Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-09-09
ON TOBACCO.


pounds will take care Of themselves"
ON TOBACCO.
God says Of the earth, lie created II not in
vain. Tho same remark must hold true Of
all other things which he created though
what their use may be, does not always so
clearly appear. The tobacco plant must
doubtless have its use in the great economy
Of nature perhaps to assist the farmer in
destroying various kinds of insects, when
they increase beyond the ordinary consump-
ton Of the tribes that make them their prey.
In some few cases, il may, as a remedial agent,
be useful in skiliul hands but in unskillful,
exceedingly mischievous being highly dan
gerous, and requiring the greatest caution.
That the allwise creator formed it for the
common and continual use to which it is now
applied, can never be conceded.
do not write these lines in expectation Of
convincing those persons whose habits have
become inveterate Tor IL is one of the prop
critics of tobacco to render its votarios inca
pablc Of being convinced. Ny object is to
persuade children and youth, pepcr 10 begin
the hurtiul practice of smoking. snuiling or
chewing. All scnsble men who now use this
pernicious weed, will second my advice This
is all ! now ask lt would indeed be better
if they would rolinquish the article them
selves but if they will not. or think they
cannot do this, let them at least exhort all
children and youth to be watchful, and never
begin.
My father was man Of distinguished
pioty; but chewcd tobacco in very small and
moderate quantity. Unfortunately a physi-
clan who ought to have known better, had
prescribed it for watcry stomach. After
using it many years, he faithfully admonished
his eight sons Of the evils of a habit which
he thought it difficult to leave off, and earn
estly exhorted them never TO begin. They
all followed his advice. VIII not all the con
sumers of tobacco do as much as this /, Give
your testimony faithfully, and cxhort all our
young men to keep themselves pure. That
the common use of tobacco should uever be
INDUCED, arguo
l. 1t is unnecessary. OF what service af-
ter meals The man Of healthy stomach,
when he has eaten good dinner, feels as we'll
as a man needs to feel ; and why should he
wish to feel any better? And if the stomach
be unhealthy let him by no means resort to
remedies that must increase the difficulty
Washington would not allow the plant to be
grown on any part of his estate. He admit
ted that the crop might be lucrative, but said
/ 1t was useless and hurtful to men. For this
humane decision, if for nothing more, he
should be gratefully styled father of hi,
country.
.. 1t is unnatural. The unsophisticated
appetite docs not crave, but loathes it. Ever
bird of the air rejects it. All our domestic
animals turn from it with disgust. Why then
should rational being do violence to nature
and bring on himself seasons of distressing
sickness, all to acquire by custom, an unnat-
ural appetite for nauseous drug, that will
be troublesome to him all the days of his
llie An offence against nature is an offence
against God, who does as really enact our
physiological laws, as the laws of the ten
commandments
3. 1t is unceanly. What can be more
disgusting than to see the dark and loathsome
juices OF this poisonous weed, elected freely
rom lips that should teach wisdom, and
thrown proiusely on the floors Of cars, pews,
and parlors! That some men endeavor to be
more neat than others, is freely confessed
but all find it rather troublesome to be So
often extremely difficult, and sometimes quite
impraetieable.
4. 1t is an enslaving practice. Many peo-
pie, know, say it is not so with them and
that they can break off at any time when
they have mind to. But do such people
break off! DO they have a mind to : Are
they not already SO much enslaved as to make
no real effort Do not some attempt it., and
return again i-lIow many poor victim feels
himself wretched, and incapable of business,
till he can fill his exhausted pocket again with
the hurtiul ingredients How many pro-
lessor of religion has confessed that the
prayer meeting was dull and useless to him,
unless he could first smoke, OF fill his month
with cndi How many a smoker has be-
come so enslaved to rise up by night, and
do sacrifice to his pipe, with as much earnest
ness as ever poor heather did to his idol
How many wrotchod victim, knowing and
confessing it is carrying him to an untimely
7 grave, feels the infatuation so strong, that he
will sooner part with his life than part with
his sin?
What slavery is equal to this
5. 1t is unhealthy: wastes the saliva. poll
lutes the breath, dries up the BRAIN induces
dyspepsia and other nervous diseases; occa-
sions cancer, disease Of the heart, impairs the
sight; brings trembling, and general weak
ness ; leads on towards consumption; and by
one method or another, shortens human life,
/ 49, N'iN NfNA ANA NAaA0~-li sunni idoto
fifteen years, as good King Hezekiah had his
life heightened by praying. Many restless
night have | suffered when compelled, per-
force as it were to receive as bed fellow, a
man whose whole system was thoroughly
stepped in tobacco Its essence was emitted
in his breath, and from all the pores of his
skin.
9. II is injurious to the mind. The fre-
quent and habitual use OF narcotics, is well
known to have powerful influence on the
nerves and brain. We occasionally see men
rendered wholly unfit for business, who de-
clare they have taken no strong drink, nor
anything more exciting than tobacco. -
Many of the abortiye schemes of men, like
some portions of German theology, seem
to have no better foundation than the smoke
from tobacco pipe as inefficient, as
misty, as unsubstantial, and to all holy be-
ings, perhaps, as offensive. We often see
men whom the habit of continual smoking
has rendered, in moro or less degree, ac-
eording to circumstances, stupid inactive, ir-
ritable, and deficient in the benevolent afiec-
tions. A prostrated condition Of the nervous
energies, depression of spirits, gloominess.
Jealousy, are the natural consequences /; and
II 4