/ i it A DISCOTJR.SK V^" TEMPERANCE, •j AND OF THE ^ipipo^ieirra^r ©ip s^sMiraAsrag 3^, WARM CLIMATE, Delivered before the New Orleans Temperance Society, by E. H. BARTON, M. D. rWtMorof the Theory end Practice of Medicine in the Medical Colletr of i."u»unR; Member uf the Medical Botinl of J.ouieiuna; Administrator ot the C lurilv Uo3] Ml, x.\ A r. fcc. NSW ORLEANS: T. REA, PRINTER, COM. BULLETIN OFFICE, 1837. New Orleans, Feb. 10, 1837. Docron Barton, Sir, We are instructed by a resolution of the New Orleans Temperance Society, to return to you the thanks of the Society for the valuable Address which you delivered before them at their last meeting; and to request a copy of it for publica- tion. Permit us to express the hope that you will not decline conferring this additional favour, both upon the Society and tho public. Your's T.o?pcctfully, John S. Walton, ) Executive Comnffclce, S. P. Andrews, > New Orleans J. A. M.vybin, ) Temperance Scculij New Orleans, Feb. 11, 1837. Ce-vixemi.*, I have received with lively sensibility, your flattering communication of the 10th, expressive of the 'thanks of the New Orleans Temperance Society; and a request of a copy for publication," of the discourse I had the honor to deliver before it, containing my feeble attempt to point out some of the main impediments to the prosperity of this interesting and magnificent country, and of the principles which should regulate the use of all stimulants in a warm climate, derived from a long course of professional experi- ence. In complying with the wishes of the Society, it is left with them to determine, whether its farther promulgation is calculated to advance a cause upon which so much depends here. I have to express my regret that the many urgent demands upon my time did not permit me to make it shorter and more acceptable. Very respectfully, your's, &c, E. H. BARTON. Messrs. J. S. Walton, } •' S. P. Andrews, > ' J. A. Mavbin, ) Ex. Com. N. O. Temp. Society. ®£&Ikm &ff OCD^SS" ^laSJ^o Page. Prefatory Remarks, - - - - - 5 Origin and history of Temperance Societies, 6 Classification of Stimuli—the admissible—the injurious, 8 The injurious influence of Intemperance on his health, 10' The injurious influence of Intemperance on morals, - 11 The cost of Intemperance to the sober part of the community, ------ 12 The beneficial influence of Temperance Societies, - 14 Objections to Ardent Spirits, ----- 16 1st, From its great liability to abuse, - - - 17 2d, From its being an unnecessary indulgence, - 19 3d, From its being directly injurious to health in this climate, --_-_>_ 20 It acts immediately in a line with all its morbid in- fluence, ------- 20 Proofs derived from physiology of its injurious in- fluence, - - - -< __ -23 Its influence on the acclimating process, - - - 23 Difference in the mortality of the acclimated and un- acclimatcd, - - - - - - 21 The cost, directly, of intemperance in New Orleans, - 25 The cost, indirectly, of intemperance thro1 diseases, - 26 Annual mortality, in New Orleans, from intemperance, 26 Through crime—demoralization, tkc, - - 27 Influence of temperance habits on men and nations, - 29 Examination of the excuses of those who refuse to join a Temperance Society, - - - - 30 Happy consequences to our city and country from a a chanjitf nf habits, in this respect. - - 32 ERRATA. Page 5, 11 lines from bottom, for ' discretion* read ' in- dication.' Page 7, 13 lines from bottom, for 'one' read 'two;' and for ' society1 read ' societies.' Page 8, 17 lines from bottom, for ' nutrative' read ' nu- tritive.' Page 10, 14 lines from bottom, for ' one' read ' are.' Page 10, 17 lines from bottom, for 'a' read * on.' Page 16, 28 lines from bottom, for 'vice' read 'me.' Page 18, 29 lines from bottom, for ' inquiry' read ' injury.' Page 22, 7 lines from top, after ' abstain' insert ' that it conduces to greater vigour of-body and mind,' Page 25, 8 lines from top, for ' wnies' read ' wines.' Page 28, 8 lines from bottom, for ' will' read ' well.' Page 29, 21 lines from bottom, for ' Cuber' read ' Euler.' Page 29, 21 lines from bottom, for ' Boyer' read ' Boyle.' jPage31, 11 lines from bottom, for 'begin' read 'began.' A DISCOURSE ON When at a former meeting it pleased this Society to elect hie, as its auant-courier, to (break the bread) of Temperance ii this great city, I own the honor was wholly unexpected. I behold among us, at that moment, so many of the sons of genius, distinguished as public speakers, and who had conse- crated their services to this cause, by a public registration of their membership, I felt that the society had done injustice, both to others and toitself, and I would at once have afforded it the means of retracing its steps, by declining the honor in- tended me, but for the immediate adjournment which follow- ed the appointment. On subsequent reflection, however, I became satisfied, that the main inducement which had influ- enced your choice, had been the larger opporiunities I had had over most of my fellow members, in observing the influ- ences of stimulants on health, in a locality and climate, in which so large a portion of my life had been spent, and in the exercise of a profession whose function it is, to direct its most vigilant scrutinies into the origin and causes of human suffer- ing. The same reflection has been useful to me in another way. It gives assurance to your speaker, that if it had been a main object of the Society's first discourse, to attract inter- est to the subject, by the charms and graces of a polished oratory, the choice would have devolved on one more prac- tised in this sublime art, than himself; he is thus happily re- lieved from that most distressing of all embarrassments, that of having the public expectation of a performance, raised be- yond the speaker's hope to realise. Once more—I draw this farther discretion from this appointment—it is a significant exponent of the wishes of the Society, as to the main direction and aim, which this paper should take. While I am not for- bidden to take a passing glance at the general statistics of intemperance, or to make occasional sallies and excursona upon that host of influences, it wields against public and do- mestic economy, and public and domestic morals; I am ad- monished to omit nothing, within my reach, which will lay bare its local statistics, or demonstrate its sinister agencies upon the physical constitution of man in this locality, and in this cUmate. 6 Some 2 years since, through my connexion with tho Me-* dical College of Louisiana, the duty devolved on me, of de- fending this climate and this city from the wide spread asper- sion, that they were not fitted to be the permanent abode of man. It may not become me to say more, than that public sentiment has sustained that defence, however increbible it appeared at the time. How was it atchieved? simply by collecting, embodying and promulgin«; the facts and thus disabusing the public ear. Many of my too timid friends then thought 1 had ventured too far and taken a position I could not sustain. Further observation shows that position to be far within the lines of truth—fortifies and renders it impreg- nable. I take courage from this, when clad all over in the panoply of facts, I am summoned to the front in some new emprise. One of the important positions taken in the performance just referred to, was—that this climate is not lethale per se (or fatal in itself,)—that it is in the power of man by the exer- cise of his knowledge, by a rigid temperance; by approved sanitary precautions and restraints; to enjoy all the blessings of health here as entirely and as completely as in any other land under the sun; and that all the rrch and luscious gifts which a father god has showered down in bountiful profusion upon this lovely land, may be enjoyed to as green and ripe and prolonged an old age. I have never denied that there was great mortality here; but I have said that it is not ne- cessarily occasioned by the climate. This very occasion hap- pily enables me to trace out one of its chief causes, and thus fill up the outline I formerly sketched. While performing this task, it is gratifying to believe that the results of my ob- servations will not only be serviceable to the great cause of temperance, but will be a running commentary on those ha- bits and indulgencies which illustrate the climate itself and I think that they will prove that the most vital interests of this country are inseparably associated with it. I shall now proceed without farther preface, with the two main objects of this discourse; the one to present succinctly an account of the origin of temperance societies in connexion with the interesting and astounding statistics which belong to them; the other to expound the principles which must modify and regulate the use of all stimulants in a warm climate with the application of both to our condition here. The temperance institution is purely American in its origin and in its growth It sprouted out of the same soil which gave to routed and flying freedom an asylum and a home; it andwpS!J ? t! Same ?0t Where Public liberty danced and wedded itself to pqpular enthusiasm, by the hallowed nup- Ap «n* & c°n*ltutlo»al comPact- From the parent trees of awav In", theIotheJr> vig°ro"s scions have been plucked SI? u t transPlanted °n worm and aged shares, and they flourish there ,n rapid and luxurient gTowth. InEnglandJ i Scotland, and Ireland; even in Denmark and Switzerland, France, Prussia, Sweden, and various other parts oi Europe; aye and in Asia, and in Africa too, nay even in the Southern Ocean, there are millions reaping the moral harvests which have ripened out of this American institution, and they pour their grateful blessings on this father-land for the boon. But while we claim for America and for ourselves the undivided heritage of a common fame, the distinguished honor of origin- ating this great scheme of philanthropy belongs to Massa- chusetts—it is all her own. The first temperance society es- tablished there wa« as far back as 1811. It struggled in ob- scurity for a considerable time. This season of trial how- ever, did not remain unimproved; facts at once curious, in- teresting, and frightful were collected, embodied, and pub- lished, till the attention of the general community was arous- ed to the subject. It was then seen that we were sleeping in fancied security, while a moral volcano was smouldering be- neath the very fabric of society. It became apparent at once that intemperance might be fairly debited with much the largest share of all the indolence and vice—the poverty and wretchedness—the insanity and crime which reigned in bane- ful prevalence in the land. The