Smyrna times., 1856-02-06
Communications.
Written for the Smyrna Times.
TO the Hotel Keepers of the State n,
Delaware.

GENrLEMEN-I take the liberty OF ADDRESSING
you on the subject of Prohibition. The pro-
hlbltory Law passed at the last session of ,,,.
Legislature having injurously affected vonr
business more than the business of an, IL.
class OF persons in the community, it is per-
iec'ly natural, and in accordance with tho con,
mon course of human action, that the ore.,os,
opposition to the law should come from vou
AS body OF men you are understood to ha -,
posed to lt-there may be exceptions .horo
may be some persons engaged in tavern. keenioo
VINO are In favor of the law, but, if there ba I
10 not know them-your pecuniary interests
oeing brought into opposition to the law 7,
'night seem useless for me to address vo,, -,
the subject, but do not deem il 90 W.
many OF you have the pleasure of a persoDoI
acquaintance, and know you to be intelIioon,
courteous and affable gentlemen, and as a bod,'
o. men, disposed to be virtuous and usef,l r,o,,
oers OF society; my intimate kuowIedoo oc
your very many estlmable qualities, increases
the regret that + feel in finding YOU arravod
against the law. And | cannot beliavo H.
the Pecuniary interests you have connec,od
with the sale of liquors, will eon,in,o .I,,.
TO stltie and override the dictates of vorr -,
sciences, and carry you a against your own senso
O' r'ght and the interests of the large body of
your lellow-citizens. That gentlemen SO intel.
hgsnt as you are, should be LONG enaocod :.
the general sale of intoxicating drinks vv;,ho.
feeling and feeling often keenIy too, that sncb
sale is wrong and injurious to commun;,v
deem utterly impossible. And while ;nto....
may prompt you to make war against the Pro-
hioiiory Law, there are powerful inAnenco.
WORK calculated to weaken aud modify YOUR
opposition. First, there are the plead;n1. ae
your own conscences, which have tbons. nj
times uporaIded you with the wrong and i'm.
morality OF liquOr-selling,-whens some mo-.
trembling lnebriate has hung round vo,r r..
'"e miserable ruined remnant of what was once
man. you have regretted the seeming necos |
Si'y OF your being engaged in business which
Ienoeo 10 his utter undoing. When the ra ooad
i"o neglected children or thinly.cIad wife of
'one poor victim of intemperance has n...oI
w anu you nave contrasted their condition !
win your own robust and well.clad cb;;dron 1
ina Win the loving wife for whom Won wouId v
'erh your existence to shield her from don. G
VI narm' there has come home to your inn'os, 6
oui the deep conviction that, but for Won, h,,a: i
'eSs' these wretched children and that miasra. L
ne "fe might have been as comfortable ond Il
aPPy as your own, and the remorse attend.r,
pom such reflections has made You an unban,r !,
ian' often, too, thoughts of the dangers a. n
emptations TO which your children wa,o - I
oseu' nave produced hours of uneasy resec. q
'oh' Then' as the cause of temperance has - -
pfead th.ongh the community, and discuss;on q
as arisen upon the evils resulting from the n
ale OF intoxicating drinks, and mems nina. al
ave become convinced Of those evils. and ,bai, %
'nspes have given expression to their sen,i. A. A.
en's' yon. h*ve felt uneasy at that growing "a
'0lic- sentiment which was gradually but surs. s'
setting lis brosd seal of:eondemnatjon an a., la
lsipess IN which,you were engaged-you h vs IN IN
u restless and dissalisfed with sour bu.ins.s sd
I'd with YOURSELF ,- fGl
Again, yeu have been awakened bv. Soma 4
saps 10 serious reflection You have .fel, in lh'
ar 'n'aost souls that the great doctrines a, So
Gospel were tfue-:that you you were e account lie
le 10 God yoarfreator, for the ,esdencies of Gle
Or 'condaet--'hat life had its deep spiritual pld
'anisg, that W 80 ~ - sd, = - ara
fis not the whole of life TO live. II
Nor all Of death to die - an
~ view OF thu evils resulting from your led