Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-11-23

use 70 which those ARTICLES are put by
the people. II all resolves itself into
this, as in the case OF printing. wor.
shipping God, DC. II the constitution
does not protect the people in the right,
the legislature may probably prohibit;
If it does, the legislature cannot. We
think the constitution furnishes the
protection. If,it does not in this par.
ticular. it does. as we have said, as to
nothing Of any importance, and tea,
coffee. corn. bread, ham. and eggs may
next be placed under the ban. The
very extent to which a concession OF
the power in this case would carry its
exercise, shows it cannot exist. We
are confirmed in this view when we con-
slider that at the adoption OF our pres
ent constitution. there were in the
State fifty distilleries and breweries, 10
which half million Of dollars was
invested, five hundred men employed,
which furnished a market, annually,
for two million Bushels of grain, and
turned out manufactured products to
the value of a million dollars; which
were consumed by our people to a
great extent, as beverage. With
these facts existing. the question of in
cooperating into the constitution the
prohibitory principle was repeatedly
brought before the constitutional con-
vention, and uniformly rejected. De-
bates in the convention, vol. 2, p. 434
and others.
We arc further strengthened in this
opinion when we notice, as we will as
a matter of general knowledge. the
universally OF the use of these arti-
cles Ms beverage. 1t shows the
judgment OF mankind as to their value.
"This use may be traced in several
parts of the ancient world. Pliny,
the naturalist, states that in his time it
was in general use amongst all the
several nations who inhabited the wes-
tern part of Europe, and, according to
him, it was not confined to those nor
thern countries whose climate did not
permit the successful cultivation of the
grape. He mentions that the inhabi-
tants of Egypt and Spain used.a kind
of ale; and says that. though it was
differently namedin different countries,
it was universally the same liquor
See Pin. Nat. Hist, lib. Ia, G. 22.--
Herodatus, who wrote five hundred
years before Pliny. tells us that Egypt
ians used a liquor made Of barley. (2
~ Dion Cassius alludes to similar
beverage among the people inhabiting
the shores Of the Atlantic. Lib. so.
De PanRonis. Tacticus states that
the ancient Uermans, Tor their drink
used liquor from barley or other
grain, and fermented il so as to make
il resemble wine. 2acitus de Mon.
Gem, 6 %. Ale was also the favorite
liquor of the Anglo -Saxons and Danes.
"lf the accounts given by Isidorus
and Orosinus Of the method Of making
ale amongst the ancient Britons be
correct, it is evident that it did not es-
sentially differ from our modern brew
ing. They state ''that the grain is
stepped in water and made to germin-
ate; it is then dried and ground; after
which it is infused in certain quantity
of water. which is afterwards fermen-
ted."
(Henry's History Of England, vol.
2. p. 36l.
In early periods of the history Of
England, ale and bread appears to
have been considered equally pictuals.
or absolute necessaries of life.
In Biblical History we are told that
the "vine," plant which bears clust-
ers Of grapes, out Of which wine is
pressed, $50 abounded in Palestine
that almost every family had vine
yard" Solomon. said to be the wisest
man, had extensive vinyards which he
leased to tenants. Song Q. verse 12;
and David. in his l04th Psalm, in
speaking Of the greatness. power and
works of God. says, verses Ia and is.
"He causeth glass to grow for the cat
tie, and herb for the service Of man ;
and vine that maketh glad the heart
of man, and oil TO make his face shine
and bread which strengthened mans
heart"
1t thus appears, IL the inspired
Psalmist is entitled TO credit, that man
was made TO laugh as well as weep.
and that these stimulating beverages
were created by the Almighty express
Iy To promote his social hilarily and
enjoyment. And for this purpose have
the world ever used them They have
ever given. in the language OF another
passage Of Scripture, strong drink to
him that was weary and wine 10 those
of heavy heart. The first miracle
wrought by our Savior, that at Cana,
Of Galilee. the place where he dwelt
in his youth. and where he met his
followers after his resurrection, was TO
supply this article 10 increase tho fes.
tivilies of a joyous occasion. that he
used II himself Is evident from the fact
that he was called by his enemies a
wine bibber, and he paid It the distin-
guished honor Of beng the eternal
memorial Of his death and mars re-
demption.
From De Bows compendium OF the
census of 1850. p. 18e, we learn that
at that date there were in the United
States 1877 distilleries and brewerics,
with a capital Of 90. GOT ,574, consum.
ing some 10, ,000.0 bushels Of grain
and apples, 1894 tons os hops, and
i.675 hogsheads Of molassos, and
producing some SO. 900. 900 gallons ol
liquor.
From the Secretary Of tho Treasur'
er's Report Of the commerce and nav
igation of the United States for 1850
we gather that there were imported
into the United States. in that year
about $1,000 gallons Of various kinds
Of liquors. ~
BY the National Cyplopedia, vol
12, y. 934. we are informed that for III,
year ending January 8. 1850. ther,
were imported into Great Britain and