records of alms houses, in- firmaries, hospitals, and all those elemosynary institutions which profuse and exhaustless charities have built up to as- suage the poverty and sufferings of men—of houses of cor- rection—prisons and penitentiaries—of distilleries and im- porting houses—of taverns, grogshops, and of burial grounds; ell were ransacked to garner up for public use those glean- ings which constitute the elements of the monstrous statistics of drunkenness. As might have been expected, patriots1 and christian philanthropists became alarmed. The cause of tem- perance spread; societies multiplied over villages, towns, cities, counties, states, by their powerful assistance, until there is not one state in the Union but our own, which has not its numerous auxiliary societies represented in one great state temperance society. But though we have no state in- stitution as yet, it is gratifying to know that the great current of reform has at length reached our sunny clime, and that be- sides our own, there is at least one other society in Louisi- ana, in a most prosperous and flourishing condition, notwith- standing the prejudice, wearing the garb of a principle, of the propriety of stimulants in a hot climate, which I shall pre- sently discuss. There has been put in my hands, within a short time, some of the reports of the parent board, and in the whole course of my reading, I have never perused a more luminous or con- vincing body of evidence upon any subject, and I defy any man whose intellect has not become besotted by the effects of the intoxicating bowl, to read these documents and not feel assured, not only of the extent of the injury sustained by so- ciety, by an excessive indulgence in intoxicating liquors, but 8 of the potency of this institution to repair it, and of the incal- culable benefits it has imparted, and is calculated to impart, to the wide empire of man, in every clime and in every con- dition. I am sure a large propoition of my auditory will be greatly surprised, perhaps somewhat incredulous at the start- ling details contained in these documents; but the facts are vouched for on the veracity of men possessing such means for accurate observation, and of" such wide and unsullied fame, as to render them incontestible. I can the more rea- dily give credence to such of them as are of a professional character, because they are surprisingly confirmatory of my own observations. I shall make free use of those facts for the. purposes of this paper. But before going into the painfully interesting statistics of intemperance, let us see how far man requires a stimulus at all. I ^iall examine it more fully when I come to remark on it* influence in this climate. I propose to be very candid on this subject, for I know there are errors existing in soci- ety in relation to it, and I wish to shew my fellow citizens. what they are, by setting before them the different effects of different kinds of stimuli. If the principles I lay down are correct, there will be little difficulty in carrying them to their results. I am no ascetic myself, either in principle or prac-< tice. I endeavour to confine myself to such a selection and application as to claim counsel of St. Paul, and "bo tempe- rate in all things." I do not hold with that rigid interpreta- tion of temperance which would limit man to bread and fruit for his only food—his drink the crystal well—the fig leaf his habiliment, and the moss his couch: such, to be sure, were his primeval allowances and they gratified all his ivants; but that is not the case now, and a kind providence in giving us a keen zest and relish for good things, forbids the abuse and not the use. All stimulants may be classed, for all the purposes of this paper, under three heads—the nulratiue, the permanent, and the diffusible. The 1st explains itself; it is the aliment re- quired for the maintenance of the organism, and is always more or less stimulating to the organic actions. The 2nd (or permanent) are those stimulants which sustain the organic ac- tions within a certain range, giving them foree and permar nency; the 3rd (or diffusible) are rapid in their influence; tran- sient in their duration, and are succeeded by a prostration and debility in a ratio proportioned to the excess to which they have been carried over the natural actions. It is undeniable, that man is fond of excitement; his hap- piness consists in it; but always to command the externa) cir- cumstances by which it is affected, is not in human power; but there are various substances in nature, or produced by art, by which a fictitious gaiety is excited, and the effect of external impressions on our senses are altered; by which the pain of the various wounda to which indolent sensibility ia 9 exposed, and the gloomy apprehensions with regard to the fu» ture, to which it is so often aprey, is suspended, and the heart exhilirated; visions of happiness excited in the mind, and na- ture clothed in all the radiance qf a new beauty. Hence a desire for it is coeval with his earliest history. Moses men- tions that produced from the grape, and we know that Ham's posterity yet wear the blowzy stain of Afric's burning clime, for the prying and indelicate curiosity with which he gazed at his father Noah when all his senses were stupid under its drowsy and oblivious influences The Chinese use tea. for this purpose; the Asiatics have found it in preparations of the poppy and wild hemp; the Mexicans from the maguay; others from rice, potatoes, and various fruit. Now it is very true the aemand for the excitement is natural enough, but the in- stinct itself does not specify whether it shall be a nutritive, permanent or diffusible stimulant; whether in fact, it shall be cod oil, or currie, or aromatics; whether reeling under the influence of whiskey, or dosed with opium, the inebriate re- tires to the solitary indulgence of his delirious imaginings. With regard to the two former, I have nothing to do, nature requires their indulgence, nor do they do injury, except under great excesses. "VY ith regard to the latter, or products of dis- tillation, there is always hazard in using them, just in pro- portion to the extent of their employment and the sensibility of the individual. It is a common error to suppose that it is re- quired during any strong mental and bodily exertion; in the first case, where it excites, it tends to overthrow the mind, impelling it beyond the balance of healthy excitement; in the second, the momentary exhileration gives a counterfeit sem- blance of strength, without any real addition, physical or moral, which in obedience to the very laws of the human frame, must be succeeded by debility and exhaustion, and is consequently injurious. Ask those men, (and particularly practitioners of medicine, who have most experience of it,) who have passed through trying, and exhausting scenes con- nected with dfisolating epidemics where, if ever a stimulus was required to keep up poor human nature, it would be then; who then can indulge in ardent spirits or any diffusible stimulus? Let those who have passed through them, answer the question; were it not tresspassing too much upon your time, for which I see, I am to ask a large indulgence, I would give you the result of the experience of some of the most distinguished of my profession upon it, let it suffice then, that it is in concur- rence with what 1 have told you. I approach now some of those statistical details of the effect of the intemperate use of ardent spirits, which will almost stagger credulity itself, prepared as I was myself by an en- larged experience of its influence, I was yet astonished at the magnitude of the results. These results will show to a demon- stration, that all the natural evils to which man is subject, are far exceeded by those produced by intemperance. K) And 1st, How far has ft actually been carried to the injury of his Health? From an estimate of the number of deaths directly produced by it in large neighbourhoods, (which has been carefully as- certained J it has been calculated that o.">,000 annually die from it in the United States, it being one-tenth of ihe total number of drunkards supposed to be in this country. The indirect effects of it in the production of disease and death, in the form of fevers, stomach, intestinal, liver and head com- plaints, of dropsy, of jaundice, paralyzies and insanity, have never been and can never be precisely estimated by the pro- fession. There is a pretty full concurrence, however, of thousands of the most intelligent of them, that it is the prolifie cause of much the largest proportion. In the absence of more exact data, let us make approximations. It has been clearly demonstrated from the evidence of facts to the Ameri- can Temperance Society, that more than one in ten of those over wide regions of country, who have used ardent spirits, and more than one in five of those who have mixed and sold it, have themselves become drunkards, and that these have shortened their days by it, on an average, at least ten years, loosing thus, much time to the community. It is also known from the highest and most abundant medical authority, that more than one in five of the men, who have habitually used it, have been killed by it; that 1-2 of all madness, 1-2 of all sudden deaths, and at least one-fourth of all deaths, in per- sons above twenty-one years of age, are caused by spiritous liquors. The college of Physicians and Surgeons of Philadelphia, after a careful examination, certify, that in the city of Phila- delphia alone, at least 700 deaths were traced to intemper- ance in a single year! If we, for a moment, extend our experience to other coun- tries, the result of intemperance there, might be embraced in a sweeping remark, as true as laconic, that it is the predis- posing and exciting cause, par excellence, every where, and more especially with epidemic diseases, and the apparent ex- ceptions on only confirmations. For instance, Dr Rush ob- served some old topers pass through the yellow fever period, who were drunk, night and day, and escaped, it was ascribed to their not permitting the constant excitement of their sys- tems to flag; if it did, they were sure to be attacked, and then their was no hope. The same fact was observed with regard to the cholera, wherever it raged; to be sure, in many instances, it did not "pick out," universally, according to the expectations of many, but these very exceptions come under the head I have just enumerated with regard to yellow fever,— wherever the constitution was at all shackled or unsettled by the habit, or where equilibrium was not strictly preserved, an attack was the inevitable consequence, and desperate was the chance of recovery; and here I may as well remark, were il there no tlier inducements for temperance, 'twere al^nn suf- ficient, that your liabilities to disease are much lest», and tho chances of recovery, infinitely greater. I shall presently give you the data derived from our own community. 