
teachers are fools. the author Of system of morals
compared with which all human systems are foolish
ness whose life WAS an example Of purify and whose
death an exhibition of love that shook this sin
accurscd old world and woke the very deed that
were sleeping in its bosom, that He, "God manifest
in the hesh,' did HIMSELF and recognize the right
of others tcmperatcy and with s"brety to use Wine
is to my mind as clear as the light by which re-
cord my conviction of the truth Before entering
upon the proofof this proposition, allow me to premise
two things. First thing itself, and that which is
called by its name are sometimes widely different.
Secondly, the use Of thing may be Lawfuland prop
cr while the abuse of it is alike destructive to soul
and body. Now in the first case, to press out the
juice Of Poke berries dnd put it into bottle with
wine brand on it would not make it wine; it would
only he poke juice after all To press out the juice
of grapes even, and add little sugar of lead to
improve the flavor, liule logwocd to give it q
acid, and call it wine would not make it so. And
thus is lamentaby true that vast quantity of what
is sold and used under the name of wine, is but Il
vile compound Of such things as are hurtrul TO the
body and degrading to the morals What / mean
by wine is the pure unaaultcratcd fcrmentcd juice
Of the grape, with nothing added to that is hurt
ul, or vii! increase its Intoxicating property. Now
real true wine docs in some degree possess this !
property, 1T least all that have ever seen but COM
pared with alcoholic liquors it does so to very
limited extent: but of this hereafter.
The second thing premise is that the use and
abuse Of a thing produce different effects No
argument is needed to prove this true Of every thing
which we cat or drink. 1t is true of bread, the staff
Of life: it is true Of water without which We could
not live: it is true in regard to all our civil and social
relations, and contend it is true of wine. But il
Is not true with respect to distilled liquors. if BY use
is meant the drinking Of them; and for the reason
that they possess mithn themselves the elements of
phyS'cat destruction, just any other poison does
heir tcniin" is to n~tmlncr rriL and not pucd and
this evil is produced in the ratio Of their use us
beverage But in proof Of the proposition that
Christ did recognize the use of wiuc it is recorded
in the seventh chapter Of Lukc's gospel us follows
" For John the Baptist came neither eating bread
nor drinking wine and yc say he hath devil. The
son Of man is eating and drinking, and We say
behold glu,,onous man and wine bilbrr, friend
Of public;ns and sinners. But wisdom is justified
Of all her children" Nov there is marked differ
cncc between John and Christ considered rs men,
john brought up in the scclusion and frugaIity of
the deserts or wilderness, austere in his manners,
the son Of priest and strict ip observing the re-
luiremcnts Of the jewish faith, seems to have had
in 4 very small degree Il disposition for social inter-
course and perhaps less desire for the things Of this
life that minister 10 our comfort. His railncnt Mas
,f camcls hair. and his meat WAS lvcuEts and wild
honey. Well, there was nothing wrong in this
nicr,l there may have been for ought we know Il
l"cc>Sty for pursuing this course. I'ut cur Lord,
hough Us already said, Il model Of Purity aud Tenn
,crancc social in his habits lie mingled with
doubtless interested III whatever pcrtaincd to their
Welfare. Among the poor and pi"us y lie went
bout doing g"ud i" their teacher and friend, incul-
'ating lessons Of heavenly wisdom, and leaving us Il
N example Of pure, pous social intercourse with I
'ur fellow creatures. Mark also his language, Iu $
wisdom is justified Of all her chilrcn thus leaving
discretionary as understand it, to initiate John /
II himself in tbs particular. Is amy one reserved
u habits and austcrc in his manner Of living let {
Tim be so don't call him clurl, nor accuse him
4 being iIlor"sc and wanting in bcncvulcncc He p
nay be retiring, frugal unsoca, and yet be wisunls
hid, with heart that beats responsive 10 the calls !;
+ humanity, and Il hand ready 10 relieve the dis
rrssr'l. And 50 may who is easy of approach,
ciable i'll feeling aud partakcs tempcraely of tic Il
''od things OF this life, be possessed of wisdom Of
'hich the world knows nothing and to which Plar- Il
ilcal prctcnsion can never attain. "Nhctlcr he a
ais or drinks or whatever he docs he docs all to the II
l"rY Of God with thankful heart and without ''
busins Gods gifts. Nothing is more deceptive fc
nan mere appearances. 1t is the fruit, and the ap
carance that indicates the character of tree. Il
My second argument is, that Christ dill at we'd r;
ing rast niracuousy prepare wine, for the use of Il
ie guests. Now to cvadc the force of the arru- oi
rnt deducted from this fact. is alleged that this Il
racle WAS intended display Of our Lords di- p
inc power; 10 show to the people that He was OF
lore than Il man. This certainly was, | think the ol
lief motive that induced Him tu work the miracle Gil
ut mark it, and remember it, that Christ would not k
ave doEc wrong action to accomplish good end. sl
ever, never would lie have done evil that noud lc
iSht come" Another idea that has obtained $:
relation TO the matter is, that this wine did not OF