The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1857-09-23
Liquor Question.

! Inc ioloWin8 factS taken rom coMmu
nication to the National Inteligencer, are
worthy of attention, although they may no
lead to any beneficial results. So long a.
the profits resulting from the manufacture
of splrituous liquors are so inviting, the evil,
alluded to will exist, but still the reflection:
growing out of the subject are eninenty
worthy of general consideration:
The papers tell us that nineteen millions
of gallons Of whiskey are distilled for the
Cincinnati market; that fifty millions Of bu
shells of grain are SO used up in the Ohio
fValley-whether this includes the land Yves,
of the Mississippi, do not know; that ten
thousand barrels Of whiskey are shipped at
one time from New Orleans to France to be
re-manufactured Tor corrupted) into artti-
cial French brandy, and, strange to say, by
:he skllftlll use Of chemicals, into wine.
Now, if fifty millions Of breadstuffs-corn,
rye, wheat, etc.-are converted into ardent
spirits West of the mountains, should not
hesitate to say that at least as much more is
manufactured in the Eastern portion of the
country; for almost every county in some
portions Of Virginia, Pennsylvania, and other
States has its large distiIleries. | know
many that use up from two hundred and
fifty to five hundred bushels of grain per
diem for wiskey alone, to leave out of the
count the large use Of the staff of life for
porter, ale, beer and such like liquors.
One hundred millions of bushels OF our
bread per annum turned into that which the
cattle cannot use, and which certainly does
no good to the men who can and will use !.
need not, for do not wish to touch the
morale Of the question, but l ask you to look
at the results economically:
First, It is surprising that meat is SO high
when the product of the land is not given
to tie cattle, sheep and hogs to such vast
the grass lands and meadows are
turned into arabic to feed the worm that
never cools; but the worm that trust may
cne day die.
Second, 1t is not next to certain that the
hog cholera is disorder perhaps made con-
tagious, certainly epidemical, by the use of
distiIlery slop? I know that cholera in
towns is produced by unwholsome food and
a masnata from filthy localities, sometimes
very circumscrbed. have had the means
and fui! opportunity Of satisfying myself of
lis and do not see, if you take tho sugar
,ut of hogs food and give him the sour
tareh and Intoxicating ofal Of the distillery
ubs, Why hc should not have disease which,
nav become communicable like ship fever,
Or typhusieycr. .-
Third, They say it is the fashion to mix
poisonous drugs in the beer of the distilIcr.
do not know. the fact of my own know- |
'dge, but DO know the liquor aduterators,
" recsifers, or maletactors, or whatever
hose are called Who make stimulated liq-
'ors out of whiskey, do use chemicals, and
dangerous ones. l can produce proof Of
bis under the sign-manpal of such.
Now, have confined myself to the cues
ion as it bears upon thoq national wealth,
oinfort, and economy. Il you raise the
rice of one or more leading as,ic!es of prime
eocssity and general use in asnstions daily
ood, you raise the price of all kindred ar
Icles. Corn cannot be high and wheat low ;
nd if you lessen the production 6f beeves,
nd sheep, and hogs, while you increase the
consumption by the immigration of tens of
of consumers, yousraise the price
f meal, bread, fish, sugar, dried fruits, and
he like, for demand and supply, which reg
late prices inexorably, settle this for you.}