2nd. In the meantime, let us briefly, shew its influence Upon MORALS. No one will deny that an indulgence in ardeKt spirits gives and undue preponderance to the animal nature of man over his moral and intellectual, and subdues and overwhelms his religious propensities. The celebrated Burke of Edinburg, who furnished the surgeons with his murdered subjects, could only do the work of death, under the influence of the intoxi- cating bowl, and it is a well established fact in criminal prose- cution, that when men are about to commit acts of peculiar atrocity, they first prepare themselves by liquor. A criminal was once asked how he could bring his mind to commit such an horrible murder—answered—-"he could commit ten times such a one—when prepared for it by liquor!" Nine tenths of all tho crime and pauperism in the United States are ascribed to spirits. It has been clearly proved that of those in the United States who drink ardent spirits, (in pro- portion to the number,) there are ten times as many idle, as there are of those who do not use it; ten times as many com- mit crimes, who drink it, as of those who do not drink it; and ten times as many, in proportion to the number become re- ligious, who do not drink it, as of those who do. A distin- tinguished jurist of the city of New York stated that he could find but three cases of murder committed in that city for 15 years, except by persons under the influence of liquor. 'Legis- lators it has been said, hang murderers, but license the bu- siness that makes them, expend millions to cure or prevent dis- ease, and license the business that produces it, and renders it doubly fatal!' The late distinguished attorney general of the U. States, the lamented Wirt, has given the result of his emphatic experi- ence (and none could be more valuable and extensive)—that during 40 years, that he had been a close observer of life in the United States he knew not the evil that would bear a mo- ments comparison with intemperance. It is not e\ageration to state, says he, that this single cause has produced more vice crimes, poverty and wretchedness, in every form, do- mestic and social, than all the other ills that scourge us com- bined! A distinguished officer in the Navy gave it as his opinion that 9-10thsof all the difficulties that officers have with the men arise from ardent spirits. And the Secretary of War has stated, that during 1830 nearly 1000 men deserted from the army, and that nearly all the desertions were occasioned by drinking; and that from 1823 to 1829, nealy 800 deserted annually, or l-7th of the whole army, from the same cause. 12 The total loss to the country in 7 year.?, exclusive of the ex- pense of courts-martial and several other items, was 471,263 dollars. The officers in the army state, that nearly all tho trouble with the men, arises frorii hard drinking—that more than 5-6tb of all military offenses, tried by courts-martial, result from in- temperance. 3fdly Let us see what an over indulgence in this habit has actually cost the country—and what is the tax—the burthen—- the intemperate are imposing on the sober part of the commu- nity. I find I must limit myself to a few data, or I should trespass too much on your time, but their importance shall be as valua- ble, as their authority shall be high. Mr. Butler, the preseht attorney general of the United States, has estimated, from unquestionable data (which I regert I have no time to give you) that the cost of spirits drinking in the U. S. is annually 100,000,000 dollars. He is certainly very far within the truth: It has been estimated with much greater probability at 150,000,000 dollars, which if divided among 13,000,000 inhabitants, would subject each to an anual tax of $11 50 cents. This amount spent on rail roads at $10,000 per mile, would give us 15,000 miles of it, connecting every important point in the Union, and unite the country in pro- fitable and indissoluble links, instead of being a source of unhappiness to every family; or, if converted to the cause of education, would build and endow colleges, in every state, and diffuse the blessings of light and knowledge, over every portion of our beloved country. Three-fuorths of the crime in the United States is estimated by Mr. Hopkins as chargeable to ardent spirits, which gives a total of 6,525,000 dollars, as its cost; and he estimates the cost of pauperism, in the state of New York, exclusive of the City, to amount to $3,800,000 which he attributes wholly to intemperance. This is besides all the thousand demands for private charity—insane and other hospitals, &c. The Grand Jury of the city and county of New York, after careful examination, say, that they have come to the deliber- ate conclusion, that if this source of vice and misery were at fen end, 3-4ths of the crimes and pauperism of the city would be prevented, together with an incalculable amount of wretch- edness, that does not come under the cognizance of law. The superintendants of the alms houses of Philadelphia, New York, Albany, and Boston, concur in the statement, that of the numerous thousands exacting from the sober and industrious part of the community the costly support which they receive, more than 7-8ths have been caused by intem- perance. Judge Piatt states it as a remarkable fact, that upon a care- ful estimate, it is found in New York that of the tavern keep- ers and retailers of ardent spirits during the last 40 years, 13 more than 2-3rds hare become drunkards, and reduced their families to poverty and wretchedness. As these things now are, it is demonstrated that about every six sober men in this nation are burthened with the entire or partial maintainance of a drunkard, and indeed the words 'drunkards' and 'paupers' have almost become convertible terms. We see then from unquestionable facts, that intoxicating drinks create, almost if not quite, all our criminals and pau- pers, and more than half our taxes—that it is corrupting the public morals—undermining the public health—resisting the progress of religious truth, and thus covering this fair land with poverty and disease, wretchedness and crime. In 1829 when the influence of temperance societies began to be felt, the consumption of ardent spirits in the United States was 72,000,000 gallons, which at 62 1-2 cents is worth $48,000,000, which is annually lost to the country: and again, of the 550,000 regular drunkards who do not earn, at the utmost more than 2-3rds as much as if they were sober, there is another actual loss of upwards of $20,000,000 per annum; 55,000 of this number actually dying 10 years soon- er than they otherwise would; thus is lost to the nation the value of their labour during that time, which supposing they added but $50 per annum to the productive industry of the country, which is very small, there occurs a loss of $27,000, 000, more. These are none of the results we can appreciate by figures, which are irrefutable, and to which no man can refuse his as- sent, who is capable of estimating their value, and the only remnant of doubt left on the mind of ^ne who hus investigat- ed the subject is, that the data and results are far underrated. Now let us look at another part of the picture, one of even a still more sombre coloring—one that cannot be measured by figures, because it is human feeling—it cannot be measured by d dlars and cents, because it is the widow's tears and the orphan's sufferings. Who that has a father, the only prop and support of a family, given up to beastly intoxication, but wishes he had never lived. What lovely woman who has cherished in her bosom the fond partner of domestic life, find- inf him preferring the poisonous chalice of dissipation, to the endearments of home and the purity of connubial bliss, does not curse the hour of wedded wo? And what are the agonies of the broken hearted parent, seeing an only son, upon whose education he had bestowed years of toil, anxiety, and ex- pense, abandoning himself to the treachery of the circean draught? What equivalents are there on earth for all these sources of anguish and solicitude, almost beyond the endur- ance of human nature, and which often carries to the tomb many a broken hearted parent and wife. Nor are these the only sufferers. There is not an individual subject to the vice who is not connected by some link and ramification of rela- 3 14 tionship to the vost chain of being that constitutes society; and there is not a man, woman, or child who is so insulated or so insignificant as to be uninfluenced by it. The unavoid- able sources of sorrow and evil are heavy and multiplied enough, God knows, without adding to them these factitious helps. But this is not all; and I call upon heads of families to bear me out in the painful experience, of the perpetual annoyances which assail them, from this siurce, from their domestics—the constant petty pilferings to procure it, subjecting them to all the odious vices of the keepers and frequenters of carbarets, and then let them say if there is one to raise his voice for the continuan e of a domestic evil of such magnitude where there is not one single equivalent, as an offset. It shall now be my duty to alter the scene, and cheer the heart of the philanthropist by mentioning the change effected by temperance societies. It is spoken of as one of the won- ders of the world, and America has received the credit of it, and the old world has done homage to the new, by the loud acclaim and faithful facsimile with which she has hailed and imitated the achievement. To shew you the early influence and success of the cause, it commenced in a population drinking on an average, 8 gal- lons per man annually. In 3 years the consumption was di- minished 3-4ths even in some of the largest towns, and 3000 drunkards have been reformed. This is a most encouraging picture, but what cannot industry and perseverance accom- plish when directed by lofty philanthropy and sustained by proper principles. It has been shewn by official records, that in places where the cholera has prevailed, and there existed temperance so- cieties, not l-40th of the members were as subject to the dis- ease as other persons. So obvious in some places was the connexion of cause and effect between cholera and drunken- ness, that abandoned as many of the keepers are they ac- knowledged that the way from the grog shop to the grave "was