Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-02-01
NO. 81.
MISCELLANEOUS READING.

mISC ELLANEOOb hEADiNe.
INTEMPERANCE AND LIQUOR LAWS.
Hon Nathaniel Silsbee was sworn into Of
fee as mayor of Salem on Monday, ard in
his address spoke plainly ou the liquor ques
ticn. saving that, though his life had been
democratic, be had never signed and never
saould sign a temperance pledge. Quoting
from bis address as mayor 10 lo5O, be stated
that eight years observation had confirmed
him in the opinion then expressed that In
temperance cannot be put down until there
is an essential change in public opinion as to
the best mode of preventing the sale OF ar
dent spirits 10 large cities. I'VE are now
he says, Infinitely deeper In this degrade
ton than We were then" We quote some
sentences from Mr.. Silsbee's address, to show
the position occupied by gentleman who
has had long experience in public life, and
whose moderation is we'll known
"In my opinion, the evils Of intempersnce
are increased ten fold by some OF the oper-
atous of this law, and one ofits worst effects
is the adulterating of the liquor sold, which
in producing the harvest to be reaped by pos
terity Of bodily and mental imbecilty, the
fruit of seed sOwD in the use OF such adulter-
ated liquor, will far unweigh all the benefit
vet experienced from its enforcement. An
o,her, and wide spread consequence of this
law is the introduction of ardent spirit, III
various forms, into places where, under
better influence it was unknown; for, l am
sorry t. say, believe its consumption at the
present time is by no means restricted to the
one or two hundred dram shops said to exist
10 our city, but to be habitual in many other
places.
| have not only studied this subject a.
home, but in various Dations abroad; and
have invariably found those the most tenn
perate wherethe vine grew best, and where
all had the freest enjoyment OF It's blessings.
speak my OwnOplnions, but use the Ian
guage of q reverend friend, whom | have
known from his youth up as one temperate
in all things. when lsay. Use is not the same
as abuse--lbstlneDc is not temperance
forblddng by law all sale OF intoxicating
drinks is not destroying the diseased appetite
itself.
Intemperance has not, like the gourd Of
the prophet, sprung up 10 night, and Its
cure will not he the work of day. My own
feeling is that we should remove all induce
ments to skulk in corners for the purpose OF
gratifying an appetite made depraVed BY hat
1t; let 10 the broad light Of day upon all
drinking places, by granting licences under
proper restrictions, until in the place OF the
poisonous authorizations uow used, shall be
substituted the pure and light wines which
know, can be cheaply grown in many parts
of our own country, Of q quality equal to
those of France, or Italy, or the far famed
banks Of the Rhine; and in the meantime
legalize and encourage the msnufscture OF
wholesome kind of beer, OF such quality as Is
used throughout Germany and most OF the
continental nations of Europe.
A few words upOn the enforcement OF the
law regulating the sale of ardent spirits.
Gentlemen if our officers are to become
spies and accessories in crime, in order TO
be witnesses, they must look for instruction
to some other chief than myself. But any
labor will be performed. and suy personal
risk brsved, if necessary, to decrease the
evils of intemperance, or enforce, In legal
manner, the law against liquor selling.
Gentlemen, these opinions upon the sub
iect uf temperance, | am we'll aware, are not
only at variance with those Of . large part OF
our community, but are such as may appear
to them extrsvagant in their nature, and ib-
iudcous to be expressed. should never, as
a private citizen, have iBtruded them upon
the community, but, in the station which,
unsought for by me, have been called on
to fill, am not willing to shield myself uE-
der cloak Of hypocrisy"