the County Attorney, have sometimes been done upon the assurance that the party accused would not repeat the offence, and upon his paying costs. It has been done in other instances, for want of sufficient evidence to support the indictments. I have rarely discovered any want of correct feelings in the jurors towards sustaining the indictments, where the evidence would warrant a conviction. The great body of the community here, are in favor of punishing all violations of the law regulating the sale of ardent spirits." YOUR Corresponding Secretary, by much labor and perseverance, has obtained some information from all the towns in the State, except from New field,in York County-Patricktown and Washington, in Lincoln-Belmont and Burnham, in Waldo-New Limerick and Princeton, in Washington-Berlin, Eastman, Porter, Rumford and Riley, in Oxford-Anson, Avon, Concord, Hartland, New Vineyard and Ripley, in Somerset-and Argyle, Carmel, Burlington, Jarvis' Gore, Hermon, Lincoln, Milton and Sunkhaze, in Penobscot; all of which towns contained in 1830 a population of 14865-one-tenth of whom are probably members of Temperance Societies. The time and labor devoted to the performance of his duties, has been greatly increased by the inattention of the officers of local Societies, in omitting seasonably to ascertain the facts solicited-and the great deficiency in many of the returns, is to be attributed to the same cause, and a lack of that persevering industry, and operative benevolence, which is so important in accelerating the Temperance Reform to its speedy and final termination. While those whose duty it is to plan and execute the best measures to promote the cause of Temperance, as officers and agents of the local societies, are unwilling to spend a single day, or perhaps an hour, in collecting and reporting such facts as will aid in making known whai progress the reform hasmade, and what kind and degree of exertions are still necessary to accomplish our benevolent object, how can we rationally expect so rapid and speedy and thorough a check to intemperance and its horrors, as is desirable, and anxiously to be hoped for, by every man who has a heart to "feel for another's woes?" While secretaries of lo cal societies will lay aside a Circular as soon as they have given it a hasty examination, and think no more of it, until they are specially requested to answer its inquiries, and are then unable to find it, and obliged to ask for another to enable them to ascertain what facts are wanted, and then furnish a hasty and very imperfect answer, assigning as a reason that the time for making a report is too short for an opportunity to collect the facts required, and will not even spend time enough to ascertain the number of members of their society-of which fact there is proof from the answers, that "there are about 100,"" there are over 250," "there are not less than 300," "the Constitution which has their signatures is mislaid," "there are several copies of our constitution in the several school districts, and I do not know how many names have been added;" -While the officers of Temperance Societies shrink from the performance of important duties, which would require but a little time to perform; and the members of Temperance Societies are satisfied with their adherence to the pledge of total abstinence from the use of ardent spirit-forgetting that they are pledged also to discountenance its use by others, and in every way to aid and promote the cause of temperance, by all practicable ways and means in their power, and will suffer a whole year to pass without holding their periodical meetings required by the constitution of their society, and without the least attention to increase the number of their members-and this neglect has in sev eral instances happened during the past year-we must make but slow progress in this glorious reform, compared with the advancement which attention, activity, zeal and perseverance in all concerned, would produce. Let every member of a Temperance Society but resolve to convince one person at least, that it is his duty to enlist in the service-the benevolent service-of reforming the intemperate, by pledging himself to abstain from the use of distilled spirits, if not from the use of all intoxicating liquors, and by discountenancing its use by others and at the close of the year 1834, we shall have the pleasure of knowing that 120,000 or more individuals in Maine, are engaged as well by pre cept as example, in arresting a vice which still is producing a wide spread desolation of the peace aud happiness of society. Let the 60,000 individuals in Maine, now enroled on the side of temperance, but do their duty industriously, faithfully and perseveringly-let each have his appropriate task assigned to him-let the wise and intelligent be industrious in contriving the best modes of advancing our cause-let the prudent and discreet be selected from among us to execute in kindness and love, such measures as may be advised-let the orator contribute of his eloquence to enlighten and persuade the ignorant, the interested, the prejudiced, and the enslaved, as occasion may offer or require, to give up their opposition, and to become converts to one of the best of causeslet him whose profession must necessarily engage him sometimes to appear on the side of vice, at least, of a vicious client, voluntarily, when opportunities offer, and they are many and frequent, advocate the cause which more than all others has a tendency to diminish vice and poverty, although it may at the same time diminish his own fees-let those engaged in preventing or curing diseases resolutely determine never to administer alcohol, a poison, in any combination, as a matter of convenience, when from his honest convictions he may not deem it a necessary remedy, and embrace his daily opportunities to persuade his patients into the belief that "the use of ardent spirits is injurious to men in health, acting as a predisposing cause to disease, and serves to render all diseases from other causes, more unmanageable and difficult of cure, and that a greater number die from the effects of ordinary diseases, as well as those of an epidemic character, who yield to their ordinary use;" and that they are very rarely necessary as a medicine, and when used as such for any length of time, often produce a worse and more incurable disease, than the one they are intended to remove-let him whose business it is to persuade