too short," and absolutely abandoned their business and fled. With regard to the actual mortality from intemperance in the United States, the data must necessarily be incomplete- I heretofore stated to you that 55,000 deaths were supposed to be the amount directly caused by it, and l-4th of all above 21 years of age, directly and indirectly—this is very far under the actual truth, and I appeal to the experience of my pro- fessional brethren to testily to it; in public institutions the es- timate reaches fully 3-4ths. ^ A distinguished physician of Massachusetts has said— Since our people have given up the use of ardent spirits the amount of sickness has diminished one half." When the searching current of temperance reform shall have swept away all the seeds of this frightful disease, it may also be said of the faculty as of the bard of Avon's Moor—"Othello's oc- 15 cupation'g gone." It will be eminently true of this country. Dr.Hossack, a most distinguished authority in our profession, estimated, from the result of actual experience among that temperate and estimable body of citizens, the Quakers, that the prolongation of human life gained by temperance, is 14 years in every life, which is equal to 42 per cent; and a dis- tinguished professional gentleman states, that in a practice among them of 25 years, he had but a single patient whose disease was referrable to intemperance. These are most va- luable and unexceptionable experimental results, because they are derived under circumstances where there can be no other cause to account for the difference. Cold water and ice have, in a great measure, taken the place of what was for- merly considered the most powerful remedies in fevers, in in- flammations, wounds, fractures, dislocations, burns, and in nervous diseases. It is a remarkable observation of the ce- lebrated Hoffman, and as true as remarkable, that if there is a universal remedy, that remedy is water. More than 2,000,000 in the United States, and multitudes in other countries have ceased to use ardent spirits; more than 4000 distilleries have been stopped ;An some states whole towns have ceased to use it, and the mortality has been re- duced 1-3! More than 12,000 drunkards have ceased to in- dulge in it, shedding all the attendant blessings of sobriety upon so many families;—more than 30,000 saved from be- coming drunkards from the change that has taken place in public sentiment and practice;—more than 8000 have ceased to traffic in the poison;—more than 1200 vessels now float on the ocean that do not carry it, which visit every clime and circumnavigate the globe, not only without injury, but with increase of the health, comfort, and safety, so much so, that the rate of insurance has diminished by 5 per cent on the profit of the policy on such vessels. And they can navigate polar seas and torrid zones—can ride upon the mountain wave and defy the storm, while vast numbers under the guidance of reeling helms, where winds are rude and waves are high, are buried under engulfing seas, or stranded in the elemental strife, go to pieces on a lee shore. In fine, the inebriate driver, engineer, captain, sailor, workman and servant, cause more waste of property and more loss of life, than all the elements of heaven. A barbarian chieftain and a pagan emperor have refused its introduction among their people, and a European monarch who has led armies in the field to victory, has issued his pro- clamation to his subjects to abstain from brandy, as being un- necessary to give energy to the vigorous or courage to the brave, and that it had been to them, not an angel of mercy but a messenger of death. Mahomet found his early attempts at conquest and domin- ion frustrated by the indulgence of his followers in intoxicat- ing drinks, and deemed it indispensible for his success to for- 10 bid their use, "from the quarrels and distentions it produced among his followers; the neglect and indecencies in the per- formance of religious duties, and the increased liability to disease in a sickly climate," and such is the result of its use every where. The chairman of the New York Stito Society stated his be- lief, that that state had saved in 18.J0, from the diminished use of ardent spirits $6,250,000; and in some parts of Mas- sachusetts, where the full influence of temperance societies have been felt, criminal courts of justice have little to do. It has been estimated that if this besetting sin of intempe- rance had continued to increase in the same ratio that it had for some time previous to the formation of temperance soci- eties, in less than 80 years a majority of all the voters in the United States would have been drunkards! Will any one be so hardy now as to deny that this society has been, and is calculated to be, replete with the most incal- culable blessings to our country, or that it is not worthy of the support of the patriot, the philanthropist, and the christian? But let us approach the subject a little nearer—let us ex- amine into the grounds of its use, and the objections to it,— physiologically—practically,—and especially to its influence in this climate; I shall then give you from the best data that have been accessible to vice—the effect on health and morals, and the cost of it to this community, and if I do not prove it to your interest to abandon it—then accuse me of being a visionary. I object then to ardent spirits. 1st Because its indulgence is extremely liable to increase and abuse. 2nd That it is an unnecessary indulgence—the stimulant of- ten required by our artificial stat'i of society, is much more Bafely and sanitarily substituted by condiments and a mode- rate use of the lighter wines, making an impression of a more permanent and less hazardous nature, and 3rd Their indulgence is directly injurious to health in this climate. I am sure if I shall render these positions plausible, if not tenable, you will agree with me that the noble cause you came here this night to support, is the cause oj the country;—yes it is the cause of our common country;—yes! the patriot voice of the land should raise its note of alarm, and make it resound through this great valley, and roll on over hill and dale, till it reached our farthest shores and mountains, and the wide nation become proselytised to this great cause of huma ity, and patriotism, and heaven! 1st Then—the gratification is hazardous—on account of its extreme liability to increase on indulgence. This you may answer is a common objection to the abuse of any thing, I reply, it is more particularly objectionable to the use of ardent spirits—because the habit is more tempting 17 from its associating with our sensual, and winding tt around, our social feelings when they are alive only to warm and gene- rous emotions; the gratification is greater and is more easily and cheaply indulged—each link (that is—each glass) more closely connects it with its fellow than any other indulged in by man, each lessening the power of his moral over his ani- mal faculties,—it naturaly, for the time being, increases our supposed sociability, but makes the peasant a king—levels all the (to the lower) odious distinctions of society and induces an oblivion of all cares. It impairs the regulating power of the mind—exaggerates all the obstacles to exertion—produces morbid sensibility which is the parent of indolence—destroys activity, perseverance and sell command, and when strength- ened by habit, it is a humiliating truth, that the most power- ful minds have sometimes not been able to resist. Here then is the danger—the treachery of the indulgence; the liability to abuse from the creation of an artificial state, in just proportion to which is a loss of the controling power of man—the, intellect. Now it is a matter of common experince that there is in every walk in life, and particularly in the low- er, where the temptation is greater and the regulating power less, no temptation and no indulgence that so tenaciously holds on and increases upon its possessor as the one under consideration. And were not this the fact, (and it is so re- corded in every neighbourhood of our widely extended coun- try) there would be little comparative use for temperance s - cieties, for I am willing to admit that a moderate indulgence in ardent spirits, to many, does no harm; but it is its abuse— the difficulty, nay impossibility, in 9 cases out of 10, to pre- vent this abuse, which is the ground-work, of all the crying evils of which we complain. As the demand for drink, is the demand for excitement, and as the system becomes habituated to it, unstrung and partly worn out, to produce the amount of excitement required, the dose must be constantly increased; every repetition increases the difficulty, and throws new obstacles in the way of its remo- val, for it has been truly and forcibly said—that no man ever became a drunkard at once,—they were all at first, moderate drinkers, and have only insensibly and gradually became im- moderate drinkers;—the demand, by indulgence, becomes stronger, the temptation increased, the resisting power les- sened, for mans' self esteem is diminished in proportion as he yields to any vice that he knows is degrading: but his power is consumed in proportion as his excitement is raised—hence exhaustion results—his liability to disease increased, and he sinks prematurely into his grave. Such then is a brief histo- ry of 99 cases out of 100 of habitual drinkers,—that what was commenced in politeness, is soon by indulgence convert- ed into inclination—the dose is increased from diminution of effect and the force of example, and before the moral power is awakened, such is the tenacity of habit, resistance is use- 1$ less, and with the loss of self estimation, he is gone forever. In guarding against the abuse of these tempting stimulants, it is painful to cast our eyes, for a moment at those moral bea- cons vhieh some of the most distinguished names of our coun- trymen have furnished us. It is not defficult to account for a stimulus of this kind being indulged in to excess, during the intervals or after the excitement of political' life is over, or to assuage the grief or disappointments to which the turmoils of life exposes all; and the reference is made to it, with the hope, that as controul is lost by indulgence, the 1st step which is so much in our power, with an uncontaminated controuling moral influence, will be made use of, to prevent a. career whose end is always degradation and ruin. Upon this subject then, it is of the last importance, nay it is the very foundation of the society—obstare principiis—to oppose beginnings—to es- tablish general rides, to which there are, and must