Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-07-10

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They owe their death to your carelessness
or your selfshness, and it is in vain for you
to say had no malice, did not set the
dog on-they might have kept out of the
way, and if he was mad, it was none OF my
concern; let every one look out for himself.
Would not this be adding insult to injury
and instead of proving your innocence, prove
you wretch past feeling? But what has
all this to do with the object Of this ad-
dress Much, every way. We wish to
act upon established principles. Wehav en-
deavored to establish one principle, viz that
every man is responsible for evils which re-
suit from his own selfshness, or indifference
to the lives of men.
In other words; to make man response
BILE for results, it is not necessary to prove
that he has malice, or that he intended the
results. The high-wayman has no malice
against him he robs and murders, nor does
he desire his death, but his money: and if
he can get the money he does not care. And
he robs and murders because he loves him
self, and does not care for others, acting in
different way, but on the same selfish prin-
ciplc with the owner of the OK, and of the
mad dog, and on the very same principle, is
held responsible.
In the trial of the owner of the OK, the
only questions to be asked, were these two.
Was the OK wont to push with his horn in
time past? Did the owner know it when he
let him loose? If both of these questions
were answered in the affirmative, the owner
was responsible for all the consequences.
This is rule which God himself has estab-
lished and it applies directly to the object
of this address. Is ardent spirit wont to pro-
duce misery, and wretchedness, and death !
Has this been testified to those who deal in
it, i. e.. makers and retailers? If these two
things can be established, the inference is
inevitable, they are responsible, on prin-
ciple perfectly intelligible-a principle re-
cognised and proclaimed, and acted upon by
God himself. 1t is possible that some may
startle at this conclusion, and look around
for some way to escape it.
What is man responsible to God for
the effects produced by all the spirit which
he makes and sells? This is most fearful
responsibility. Indeed it is. But if these
two things are true, every retailer and maker
must bear it. And can either of these be
disputed? Turn your attention to these two
facts: lst. Ardent spirit is wont to produce
misery I'd. Those who make or sell it, are
perfectly aware of its effects. | will not in
suit any mans understanding, by entering
into labored proof of these positions. Up
on tie first point, let me refresh your recol-
lection, and bring vividly before you, the
hopes which ardent spirit has blasted, and
the tears it has caused to flow. Most of US
can remember many shocking scene which
spirit has produced. Let any one of us set
down and count up the number of its vic
tins, which we have known-and their char
acter and their standing in society, and their
prospects, and their happy families, and
what change few years use of ardent
spirit has caused, and what they and their
families are now. What a catalogue of
wretchedness might any one of us make
out Very few but could remember 20, 80,
so, or 100 families ruined in this way
some of them once our most intimate friends
and their story is soon told.
They were once promising--excitcd high
expectations, were high spirited, dcspised
every thing mean, aud had special con-
tempt for drunkard; and had prophet
proclaimed that they themselves should be
all that they dispiscd, they would have re-
PEELED it as a thing impossible. "Is thy SER
want dog, as said Hazael, "that he should
do this great thing?'
But they could drink occasionally, just for
spree, for the sake of company. In this way
the taste was acquired, and habits of dissipa-
ton formed. They became idle, and of course
uneasy. And they drank partly to crafty taste
and partly to quiet conscience. They saw
that the tide was coming in upon them, and
for time, perhaps, made some earnest but
irregular struggles against it. But it gained
upon them. Every flow Of the tide drove
in some barrier--the resistance became weak.
er and weaker-by and by the struggle is
ended, and they float with the current: and
where arc they? One has been found by
the temperance reformation mere wreck
in property, character, body and mind, a
mere wreck, and o miracle reclaimed Af.
ter years of dissipation, after causing un'
spcakablc misery, he is saved, yet so as by
fire. Another is dead his constitution could
not bear such continued course of dissipa,
ton. Another died in fit-another was
found by the road side one cold morning a
stiffened corpse. Another was thrown from
his horse, and is a cripple for life, but still
can contrive means to pay daily visit to
the grocery. Another is q mere vagabond,
unprincipled and shameless dering from
grocery to groccry-ft companion for the
lowest company. Drinking upon their boun'
ty yea, drinking their leavings-the mere
rinsings of the glasscs-a nuisance to socie-
ty, and curse to his kindred. Another is
in the penitentiary, for crime which he
committed in drunken frolic Go into the
crowded courthouse, and you may sec anoth.
cr: his countcnance haggard and ghastly,
and his eye wildly rolling in despair. What
has he done? One night after spending all
his money for drink, and lettering about till
all the shops were closed, he returned to his
miserable habitation. He found few Goals