Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-03-10
For tho Advertiser.

SIR: In consequence of absence from home did
not have the opportunity of perusing your hagranty
wicked and bla,phemously immoral communication
addressed to me through the Adrerser till this day.
This, hope, will account for my apparent de!in-
quency in replying to you; yet assure you that
were it not for the editorial suggestion should treat
you with that silent contempt and scorn which sour.
rility ard low billingsgate deserve, having been
taught from my earliest childhood that "he who lies
down with dogs must get up with aeas." q
You think my article has done and will do more
harm than good yet you say that ait is true, every
word of it, and more too" aui really sorry that
you have sunk deep into the pit Of moral depravy
and degradation as to believe that the heraldns OF
the truth, and even proclaiming it with trumpet
blast will ever do more harm than good. Speaking
tue truth is always unpnlatable to the deprarcd aud
carnnl mind, but it is mighty and will prevail
You manifest an extraordinary itching to make
public your views upon theological questions, and
intimate your doubts Of the existence Of personal
devil" AIN not so entirely lost to oil scEse OF pro-
priey n, to address you upon suhect OF this KIND,
being assured, as I am from the complexion OF your
article that it would be spending time and werls
fuolishly and unpro6taby; but l hope l may be
allowed to say, in all proper courtesy and respect,
that whatever may have been my convictions hereto
fore, your communication leaves "not loop to haug
n doubt upon," and is in itself confirmation strong
of the existence of such being. not surprised
however that you havo doubts upon this subject for
your practice is consistent with your faith.
cannot see, friend. how you can udmit the truths
stated in my last article and still continue in the
farious trafck unless it be that your conscience is
entirely obtorated or composed Of India-rubber ma
terius You say that the laws Of South Carolina
your rule of morals. dsclaim them for mine. The
Bible that book of books, that has with,ood the
tations of timc and the vile attempts Of Tom Paine,
Yoltairc Rosscau, Hume, and host of others, and
in those latter. days Of such silly babbcrs and scof
ing fools rs your article shows you to be-that Bible
is my rule s my standard Of morale. Am l then
Seward man7 glory in it.tFAm then an sboi-
tionst? Yes, if it be Of grog shops and drunkard-
makers, am an abolitionst Of the deepest die and
steruest woof You talk of morals, and rules of NOR
ais! You, who are in the eyes and e:timaton Of
every noble hearted, pure-mindcd, upright man
murderer, subvcrter Of every good, and the fell
destroyer Of the peace and happiness of families and
nations. Think Of the sins you have committed and
still commit, and unrss you will go with
your hel-born depradations, at least for
sistency's sake to harp of morals and moral law.
read somewhere (prubahly in the A@rertiscr) not
long since article puportng to be tho statistics Of
the evils of intcmpcrancc which you have caused.
cannot refrain from array;ns tho facts before you
and asking you as friend for the sake Of suffering
-
tstical account alluded to stated N quote from mem
ory) that of 700 children prosecuted and punished for
crimes about 100 were the offspring of mtcmcra.c
fathers. Thus you that you not only corrupt tie
parents, but likewise through them the children by
what is termed hereditary transmission, i. c. upon
tho principle of :" like hcgets like" Again, Of 500
nanacs in insane hospitals +Ga, according to the tcs
tmony of their friends, made by drink
ing liquor and their physicians gave it their ori,-
ion that many Of The rest indebted to the same
cause for their misfortune. or 20 persons onn dead
in the woods in fence corners along the highways, in
gullics and elsewhere 65 were said to have been drunk
ards. What think you? Have you any conscience
Do you wish TO lie fit to live in enlightened Chris
tan country? You never will be till you sec!; some
honc.t employment.
had, short time since, lsttor from medical
friend in Florida, who writes that during his short
practice Of ten months in that country, he has had
many cases of patients afflicted with tho wors, dis
cases that Hcsh is heir to- such as scirrhus of tho
liver aud spleen, dropsies apopexy, gout, &C., &C.,
which be cutertains not the least doubt were rro-
duccd or greatly aggravated by drinking your dam
nahlc liquor"
Further: You cannot be just TO your country
whose laws you to DO so scrupulous Of and con-
tinrc in the trafflick. You you create maniacs:
the State is at expense to take Of them You
rob tho widow and orphan Of their support they arc
carried tho aims house and there the State or Dis
trict has to furnish their wants You cause men to
commit crmes the State is Mt expense, and no
little expense, to bring them to justice. You put
your country to all this expense and you double and
more than double the money paid for tho liquor
which in your hands has wrought this suffering rnd
expense, and with tho exception of ptsnnce for
license mere drop in the ocean, you pay nothing
toward the debt incurred by the State. These facs
cry daily to the legislative assembly Of our country
to enact some law prohibitory of the retailing ardent
spirits by the pint or drink. So long as tho Leesla
loHu COuHclls 10 grant nceneo, just |
long they will be expected to do it; and it will be
right if their several communities whom they repre-
sent desire it.
know you speak truth whom you say that your |
object is to make money and that too irrespective of
morals, religion, "purity Of society,"" and everything
Olsc. Hence, feel tho greater necessity for reform
and proper legislative enactments.
must now closo. But must inform you ero
take my leave, that my aim is to continue, feebly
know, to combat tho trailck Of ardont spirits: and
if can will drive you (liquor deung) of the faco
of the earth. You acknowledge you know you are
wrong, and tho Scriptures say, 3" lie that knoweth
my will and doeth it not shall be beaten with many
stripes" Knowing the wrong you do, and still per-
sisting, will augment your condemnation.
shall continue to pray for you and your unhappy
victims. I know not whether thero bo future state
Of punishment not Some good men think thoro
others good think there is not. But be that as
it may, good men Of either class, will, vouch for it.
always oppose you and your brother dealers The