be, indi- vidual, and doubtless many exceptions, but this instead of in- validating, establishes their propriety. The question is not then, whether there are not many men, on whom ardent spir- its, in moderate quantities produces, no immediate discernible injury, or who from long continued habits, find it one of the wants of their being; it is, whether its constant use—its ex- treme liability to abuse, and the great inquiry it has already pro- duced,and is constantly producing on society, is not sufficient to warrant society in establishing for its own safety, the general rule for its entire prohibition. The members of temperance societies think it does—and they believe this to be true view of the question. I have said there are doubtless exceptions to every law—intemperate individuals will sometimes reach an advanced age, but the fact is conclusively established, that the large average of health and life, is materially lowered by it,—a fact which shews that the apparent exception is more a fallacy than a reality, and that, ceteris paribus, the highest health and greatest vigour will always be on the side of those who make the nearest approach to the fulfilment of the or- ganic laws. It is reported of Hannibal that no poison would affect him, and we have heard of men, who could indulge in the potation *of a gallon of spirits a day for a considerable time with impu- nity, and of men who have passed a long life drinking more than a pint a day,—there are others who will not take the small pox—measles, yellow fever &c, these are exceptions to all rules, and should no more govern intelligent beings, than the rule to compel every man to drink that quantity per day; we make rules for the mass of society, and not the exceptions. It is for the sake of example as well as its beneficial influ- ence that we enter into this association, and we hope to show those most exposed, one worthy of being followed. Does our poorer, but equally worthy fellow citizens know, how much a bit a day (and who does not spend as much as that who spends at all) will amount to in a year—more than 45 dollars, 19 and in 10 years more than $456, and 2.5 cente a day in SO years, $2,737 50 cents, without counting interest, loss of time &c. 2d I proceed to shew you hi the next place—that it is an un- necessary indulgence. The stimulents required by our artifical state of society, are more permanent and nutritive, they make a less hazardous impression—they do not overset the boundaries of reason, and substituefor it a brutish ferocity. No, they sustain the organ- ism during the exhaustion incident to our condition. Now, ardent spirits, produces a different kind—a diffusible excite- ment—it arouses our reserved and dormant, energies to a de- gree not necessary for healthful action, and which were inten- ded to be kept for special emergencies,—and which, as de- bility, depression, relaxation must always follow and be in proportion to excitement, must necessarily shorten human life. This awakening of dormant energy, which according to a fundamental law of our nature, is a source of pleasure, as long as it lasts, men mistake for real permanent strength, but the error is obvious. Disease arises from the infringement of some organic law, and is never the legitimate consequence of its observance— no one instinct of man ever called for ardent spirits—the de- mand for them is an entire perversion of a natural taste. No interpretation of the laws of nature can make the demand for this drink, an instinctive natural want—it is in compliance with no organic, moral, or intellectual desire—it is to sub- serve no use in his economy, but its indulgence is a perversion of all. Nor is it wanting for a medicinal or curative agency. In no mode then, in which we can view it, is it required for the personal wants of man, and with the exception of a few purposes in the arts, it is as useless in the economy of civil- ized or savage life, as the poisonous upas itself. Over excit- ment of one kind or another is doubtless the principal cause of 99-100 of all diseases to which man is subject. I have al- ready shown you the number supposed to be induced by this particular stimulant at the north, I will presently shew you its influence here. In the early part of this discourse I showed you the differ- ence between the various kinds of stimulants. It is freely ad- mitted that man requires some stimulant, and from the whole tenor of the reasoning of this paper, it is evident that the per*- manent and nutritive are infinitely preferable to the diffusi- ble. Nature has been bountiful, and particularly in warm climates, as if to indicate their appropriateness of condiments, (a permanent stimulus.) She furnishes no where ardent spi- rits; it is only by the torture of her elements that it is made. Let each then in this wide and provident variety, select those most agreeable to his palate under the general judgment of experience, and use them in moderation. Under this head the rules of our society permits him to include the good sound light wines, though I think we are better even without them. 20 They are permitted then rather than recommended, and though thev" contain alcohol in a small proportion, it is so blended with extractive matter and other ingredients, that it seldom intoxicates or does much injury to either body or mind. I have no doubt then that good generous living (excluding ardent spirits) is promotive of health in this climate—that the occasional prostration incident to a long continued range of high atmospheric temperature, is beneficially, easily, and safely removed by moderately stimulating food, and that the liability to endemic disease under these circumstances, (and these are the very conditions where we are most subject to take disease,) is infinitely better guarded against by an agent that will give permanent invigoration, (a nutritive stimulant,) than one that stimulates an organ already over excited by the climate, and this brings me to the 3rd objection, viz. 3rd. That its indulgence is directly injurious to health in this climate. The grounds of my objections here are strictly professional; they are derivable from a knowledge of those physiological ef- fects of climate that are known to be directly injurious to health when in excess—the first and greatest of all—the sine qua non of all the injurious influences, is excess of atmosphe- ric heat. The first impression of this agent is upon the skin, but as this is but a secondary organ, if its influence was con- fined here, little injury would be sustained; it is then upon that surface or organ with which the skin is most nearly con- nected and most intimately sympathises, that it most affects, this is undeniably the stomach first; 2d. the intestinal; 3d. the cerebral; hence the influence of solar heat in the pro- duction of thirst—of impairment of appetite—of derangement of secretion—of fever—headache, &c. here there are conca- tenated links all arising from the first cause—the application of an undue degree of heat to the surface. The direct physi- ological effects of heat then are—the production of excite- ment—thirst—ifcarried far o: continued long, pathological (or diseased) state ensues, as fever, intestinal affections, diseas- ed liver; cephalalgic affections—these are the prominent dis- eases of warm countries and seasons. Let us c >m,)are this with the injestion of ardent spirits—to one unaccustomed to it, or from its undue or long continued use, heat, thirst, excitement; pain in head, (intoxicalion) often fever, from the 1st and from the 2nd fever—obstructions—various chronic and acute intestinal affections—diseases of the head—mania —apoplexy, &c. It is an undeniable fact then, that the in- jestion of ardent spirits operates in a d red line with all the injurious influences of a warm climate, and has every tendency to aggravate and produce those very diseases that are characteristic of such a climate, and that makes a residence in it hazardous. Hence then, the cases are precisely analagous in both the acute and chronic affections; but this is not all—it produces liability or predisposition to disease by undermining the con- 21 stitution. Man, in general, is subject to disease in proportion to the unsoundness of his stomach; its most ardent advocate will not have the hardihood to assert, that ardent spirits makes the stomach more sounl, but we have the concurrence of al- most the entire body of the profession that it has precisely the contrary effect. Man's liability to disease is greater in proportion as his resisting power is less,—this is diminished by any and all those causes, that tend to produce diffusible, not permanent or nutritive excitement—thai make a fugitive impression and consequent exhaustion, in proportion to extent, and not increase the stamina,—that, in fact, destroy the equi- librium of constitutional action, without which there is no se- curity for health one hour. In proof of these positions, what is the result of all experience ? the reords of mortality every where demonstrate their undeniable, irrefutable correctness, and the increased liability to disease of every description, after the constitution has been so weakened, is notorious to every one—as a sudden cold—a pleurisy—a fracture, a slight wound in the skin, &c. is often sufficient, alone, to break down his racked and shattered constitution;—even a little ex- cess of exertion—an exposure to the vicissitudes of the wea- ther—a hearty repast—or a glass of cold water, as we see instanced so often, in the Northern Cities, when it is confined to them,—not unfrequently extinguishes the wasted and flick- ering light of the vital principle. These are all matters of common observation, and this is the explanation of them. The same increase of liability is shewn in epidemic diseases— a man then subject to other causes of disease has his resisting power lessened in proportion to the extent he has been injured by this liquor, and the experience in cholera and other epidemic diseases, is in proof of the correctness of the remark. The result of the experience of the most distinguished physicians, who have practised in warm climates, as well as others, is most emphatic against its use in any way, and the names Chcyne, Trotter, Beddoes, Hoffman, Abercrombie, Astley Cooper, Johnson, Moseley, Rush, Hosack, and a host of others, are sufficient vouchers for the fact. I have detained you too long to go into particulars; but to rely upon it the ratio of the morta- lity at the Charity Hospital (to be mentioned presently) of the intemperate to the whole, will not be very far wrong when ap- plied to all unacclimated intemperate individuals. Those who drink water alone in a