MR. stone's ADDRESS. 37 



ing fact, in the history of a Reform the most extraordinary and 

 extensive ever witnessed in this union, that as early as 1827, 

 your Society set a noble example to all public bodies, by 

 discarding the use of ardent spirits and wine at its annual 

 dinner. And not less pleasing is it to learn, as I do from 

 a reliable source, that a large proportion of the farmers of 

 this county have ceased to furnish an intoxicating beverage 

 to their workmen, even in " haying time." They have 

 foimd, by delightful experience, that by substituting other 

 drinks for ardent spirits, more work is done and better exe- 

 cuted, fewer tools are broken and lost, less profanity is heard, 

 disputes are not so frequent, and the character of laborers 

 is generally improved. But intemperance is still busy in 

 its work of ruin. Fathers are mourning over their fallen 

 sons, and wives are weeping over besotted husbands. Eter- 

 nity alone can tmfold the agony caused daily by this pes- 

 tilence ; and of woe visited upon man reckless of right, his will 

 be the fullest measure, who tempts the penitent inebriate to 

 swerve from his purpose of reform. 



No class, perhaps, is capable of doing more at this time, to 

 promote temperance, than farmers. In a pecuniary view, they 

 have weighty reasons for giving their united influence to the 

 cause. In a moral view, the claims upon them are of the most 

 solemn and binding character. May they every where appre- 

 ciate the opportunities that Providence has opened to them for 

 blessing their age. And may the convictions of responsibility, 

 enlist them as one man in this work of philanthropy and mercy. 



I have not time, and this is not the occasion, for considering 

 in detail, the physical, social and moral wrongs of slavery. I 

 cannot stop to speak, as I should like, of its subversion of the 

 most sacred relations — its paralysis on intelligence — its license 

 of impurity — nor its malign influence on the councils of the 

 nation. I may, however, and as an American citizen, I do, 

 enter my individual, solemn protest against an institution 

 which converts " a Person into a Thing, an object merely pas- 

 sive, without any attributes of Human Nature, and stamps 

 him that character not acknowledged as a man"* — and which, 



*Wliewell"s Elements of Moralilv. 



