Washington telegraph., 1856-03-26

) tide down the awful precipice"
Such being the effects and consequences
: of drinking, both moderately and immod-
erately, we come to our third proposition,
VIZ: that 1T 1t be wrong for men to in,
dulge In the use of intoxicating liquors
1t Is likewise wrong, in ten fold degree
for any man to sell them to others for that
purpose. Upon this point we shall be as
; plain and pointed as we may think expe-
dent, for herein lies the source and foun-
) tain OF lntemperanee, and all of its evil
consequences. But at the same time, al,
though we may deal candidly and plainly,
we rest assured that no one will complain-
who Is not engaged in the low, mean, worth,
less, wreckless, brutal and inhuman trafc.
And IN speaking of men engaged in this
iine of business, we would not be under
stood as making any distinction or differ
ence, for the business of ali rumsellers
is one and the same, whether they be
high or low wallowing in wealth, or
wading poverty's vale; and they are the
men we are after.
! Trade among men is honorable and
right, and the passage of commodities
from the hands of one individual to those
of another is that which imparts life, spir-
1t and animation to the age in which we
live; but in order that equity be main
tanned, it is necessary that the buver pav
fair and reasonable consideration for the
article bought, likewise that the seller give
a fair and reasonable recompe pense for value
received, otherwise trade is converted in
to fraud and cheat, a modified and gar
nished systoia of theft and swindling.-
This is the universally recognized law of
honesty Ia trading, and thas the interest
of both parties is secured, and trade be-
comes mutual benefit.
Now apply this law to the vender of in
toxieating liquors. What does he give in
exchange for the money received at the
hand of his customer? Does he give that
which instills new and healthy life and
vigor, into his mind and body ? Does he
give that which increases his peace and
happiness, or lends to his social and moral
! improvement? Is he any the wealthier
thereby? Is the number of acres of his
land increased? Are they any more fer
tile or easier titled
Go view that haggard eountenanca, and
those eyes glaring the fire and pangs of the
second death, and hear those curses as from
the tongues of demons. lit up by the fires
| of hell aud DO you tell me that bis :lappi-
ness is increased. Go view that habta,ion
as if inhibited by ghosts and imps, and de-
serted by everything holy and pure-those
children begging aud stl rving for the bread
and wafer of life, and do ycu tell me that
his riches are increased. and that his family
] - nj in IL I'll
circumstances Where is the benefit that
be has received from your counter p
Whittier has it gone and who has realized
1t! What has he received but misery.
degredaion, disease and death' And do
You deny your agency in the affair? So
does the pickpocket, the highwayman, the
incendiary the assassin. Are you public
bcnefactor and promoter Of the peace. quiet
and contentment of the community in which
you live What good have you done, and
who have you benefited, save your own.
ltttle, mean, cO'aten1ptibte self? With
your conscience in your pocket, and your
soul incaSed in stone, with clenched hands,
YOU prosecute your unhallowed work. and
build houses of human bones, eemented
with human blood, alike regardless of the
tie is a being Of all others the most inhu-
man and brutal Do you call the tyrant
inhuman He is the most inhuman of ty-
rants, He holds his victim bound both soul
and body with brazen chains and rules him
with rod of iron lie has bound him with
silkcn chord that no human effort can
sunder He loads him with feiters, inc1r-
cerates him in prison of adamant, and in
ilicts mental anguish ten thousand Gold more
excruciatiag than the inIuiSition- Do you
call the savage inhuman! Savage brutality
and south SCI canibalism are christian be-
nevolenee and angelic compassion compared
with bis treatment Of the human family.
Asse bic all the widows, orphans, paupers
and n.aniacs he has made, and their collected
tears would almost start another Mississippi,
while the voice of. their mingled wailings
of sorrow and grief would well nigh wake
the sleeping dead Do you call the muir
derer or midnight assassin inhuman tie
is an angel of light with messages Of peace
and Joy in the comparison. In the hands
of the assassin; only the body of the unfor-
tunate victim suffers, and he dies, not dis
graced aud dispised by his fellows and not
as murderer, but in the hands of the other.
ruined and wretched, , he looks like kiUing.
Loathsonae death, as if pcrdition had al
ready devoured him. and sick of her aaau-
seous bait bad von,ited him forth upon earth
again, and he dies: and how =? Unlamented
and unmourned, and before his eyes are
fairly closed upon earthly objects. the fiery
flashes of the Eternal's vengeance begin to
play about him. and the howlings and wall
ings of the damned greet him upon his ap-
proach. And do you ask whose work isthis?
I would whisper. nay would proclaim in
thunder tones. that such is the work OF the
vender of ardent spirits. For what is he
good and where will you place him? Into
his purse he has crept and is trying to drag
the world after him. oh. tell me not that
he has conscience and human heart. He?
with the cravings for filthy lucre burning in
his bosom, and the sanction of the law to
protect him. he would .yend -scorpians and
vipers by scores and bushels to your children.
IL