warm climate, can under- go the greatest fatigue, without comparative inconvenience, and in proportion to the exposure to the sun, so is the neces- sity the greater to avoid the injestion of ardent spirits, because the incitement of the stomach and general system is propor- tionally increased by such exposure, so infinitely greater is the liability to take on disease. To the same extent, and from the same cause, is increased our moral fortitude and the ability to support the inevitable ills of life. It was formerly very common for the planters in the country to give their 22 negroes daily drams, it has now gone very much into disuse, from experience of its manifest injury. I repeat then, and I have great pleasure in stating, that my experience has been confirmed by thai of many intelligent friends, who have been in the climate longer thah I have, that labor can be performed with greater ease and cheerfulness and less exhaustion, by those who entirely abstain—elasticity and buoyancy of spirits, —enables to endure hardship better and exposure to the incle- mency of the weather and vicissitudes of season, than those who indulge in it. Upon all these points experience has actually tested the truth, and has proved conclusively, that in the labor of drain- ing, exposed to wet and cold in all weather, and drinking only water and coffee, no injury resulted—that, in iron foundries, which is the hardest work done by man, and which is now well known cannot be performed if even beer is indulged in, and the sole drink during the hours of this hot and heavy labor is wa- ter;—that those who drink freely, have exposed themeselves to the inclemency of the weather, as severe snow storms—on wrecks &.c. perish, while those who drink water, but partially suffer. Capt. Ross found on a late voyage to the Arctic Re- gions, that in a journey of great difficulty and hardship, he was the only one of the party who had not inflamed eyes, and was the only one who did not drink grog;—he was also the oldest of the party;—yet, for the same reason he bore the fatigue better than any of them. He also stated from expe- rience, that whoever will make the experiment on two equal boats' crews, rowing in a sea, will soon be convinced that the water drinkers will far outdo the others. All this is in obedi- ence to that law of the animal system—that in proportion to the exaltation of any excitement, by artificial means, so is the after depression. And the very excuse for drinking in a warm climate, will shew, on explanation, the lameness of the apo- logy, viz.—that a certain amount of atmospheric heat has overstimulated and hence weakened the body; now it is per- fectly evident that if habituation to a certain range of tempera- ture will weaken and relax the body, no one proportion of «rrog will sustain the system—habit itself will destroy its effect__ the organism becomes insensible to its animating influence when most needed—the increase then must be constant but as toleration, on the resisting vital agency does not increase with the dose, the period of termination must be accelerated in proportion to the rapidity of this increase and the strength and resisting power of the constitution; and all observers know this to be the fact, and it is in precise accordance with physiological laws. But again, it is a well established medical axiom, that stim- ulants are not indicated, in proportion as exhaustion ensues, as the advocates of the practice allege, but as susceptibitity decreases,—now in proportion to exposure to the sun, sus- ceptibility so far from diminishing, actually increases; hence then the validity of the proposition; of their directly inju- rious tendency. 23 There is another reason equally forcible and conclusive, derived from incontrovertible physiological data and directly applicable to this climate. During the elevated temperature of summer, the air we breathe contains a less amount of oxy- gen (on the vivyfying portion) to the same bulk, and it is as well ascertained that the injestion of ardent spirits, andadiel of animal food largely augments the demand for the consump- tion of oxygen—the consequence is a laborious and suffocat- ing respiration and all the inconvenience suffered by the system for an important demand which cannot be supplied. Hence the double propriety (for they produce much exeitement) of a watery regimen, and a vegitable regimen in a hot climate and season It is an argument used against us and at times successfully, with superficial observers, to show the innocency of the in- dulgence, that many men who drink to a considerable extent, still enjoy great apparent health and appear to be in full vigor. Now, my friends, I beg you will not be deceived by appear- ances, you must not be satisfied with the superficies—the exu- berant foliage and rich verdure on the mountain side is no proof that there is not a volcano burning within. Apply to those who make physical man the study of their lives, whose opportunities permit them to draw aside the curtain that con- ceals the frailties of mortality, and they will tell you, that this ruddiness on the cheek, and this bloom on the nose, is but the effect of the excitement that is kindled within,—that they do not enjoy good health, and they well know it;—that as we cannot add one iota to existence, though we can increase its apparent phenomena we whirl on the jaded wheels of life too fast,—-ex- haustion takes place before life has had its ordinary duration, and as favorable as this climate has been proved to be, to healthful longevity, it is not permitted to them to enjoy it, and they run their race much sooner, as they run it much faster, and are cut off many years sooner than they otherwise would be, in the natural and usual wear of healthful action, and this is in precise accordance with experience here. It is well known to many of my auditors that a large proportion of the healthiest gentlemen of this city and country never taste ar- dent spirits, and they find their healths much improved by it. No medical man will deny the correctness of the physiological explanation just given, for he knows it is applicable to anala- gous cases,—that in proportion to the rapidity maturity is arriv- ed at, so is decay,—the sturdy oak may be a thousand years in reaching its acme, it may take a thousand to reach the period for the termination of its existence; the ephemeral insect in a day reaches its highest perfectibility, and in a day expires —such too are the fate and fortunes of man ! But again, it will be admitted by all who are acquainted with any climate; but especially with this (the special object of consideration) that the greatest amount of mortality neces- sarily arises during the acclimating process. By the acchmat- 2-t ing process in a warm country, with reference to natives of tho north, (whence the great mass of our emigration is derived) we mean—lowering the tone of the system to that of the native, by by which the calorific or heat-produeingproccs* is accommodated to fhe lessened wants of the system in that respect, consequent- ly,all those means that tend to increase this process,as diffusible stimulants, too warm clothing, and large quantities of strong food, are directly injurious, as they not only lend to arrest, if not destroy, the acclimating process, but actually assist the climate in the production of disease, and hence they are par- ticularly injurious during this stage. These principles are fully borne out and verified by all experience, and none will have the temerity to deny them in the face of repeated instances known here to almost every one, of men, during habits of ab- stinence, passing through the acclimating process even dur- ing our worst epidemics, without any fabrile phenomena what- ever. The fact is a most valuable one and I truiit will be remembered. Were such a tableau kept at our cemetries, as is recorded in almost every part of the Christian world, we could ascer- tain what is the actual amount of mortality in passing through the acclimating process, and calculate the mean duration of life in this climate—we should be supplied with the important and indispcnsible information necessary, as a basis, for the insur- ance on lives, which is now utterly wanting, from the culp- able neglect of the city councils, in not ordering a proper re- port of the deaths; the only approximation we can have re- course to, is that derived from the records of the Charity Hospital. Of the 5,470 admitted into that Institution during 1835, 1,226 died, of this number there were actually of Loui- siana and those who had been3years and upwards in our cli- mate but 9! This is a most extraordinary result in our favor. This important fact fully bears out our principles; to what other cause than beastly intemperance, as 1 will shew pre- sently, acting in conjunction with the influence of climate, each aggravating the other, can we ascribe this immense mortality, and it is due to the intelligent officers and attendants of that house to state these facts. I now approach that part of my subject that concerns us still nearer—it is to make the most approximative estimate in my power, from the imperfect data accessible to me of The cost to this community—1st of inebriating drinks to the consumers directly, and 2ndly—indirectly—through dis- eases and death—through crime and the demoralization of Jhe community. I enter upon this subject with great pain,—my own profes- sion gives me abundance of opportunities of witnessing its effects on the health,—the other professions furnish the same, ,to show its influence on the morals of the community. I shall borrow largely from all. I approach n too with great delicacy, because every man that exposes a gieat public abuse, must 25 necessarily stumble against strong private interests. My ob- ject, however, is the great interest of society, and if a few are injured by reform, the great, mass is benefitted, immesurably benefitted, and it is high time we took one lessen from experi- ence, for it has been bitter enough. 