Litchfield Enquirer

Litchfield County Temperance Society

The Connecticut Observer of this week contains an account of the proceedings of this Society at their meeting in Goshen last month, which we are requested to copy. It follows :

The Temperance Society of Litchfield County held its last monthly meeting at Goshen, Tuesday, October 27th; Samuel Lyman, Esq. presiding. Two of the other Vice Presidents, Dr. William Buel and David C. Sanford, Esq. were also present. Delegates were present from the Branch Societies of Sharon, South Canaan, North Canaan, Norfolk, Colebrook, Winchester, Winsted, New Hartford North, Torringford, Torrington, Goshen, South Cornwall, Warren, New Preston, Litchfield, Litchfield South Farms, Harwinton, Plymouth, and Watertown. Adding to this list the Branch Societies of Woodbury, Salisbury, Riga, and Ellsworth, reported at former meetings, but not represented at the present, we have the number of 23 Branches, recognized by the Parent Society. Both the facts reported at the meeting, and the spirit manifested by those present, furnished the most heart cheering evidence of a growing interest and zeal in the cause of Temperance, throughout the county.— Thirteen merchants in the county, besides several tavern-keepers, were reported as having discontinued the practice of "scattering fire-brands and death" among their fellow men, by the sale of ardent spirits.— A greater number still had resolved not to renew their licenses, or replenish their casks.

The quantity of the poison consumed in their respective communities, was represented by some to be less than one-fourth, and by others less than one-tenth and one-twelfth the amount formerly used. The use of ardent spirit is confined principally to the laboring class of people. The resolution of the Parent Society to supply every family in the county with a Tract on the subject of Temperance, was seconded and carried into effect by the Branch Societies to some extent. In Harwinton the distribution had been finished, and only two or three families in the town had rejected the proffered kindness. It is a fact peculiarly interesting, as well as encouraging to benevolent exertion, that the Temperance reformation appears to have been the greatest in manufacturing communities, where the cause had the most appalling obstacles to encounter. The same remark is to some extent applicable to places infested with numerous distilleries; where oaths, and feuds, and crimes, and death, and eternal destruction are manufactured by a chemical process, one of the "many inventions which man hath sought out."

Of the 39 prisoners confined in the County jail, on charge of some crime or misdemeanor, 35, it was reported, were drunkards. Of the 33 confined in the debtor's department, 17 were found on examination to be confirmed drunkards, 8 occasional drunkards, and 7 only temperate. Here is a specimen of the mischief done by the manufacturer and retailer "who giveth their neighbor drink ;"—a practice which it was asserted in one of the addresses, no honest man could continue in, after having once had his eyes opened to its pernicious effects.

The congregation was addressed in an appropriate and interesting manner, by Doct. Gold, of Goshen, and the Rev. Mr. Hart, of Plymouth.

The number now reported as having signed a pledge of "entire abstinence," is 2,234. Increase during the last month, 509. The next meeting is to be held at Plymouth, on the fourth Tuesday of November inst.

E. GOODMAN, Secretary.