Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-11-11
DEBATES OF CONSCIENCE.
Distiller, Wholesale Dealer, and Retailer.
BY HEMAN HUMPHREY. D. D.. ...
nTAIOGTE T.
At the Distillery.-First Interview.

Distiller.-Good morning, Mr.. Con-
science; though | know you to be one Of
the earliest risers, especially of late, hard
ly expected to meet you here at day dawn.
Conscience.-I am none too early, it
seems, to find you at your vocation. But
how are you going to dispose of this great
black building !?
Distiller-Why, I do not understand
you?
Consciemce.-What are you doing with
these boiling craters, and that hideous worm
there?
Dahller.-Pray explain yourself.
Conscience Whose grain is that? and
what is bread called in the Bible?
Distller-More enigmatical still !.
COpscsence.-To what market do you
mean to send that long row of casks and
how many of them will it take, upon an
average, to dig drunkard's grave?
Dishller.-Ah, understand you now.
| was hoping that I had quieted you on
that score. But, | perceive, you have come
upon the old errand. You intend to. read
me another lecture upon the sixth COM
mandment. But what would you have me
do
Consc;ence-Put out these fires!
Distiller.-Nay, but hear me- enter
ed into this business with your appreciation
The neighbors all encouraged me. MY
brethren in the church said it would open
a fine market for their rye, and corn, and
cider; and even my minister, happening
to come along when we were raising, took
a little with us under the shade, and said
he loved to see his people industrious and
enterprising. ..
Conscience.-"The times of this igno-
rance God winked at-but now command
eth all men everywhere to repent" In
one part of your defence, at least, you are
incorrect 1t was not my voice, but my So,
le,ace, if any thing, which gave consent and
| have always suspected there was some
foul play in the matter, and that was kept
quiet for the time by certain deleterious
opiates. Indeed, distinctly recollect the
morning bitters and evening toddy, which
you were accustomed to give me; anc
though thought but little of it then,
now see that it deadened all my sensibili
ties. This, | am aware, is no excuse.-]
ought to have resisted ought to have
refused, and to have paralyzed the hanc
which put the cup to my lips. And whe1
|you struck the first stroke on the ground
| ought to have warned you off with the
voice of seven thunders That | did no
then speak out, and do my duty, will caus,
me extreme regret and self-reproach to tn,
latest hour of my life.
Dishller-But what, my dear Consci
lence, has made you all at once so mucI
wiser, not only than your former sell, bu
than hundreds of enlightened men in ever,
community, whose piety was never doubt
ed? I myself know, and hear of not
few good Christians, including even dea
cons and elders, who still continue to man
Iufacture ardent spirit, and think, or seen
to think it right.
Conscience.-And think it right2 As
their consciences. [ should like to witnes
some of those interviews which take pl &C
in tie night, and which make Christia
distillers-(what a solecism! SO much NOR
irritable than they used to be. know on
of the brotherhood, at least, whose consci
ence has been goading him these five year.
and yet he perseveres.
Dist;ller.-But if l stop, what will th
people do? Half the farmers in town d.
pend upon their rye and cider to pay the
taxes, and even to support the Gospel.
: Conscience. then, you are pourin
! llout these streams of liquid death over th
land, and burning up your own neighbor
to enable them to pay their taxes and SUI
port religion? Why don't you set up
fcofin factory, to create brisker denlan
for lumber, and induce people to die taste
so as, on the one hand, to help them pa
their taxes, and on the other, to give you
fair profit, by increasing your business!-
1t Will not do. tell you, that can gi,
you no peace till you put out these fire
and destroy that worm.
DishILer-How can /! Here is all N
living, especially since, as you know, n
eldest son fell into bad habits, in spite
all the good advice daily gave him, al
squandered what might have afforded n
a comfortable independence
Conseience.-Suppose you were now
Brazil, and the owner of large establis
ment to fit out slave-traders with han
cuffs for the coast of Africa, and could n
Ichange your business without consideral
pecuniary sacrifice; would you make t