1st, Then—what is the quantity and cost of inebriating drinks—I say inebriating drinks, because in the estimate I am about to give, the wines cannot be distinguished from ardent spirits—though immesurably less injurious in the impairment of health—in the production of crime, and injury to morals, I yet believe the community would be gainers by entire ab- stience. The data we are about to give, are deemed nothing but mere approximations. The Customhouse books, (to whose inspection I am indebt- ed to the politeness of our worthy pre ident,) give a balance in favor of this place of the Foreign imports over the exports of spirits, wines and liqueurs, for 1835, of gallons 1,104,471. It is not presumed that entire amount was actually used in the city, but as we have no account of its, or any, exportation into the interior or coastwise, and as it is known that very large amounts are brought here from the upper country, much more than is exported to them, and that there was distilled in the city in 1835 1,000,000 gallons of spirits—it is presume d from the best authority I can find, and they have been practical men, fully cognisant of the business, who sup- pose there is consumed here, over and above the foreign im- portation, at least 720,000 gallons, and that of the most inju- rious description, including 25 percent of the produce of our distilleries, or 250,000 gallons, making the aggregate gallons 1,824,-171 which, at the least estimation, has been calculation to cost $2 per gallon, $3,648,9 12. This is supposed to be the gross value of it sold to private families, and to keepors of Hotels, Caberets, &c. Now the great portion of the drinking public, that for which the public have to pay, (as I will show you in my 2d category) although they actually do consume only a portion of this imount, the cost is prodigiously enhanced; the immense pro- fits of retail have to be taken out of it. Let us see what they vill amount to. There were licensed during 1835, 801 He- els and Cabarets, where ardent spirits were sold; some of hem are the most profitable establishments in the city; aver- iging between 2 and $300 pcr-c'av, and a very large number rom 50 to s>100. I am told by many judicious friends whom • have consulted, that I am much within the mark when I nake an average of the daily sales of the whole at #20 each, vhich, for the year, will amount (for what may be called ,mhlie drinking,) to the enormous sume of $5,847,300, 'caving out of the account, the r.mount consumed in private families, which has been estimated, by a competent judge, to reach to, at least £1,037,500, thus making the whole, pro- buble amount of drinl.ing in New Orleans, to extend to 26 $6,884,800. Please to bear in mind, the distinction which I wish*, to impress upon you, between public drinking and pri- vate drinking; the one the public has to pay for, in the various forms I shall presently enumerate: the other, the public is only so far interrested in, on account of the force of the example. 2dlv, Now let us see the effects of it; what it costs indi- rectly; through diseases and death; through crimes and the demoralization of the community. 1 have carefully examined in conjunction with the distin- gui>hed Surgeon of the Charity Hospital, (Dr. Stone, who sees every case) the records of the diseases and deaths of that establishment, and we concurred in ascribing more than three fourths of the cases, or 4754 to intemperance; and of these, there died 940, or one-fifth, or foui-tifth ofthe entire mortali- ty in one year! Ofthe out-door patients 2850, the same estimate was made with regard to the causes; the mortality was not known; three-fourth of this number is 1762,htnce we have an aggre- gate of 6916 individualy claiming and receiving the support of that charity from our city, in one year, at an annual cost to the community, besides the cost of capital, &.C., of (which is more than $200,000,) at least, 40,000. The private hospitals would not materially vary the ratio; the expense is individual, and is to be classed with private practice. This is necessarily much more vague, but as it is particularly mischievous here, on account of its acting in a direct line with the injurious influence of climate; and as one-fourth of those above 21 years of age, is supposed to die through the influence of intemperence; and as our entire mor- tality in 1835, besides those coming from the Charity Hos- pital, were 2628, of which 1987, are estimated to have been of the age referred to; I am sure I shall still be under the mark when I estimate the number of deaths, caused by intem- perance directly and indirectly in private practice in this city, to amount to 497, which added to the 940 from *he Charity Hospital, makes the frightful mortality of 1437 in one year from this cause! making in the aggregate more than one-third ( »% ) of the whole number of deaths from intem- perance !!! This is an] appalling picture, but it is the only way to un- derstand the extent of the evil. It is surely a most gloomy roll of victims offered up on this bloody and insatiable altar. Is it over-drawn? I appeal to every man who has been in this climate 18 years, as I have, and say that there is one iota of fact, of experience, of principle, that I have over-ra- ted. In that long vista of years, and painful retrospect of the past, how many a noble victim have I watched at the bed side of suffering, exhibiting the potion in vain, when the susceptibility to impression was extinguished; over how many a premature victim have I seen placed the clods ofthe valley; 27 ah, over how many a beloved friend and associate have I yet to shed the unavailing tear! Cast vour eyes abroad in the land, nay look not far—what family or connexion has escaped the influence of the desolating scourge that is constantly se- lecting the talented, the amiable, the gifted intellect, but weak of purpose, from among us. But let not our pity for their un- happy destiny conceal or disguise the errors which occasioned it. There is an awful sanctity to be sure, that invests the mansions of the dead, and there is even a delicacy due to the deviations of the misled, if we must moralise over the graves of our cotemporaries, let it only be done for the benefit ofthe living, but let us not palliate the dreadful consequences of their failings. Let a man who wishes to take a lesson of temperance go to our bastile (the jail—a disgrace to any civilized nation)—our criminal and police courts, our hospitals; let him from a bare inspection of their tenants doubt if he can, what brought them there; if still skeptical, let him visit with the anatomist, the last receptacle of mortality, the dead house, and see what brought there the white, the bloated, the scirrhous liver, tho softened, pallid, ulcerated viscera, the diseased brain ' the dropsical effusion. Look at the miserable collection of drunkeries (as they have been properly termed) from the lower to the upper end of your port, through every avenue, lane and alley of your extensive city, to the precincts of your burial grounds, shoot- ing their bloating poison through every limb of society in daily draughts, and nightly revels. Can any man who is not ignorant of the first principles of the profession, I had almost said, of common sense, hesitate to account for any mortality which malignant censure may foist upon us? are not here causes adequate to the result, climate out of the question ? But I am not yet done, God grant I could close here, these are not all the effects of this debasing vice. There was com- mitted to the police jail of this city in^l835, 4,210 individuals, the keeper of that receptacle estimates that more than 19-20ths| or 3,991 were confined, from causes arising from intemperance! The expense ofthe city prison is $12,000 per an- num 19-20ths is ...........$11,400 This is besides the value of their detention which at 15 3-4 days each is worth, which is lost, (while they are detained in idleness) at 50 cts a day, . 33,408 Besides the cost to the masters of $9,840, . . 9^840 There was committed to the Parish jail in 1835, 1,186 prisoners, the keeper estimates that 19-20ths were intemperate. The cost of this jail is $6,000 per annum, 19.20ths of which is . . . 5,700 Besides the loss to the community of their deten- tion in time, which at 28 days each, $1 50 cts a day, is equal to........... 16,604 28 The docket of the Crimrnnl Court exhibits a list of about .">00 cases for 1835, of which intelligent counsel, afar mature examination with me, esti- mates to have arisen from causes connected with intemperance, at least 40 per cent, the whole cost being 12,000 makes 4,COO. 4,800-' The City Justices have had about 350 cases aris- ing from causes connected with intemperance in 1835, which though costing the community as such nothm** probably has cost individuals at the rate of $8 each, .............#2,600 Hence from these indira-: sources there is, . . $62,447 The two Orphan Assylums have been tenanted by the infantile reliques of parcuLal intemperance, fhe entrances, in 1835, were 83. The annual ex- pense, independent of the large capitals of the In- stitutions arc about,.......... 26,000 Jill of which may be fairly put down to this vice. The charitable appropriations by the council for 1835, may be put to the same black list, and amounts to............. 14,842 I have not set down the large amount expended on the city guard, the greatest portion is demanded by vice, caused by intemperance—the large amounts for salaries, that would be saved—the police fees—the penitentiary fees—the law suits, and various other amounts expended, which would be entirely superfluous, were indulgence in ardent spirits stopped, the large amounts paid to physicians, for the cure of diseases aris- ing from the same cause, besides the large contributions of private charity, See. &.C Finally, I should leave this subject very imperfect were I not to allude to the numerous private quarrels constantly oc- curring, a great portion of which have the treacherous influ- ence of these drinks for their origin, 30 of which, annually terminate in duels, 25 or 5-6ths of these have been ascribed, by an intelligent informant who is well conversant with them, to this cause, and from l-5th to 1-Cth of which are fatal. Now let us see how the account stands,—here is an amonnt paid out of the State and Parish funds of . . . $102,742. (And I leave out the loss to the community of $60,000 de- rivable from indirect means.) But, these expenses were in- curred in the city of New Orleans will, if every community was governed by the principle of bearing its own burthens, it should be divided by the number of tax payers here, which in 1835 amounted to 3,363, over and above the licences for drays, cabarets, &.c. hence then, each would have to pay up- wards of ^30 independent of all the ordinary legitimate burthens of civil government! Were this tax actually enforced, would the drunkeries continue to be supported, so would we feel the 29 full force of the argument addressed to our pockets, and break them up? And this some miscall freedom,—it is freedom with a vengeance,—it is the freedom of the cut-throat and the robber. Is it freedom to recognise the right for any mem- ber of society to do as he pleases, and say to the rest—" you shall maintain me and my family, and besides, exposed to all the consequences of mv habits!