True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-12-12
county in Our own state, show this to be

tolook for facts, we subjoin few taken from
reliable authority, Of 200 convicts nov
in the Ohio Penitentiary, over 400 came II
their present condition, directly or Indirect
ly through the influence of ardent spirits
OF 1900 paupers in different alms.housei
in the United States, over i,7O0 were made
such by spirituous liquors. OF 1874 Grim.
inals in different prisons, over 1900 were
either intemperate men, or under the infu.
ence Of intemperance at the time of the
commission of the crimes for which they
were imprisoned.
"Judge Rush in a charge to jury some
years ago said, 81 do not recollect an in
stance, since my being concerned in the ud.
ministration of justice, OF person being
put on trial, for manslaughter, which did
not originate in drunkenness; and but few
instances of trial for murder, in any degree
where the crimes did not originate from the
same cause"
"The city attorney of New York city, in
one OF his reportsy says, "that of % cases
of murder which it has been my duty to ex-
anime, every one has been committed in
consequence Of the use of ardent spirits
"And the reports of the various prisons
in the U nited States make known the as
founding fact, that of every lO0 indvidusls
committed to prison, more than so are in,
Incorporate persons. And the statistics Of
England, France, and indeed almost every
country contain the same astounding truths.
Then, would say, has this nothing to do
with our high taxes! 1t certainly has. 1t
is estimated. as before stated, that imtem-
perance costs the taxpayers of the U. s.
more than Ave times The amount, that
would our system of national government,
were there no such thing. But to bring
this matter home to every candid man, look
at the murders that have been committed in
our own county, at the fights and brawls
that have been perpetrated, and ask YOUR
sclf the cause, and you must answer, in-
temperance. And look atthe amount it has
cost the tax-pa yers of Monroe 10 prosecute
these criminals. Four murders have been
committed in MOnroe-all by Incorporate
men, and whilst under the influence of
strong drink-whch have cost the county
not short Of os $500. And who dare saw
that these would have been had it not been
for intemperance! And if we further take
into consideration the enormous waste Of
property, occasioned by this demon, we are
lost in wonder at the extent of his domin-
ion over us.
"lt is estimated that 80 ,CCO,CCO gallons
Of ardent spirits are manufactured yearly in
the United Statcs, which at n cost Of 80
cents per gallon, would amount to the neat
sum of S25,OO0,C00. GA sum, which if
spread out in dollar bank notes, would reach
across the continent of America, or which
would be enough to deiray the expenses of
our national government.
"These facts look startling, but when we
take into consideration the amount Of sui.
fering and death, by this destroyer, the
mind becomes utterly appalled,.
Suppose that one person in every hun
dred in our land, is a common drunkard,
(which all will say is q small proportion }
and that the population of our country is
25,OCO,OC0, then there are in the United
States O,0O0 Common drunkards, whose
lives are spent in rendering those around
them wretched, and whose loss would be a
blessing to the communities in which
they live. Andsuppose the average length
Of their lives to he % years, 10000 Of
them die every ye al ard are hurried into
drunkard's grave and into drunhard's hell.
"And all this sacrifice Of money, time
and happiness, must this relentless tyrant
demand Of us. S25,S00, 900 mus. be annu-
ally appropriated to the manufacture cf
criminals and puupers, who must then be
burden upon the honest Taxpayer.
Fellow citizens, how long shall this be
SO! H ow long shall we fubmittothe sway
of this despot! When shall we say to this
monster, "thy kingdom is at an end! enc
more shallthy cars be greeted with the wild
ow's wall and the WORSE than ORPHANS
cry"
Shall 1t be when he shall have ruined our
families and friends! When he shall have
SO far beggared our citizens that he can
exact no more tribute from their hands,
Shall it be when many Of our promising
young men people our prisons and aims
houses! Or shall it be now! We have
the means. Our Legislators have given us
law, oy Wnlch, II we cannot entirely SUBJ
due, we can at least curtail the power Of
the monster. Then let it be NOW! Let
moral suason be coupled with the strong
arm Of the law! Let every lover of truth,
virtue and religion rush to the rescue, and
this mighty king must yield to the superior
power Of justice. w.
Woodsield, Dec. l, 1865.
-------<AONs------------
The PROSPER IN KAXsAs.-The last
advices from Topeka says: The Kan.
sas Constitutional Convention passed a
schedule on the 10Th iuSl., declaring the
Constitution to be submitted 10 the people
on the 18th of December. II the Consli