men to prepare for eternity, to seek after future happiness, in season and out of season,' inculcate the virtue of temperance, one of the cardinal virtues, promotive of man's happiness here and hereafter-let those, to whom the power is given of granting or withholding licenses to retail spirituous liquors, feel the responsibility of their station, and act with reference to the welfare of men, and in the fear of God--let the magistrate and the grand and petit juror, whose duty it is to enforce the laws, and punish those who violate them, with moderation, but with firmness, do their duty which their oath of office requires of them, regardless of all the consequences, other than the anticipated benefit that must always result, sooner or later, from the enforcement of laws enacted for the promotion of virtue, and the punishment of vice-let the poor man, who has nothing else to spare, contribute so much of his time and labor as he can spare to aid in the various ways in which he may, the good cause in which he is enlisted--let the rich man contribute liberally of his wealth to remunerate those of whom extra services are required necessarily, and in consequence of the many drones we have among us, and to aid in disseminating information through the medium of the press--let the 470 members of our Society, located as they are, in various parts of the State, each do their duty in promoting and increasing the means of "concentrating the efforts of the friends of temperance throughout the State, diffusing information, and by a moral influence to discourage the use of ardent spirits in the community"-at the close of the year 1834,we shall not only find our numbers doubled, but we shall see that number doubling their diligence in hurrying on this glorious réformation; we shall see the numbers of dram-selling taverns reduced from 349 to 200 or less, and the temperance taverns increased from 99 to 200 or more; the number of retailers who have abandoned the traffic increased from 806 to more than 1200, and a proportionate increase of reclaimed inebriates; and instead of 464,000 gallons of spirit consumed in the State as in 1833, at an expense of $348,000, there will be less than 300,000, and a proportionate diminution of the expense of it; and the taxes for the support of intemperate paupers diminishing, though in a less ratio-and at the close of the year, we shall have occasion for rejoicing, at the many instances which will be made known to us, of a change of condition and circumstances during the year, from extreme poverty and wretchedness, caused by intemperance and idleness, to comparative competency and happiness, produced by temperance and industry--and shall have abundant reason to thank our Heavenly Father for his smiles upon our exertions, and be encouraged to beseech Him for a continuance of His favors. SAMUEL M. POND, Corresponding Secretary. APPENDIX. A.—(Page 11th.) Please furnish the names of the officers of your Society or Societies, and the post office address to their Presidents and Secretaries. 1. How many have been added to your society since the last report? Give the number of males and number of females. 2. Has the time of your annual meeting been altered to some day in December? (See 7th and 8th pages of 1st Annual report of Maine Temperance Society.) 3. Has your society become auxiliary to the County Temperance Society? and does your constitution require a report annually to the County society? 4. What quantity of ardent spirit has been sold in town in 1833? and at what expense to the consumers? 5. Please give the names of your Taverners who do not keep ardent spirits. 6. Please furnish the names of your retailers of spirits. 7. How many who have sold ardent spirit as retailers or taverners since the first settlement of your town, have become intemperate ? 8. What is the expense of paupers in 1833, and the amount caused by intem. perance? 9. How many deaths by intemperance in 1833? 10. How many debtors and how many criminals were committed to prison in 1833, and how many of them are intemperate? 11. How many cases of Delirium Tremens in 1833 ? 12. How many drunkards died in your town in 1833-if any, how many have left widows, and how many orphans ? 13. Has there been any separation between husband and wife in 1833, by reason of intemperance? 14. Have any intemperate persons commenced a reform in 1833 ? and do those persevere in well doing who had previously commenced a reform ? 15. Please furnish the numbers and names of temperance papers faken. 16. Please furnish the number of those who have abandoned the sale of ardent spirits in 1833. 17. Has your town voted to authorize licenses for selling spirits to be drank in shops or stores in 1833? 18. Has your town voted to instruct your Selectmen, &c. not to grant licenses? 19. Are your buildings raised, vessels built, launched and navigated, and your highway taxes wrought without ardent spirits? 20. Do your militia officers treat their soldiers with spirits? 21. Are your mechanics furnished with ardent spirit at 11 and 4 o'clock each day, as formerly? 22. Is ardent spirit or wine generally in use at your social parties? 23. Are there any professors of religion opposed to your society, or any who refuse to join it? 24. Has the consumption of wine, cider and strong beer, increased during the year 1833? 25. How many families are there in your town, and what the whole number that composes them, who are made poor and miserable by reason of the intemperance of the husband and father, or mother? and how many in your town are made miserable by the intemperance of a son or brother? 26. What are the objections to joining your society by those who refuse to join? 27. Has the Temperance Reform already visibly increased the comfort, health and prosperity of many of your citizens? Name of Society. 1. When organized? B.-(Page 11th.) 2. Number of male members? 3. Number of female members? 4. When the annual meeting? 5. How often does the Society meet? 6. Are meetings well attended? 7. Quantity of ardent spirit sold in town in 1827 and 1833 ? 8. Has the consumption of cider and strong beer increased since 1829 ? 9. How many taverns in your town? 10. How many Taverners who sell no ardent spirit? Please give the names of those who do not, and the names of those who do. 11. How many licensed retailers? and what their names? and how many of them are professors of religion? 12. How many licensed to sell to be drank in shop or store? 