—Is this derived from nature, or the institutions of society ? How long will the intelligent and far-seeing people of this country put up with an imposition so outrageous ? It will result from the data T have furnished, that the cost of drinking in New Orleans—directly or indirectly—amounts to the enormous sum annually of $7,449,989. Suppose this sum appropriated to the pavement of your streets : from an estimate obligingly furnished me by Mr. Pilie, one-third of it would pave all the streets in your city, and thus make it, for health, population, comfort, and wealth, superior to any city in America ; and besides, decorate your public squares, and make perennial streams from the great father of waters, per- petually purify and refresh your streets. Let us now turn our minds from this painful and disgraceful reality, and contemplate individuals and conditions of society, where it is not used. It is a gratifying circumstance, and adds force and value to the principles in this paper, and to the great cause itself, that the great men of every age—those who bave possessed the clearest and most powerful minds, have not indulged in the inebriating bowl; this then is the ex- planation of their ability to perform such prolonged intellectual labor, and to acquire such an advanced age in the enjoyment of health. Among those who have remarkably illustrated it in their lives may be mentioned Demosthenes, Culer, Boyer, Fletcher, Locke, Laplace, Sir Isaac Newton, Sir Wm. Jone-, Wesley, Dr. Johnson, Franklin, President Edwards, and a host of others, who have left durable monuments of their genius on every age. The perfect and uninterrupted health of the inhabitants of New Zealand, has been the theme of praise by that distin- guished observer and navigator Captain Cook. Throughout the whole of their towns and country, not a single man, wo- man or child seemed to have, or to have had any bodily com- plaint whatever. The great ages to which they reached was likewise remarked by him,—coming on with a gradual subsi- dence of muscular strength and the falling of the hair and teeth, they shewed no deficiency of cheerfulness and vivacity. To no other cause could our navigator ascribe these remark- able effects than that water was their universal and only drink. A primeval state of health and simplicity was described to us but a year or two ago, by that interesting traveller Catlet, as prevailing among the Mandan Indians, and it doubtless struck many of my present auditors as forcibly as myself: 5 30 the noble simplicity of life of those remote sons and daugh- ters of nature, had not yet been disturbed by the vices of the white man; his instinctive wants had not yet called for the in- toxicating bowl—the pure stream that flows from the bosom of nature was his only drink. How painful and disgusting the contrast to point you to the drunken and dilapidated rem- nants of the once noble sons of the forest, the descendants of Pocahontas, of Logan and of others; who now wander along our frontiers, and in our settlements, a most heart-rending illustration of what ardent spirits cau do, to demoralise and destroy. Another instance of such influence has lately been given me by an intelligent gentleman from Metamoras. The heat of the climate there is greater than here, the country a rich alluvial, but fever and all those diseases I have enumerated as common in this country, with those who indulge in ardent spirits,was then unknown among the large body of natives, who drank nothing but water, live upon fresh food, richly spiced; but that since the introduction of ardent spirits, those who make use of it, are subject to all the host of diseases they always carry in their train. But I am afraid I have exhausted your patience, and I must hasten to draw these observation,.to a close. Many of our friends object to joining us, assigning for a reason, that they are " temperate already"—in answer to that, we can only say we want, society wants the benefit of your example; ex- ample in this world goes much farther than precept—man is an imitative animal, he looks to the upper members of society, the leaders, for example, and follows as near as may be, his manners, customs, habits, it is them that give the moral tone to society, and it depends upon them for it to be healthy or diseased. Such then as are the conspicuous members of so- ciety, so will be the mass. It is their duty then as well as their interest, to afford such an example as will most conduce to the welfare of society. The force of that example is.much increased by uniting with associates, union is strength, alone it is comparatively little felt, hence the advantage of a society, not only for the force of example, but for collection of facts^ and diffusion of information. It has been said with as much force as appropriateness, in reference to a refusal to join a temperance society—should a patriot refuse to join with others for the defence of his country, and give as a reason, that " he was a patriot already," would have his patriotism to be something more than suspected. And again, were a man in health to refuse to unite with others to drain off a stagnant pool, that was filling a city with pestilence, and give as a rea- son that he was in health already, he would give sad evidence, that his heart, if not his head, was disordered. Were a con- flagration raging in a city, and should a man refuse to unite with others to extinguish the flames, because his own house was not on fire, he would be likely to excite little sympathy 31 should his house be burnt. There is not an individual then, who is not interested in the success of our principles: you have all to pay your quota for intemperance—in expense— labor—reputation—in the foundation and endowment of hos- pitals—poor houses—courts of justice, and all the innumer- able claims, which these miserable objects exact, in one way or another, the pittance ofthe industrious and the tem- perate, to minister to wants derived from a suicidal use of ar- dent spirits. After these specimens of the use of ardent spirits upon the happiness—the health—the moral character and the pecu- niary interests of society, I very much mistake the intelli- gence and patriotism of my countrymen, if my prediction is not verified, of its abandonment. Let us present another ex- ample to the world of what Americans can do; that pleasant and innocent beverage tea, was but the detestable instrument which laid the foundation of all the suffering of our ancestors, to accomplish a noble end, our political freedom; their sons have now a duty to perform, infinitely more important, it is the disenthralment from a mental and physical servitude, pregnant with more real ills than all the despotisms that ever existed. I am sure it is only necessary to put the facts fairly before my fellow citizens for them to be con- vinced of it. We can form in every parish and town, socie- ties to subserve the tactics of party, or clubs for the amuse- ment of Bachanal carousal, but we are laughed to scorn, if we attempt one more dearly associated with the interest, pre- sent and eternal, of the widow and orphan, the poor and the destitute, the criminal and the diseased, the high as well as the low, than any that was ever formed by the hand of man. We have heard much sickly sympathy for what is called the "poor African," and volumes have been written, and meetings upon meetings of our deluded brethren, and hundreds and thousands subscribed, and attempts made to deluge this land in blood for their relief;—and hundreds of thousands raised to dispel the clouds of darkness from the moral sight of the poor benighted heathen, in a distant quarter of the globe; and all this while these very individuals—their friends and the community, their own countrymen, are suffering from a cause of moral and phy- sical depravity of a hundred fold greater magnitude. If cha- rity ever should begin at home, it should be here; the enemy is not only attacking the frontier, or even the walls—they are contending for the citadel itself: each individual is personally interested, for who is so poor or so rich as not to feel the scourge that is desolating society ?—who is so insulated as not to feel the influence of that link that connects him with his fellow?—who so immaculate as not to feel that poison that is circulating in every vein and artery of society! Should it not be the object then of philanthropy, of patriotism, to arrest this desolating scourge, that is so costly to us not only in money, but in character, and in life? Must we confine ourselves to 32 the cure of the disease after it is formed at such a price? Is it not more economical—more humane—more philosophical, io lay the axe to the root at once, and before we raise a cru- sade for the disenthralment of others, first strike the shackles from our own limbs? With what a brilliant vision do you clothe the future with regard to this portion of our happy country,—what makes it so? You complete the outline in having the country filled with an enlightened population—the forest subdued—the land cleared, drained and cultivated—canals and railroads giving every facility of intercourse: but, you will have the same burning sun, the same vicissitudes, the same moisture,—and will not the same habits produce the same effects then as now? Will not ardent spirits have the same influence in increasing the liability to climatural disease and augmenting every ma- lign influence of position? Your vision then of the future, in- stead of being of joyous anticipation, with the growing influ- ence of this vice upon us, should be one of the most sombre melancholy, for increase of population under such circum- stances, can only produce increase of mortality and crime. But what a splendid contrast opens to the eye of the philan- thropist and the Christian of this country, with a change of habits and all the happy consequences I have shown to flow from it. What a delightful relief, to see the springs of life, feeling and intelligence renewed on every hand; health, in- dustry and prosperity glowing around us; and the altars of do- mestic peace and love rekindled in every family. America and her institutions are the last hope of the world. It is one ofthe great resources left her for paying off, to the old world, the large debt incurred for the benefits she has derived from her literature, her arts, and her sciences. But I am at fault my language is ofthe future, while my data are of the past— the set-off has been registered—the claim allowed—the ac- quittance granted. The debt is extinguished, and a heavy ba- lance has been entered to the credit of American philanthropy and benevolence.