13. How many since the settlement of your town who have sold ardent spirit as retailers or taverners, have become intemperate ? 14. Are the laws respecting licenses observed? 15. What are the number of deaths in your town annually? 16. Proportion of deaths by intemperance? 17. Number of intemperate males? 18. Number of intemperate females? 19. Number of intemperate heads of families? 20. What is the annual expense of paupers? 21. Proportion of that expense from intemperance? 22. Number of debtors and criminals committed to prison within the last ten years? 23. Number of them intemperate? 24. Number of insane caused by iutemperance? 25. Number of insane from other causes? 26. Number of cases of Delirium Tremens within the last 10 years? 27. Number of widows whose husbands have died by reason of intemperance? 28. Number of orphans whose fathers or mothers have died from same cause? 29. Number of husbands and wives separated by reason of intemperance? 30. Number of reformed drunkards? 31. Number of farms cultivated without the use of ardent spirit? 32. Number of manufactories carried on without ardent spirit? 33. Amount of money tax for 1833 ? 34. Amount of highway tax for 1833? No's 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 and 45, same as No's 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. and 25 in Appendix A. 44. Is there any opposition to your society? and what objections are made to joining it? Co-(Page 24th.) "In One correspondent, in answer to the 27th question in Appendix A. says, the winter of 1831-2, 1 was called to visit a man in apparently the last stage of Delirium Tremens. He had been given over by a physician, whose visit preceded mine only an hour; and I found him without any pulse at first; but they soon returned, and his medicines operating favorably, he was out of danger in a short time. From that moment he became a sober, industrious citizen, from having been an abandoned drunkard; and now supports his family in comfort; and is respectable and happy. The cheering influence of religion has shed its blessings upon him, and he appears like one risen from the dead." See also the instances mentioned by a correspondent of Harrison, page 27, and of Prospect, page 48-and then contrast them with the following instances of a perseverance in intemperance, and the dire results;- ་་ "A young man," says a correspondent, "married and commenced the world with flattering prospects of future happiness and prosperity. In a short time it was perceived that he was tending towards the awful vortex of intemperance. A year or two after our Temperance Society was organized, he was induced to become a member. It was, however, soon ascertained that he was secretly indulging in his former habits of intemperance. Finding it impossible longer to secrete his intemperate practices, or evade the vigilance of our Committee, who were about to remonstrate with him against his self-destroying course, and reclaim him, if possible, to temperate habits, he seemed determined to continue the practice of drinking at all hazards, and not to endure the disgrace of a public expulsion from the Society, which he saw inevitable, (or it might have been for the sport and merriment of himself and companions that he thus fooled the cold water society,) he called upon the Secretary and withdrew his name from the Society, and thus eluded their influence and censure, as he supposed. But mark what follows. Within a few short months of this time, in the evening, after having during the day indulged his appetite for ardent spirits to an excess, and not satisfied, had again this very evening, taken the social glass with a neighbor, who was of similar habits, he mounted his horse and, as his neighbor supposed, rode to his home,-but the neighbor in a short time, found this man a few rods from the place where he saw him mount, fallen from his horse, apparently lifeless, and unable to speak or move-in this state he languished a few days, and without being able to move himself or utter a word, he died, undoubtedly a victim to his intemperate habits, and a fearful warning to all those who thus wilfully reject and treat with contempt and contumely, the efforts of friends to save them from ruin." Says another correspondent: "A neighbor of mine, a trader of respectability, with a promising family, sold rum to others, and drank, himself, moderately, for many years. His oldest son, the hope of his father and the delight of his mother, also drank moderately. After receiving his education, he entered with his father in business,-married a fine woman-but it was soon found that his moderate drinking was becoming excessive. In a few years he became a most miserable sot-business abandoned-the family separated-the wife returned to her widowed mother, with two children,-his father took the other. The husband has not been heard from, by any of the connections, for two or three years. Who can calculate the father's loss--the mother's sorrows--and the wife's disappointment? Would they not rather have never seen rum, than endure all this?" D.-(Page 25th.) Constitution of the Temperance Society in School District No. Art. 1st. This Society shall be known as the Temperance Society of District number ; and its sole object shall be to discountenance, by precept and example, the use of ardent spirit. in the town of Art. 2d. This society shall be governed by the system of rules and regulations attached to this Constitution. Art. 3d. Any person, male or female, may be a member of this Society by signing the following mutual agreement; provided that no child under fourteen years of age, shall be considered a member without the consent of his or her parents or guardian : We whose names are affixed to this agreement, do severally and unitedly promise that we will not in any case use ardent spirit ourselves, or furnish it for the use of others, as an article of drink, entertainment or traffic; and we also agree that we will observe, and be governed, while we continue members of this society, by the following Rules and Regulations. Regulation 1. The officers of this society shall be a President, Vice President and Secretary, annually elected, who shall constitute the Executive Committee. Reg. 2. The President shall, when present, preside in every meeting of the society; and in his absence, the Vice President. If both are absent, the Secretary shall call the meeting to order, and a President pro. tem. shall be nominated and chosen. |