Intemperance in the use of intoxicating drinks,—and intemperance in the use of tobacco, in the several forms of smoking, snuffing and chewing; together with several other evils, which I need not here specify, are even now predominant.
By intemperance in the use of tobacco, I mean all use of this drug except that which is under the direction of enlightened, judicious medical advice. With this exception, entire abstinence from this narcotic substance constitutes the only safe and genuine temperance.—This principle has been adopted extensively, in its application to intoxicating drinks; but before it shall be universally adopted in that application, it must be applied, and applied universally, to the quid, and the pipe, and the snuff-box. Rum-drinking will not cease, till tobacco-chewing, and tobacco-smoking, and snuff-taking, shall cease. Though all who are attached to the quid, the pipe, or the snuff-box, are not attached to the bottle; yet a vast multitude become attached to the bottle, and this attachment is continued and increased, through the poisonous, bewitching, and debasing influence of tobacco.
Moreover, the use of tobacco involves a train of evils, superadded to its influence in perpetuating drunkenness, which cries aloud for immediate and universal reformation. It is my present purpose to
consider these evils. And I wish to premise that, in this consideration, I shall urge; that it is the duty of every friend of humanity—of every lover of his country—of every Christian—and of every minister of Christ, to abstain, himself, immediately, and forever, from all use of tobacco, whether by chewing, smoking, or snuffing, except it be medicinally; and to use the whole weight of his influence and example to persuade others—and especially the young men and maidens of this nation—to practice entire abstinence.
I am fully aware that the topic which I have selected, the position which I lay down, and the purpose at which I aim, are not popular. But what then? Did Clarkson and Wilberforce abandon the cause of the enslaved African, when they found that abolition was unpopular in the British Senate? Did Columbus abandon his purpose of attempting to discover a new world, when he perceived that the noble project of his noble soul was unpopular, with princes and people, learned and ignorant? Did Jesus Christ abandon his purpose to redeem a world lying in wickedness, when it became manifest that his doctrines, and the pure benevolence of his holy soul, were unpopular. And has it ever been seemly for one of his true and faithful disciples to abandon the cause of human happiness, and the soul's everlasting salvation, because the work of saving mercy is unpopular?
The theme of our present consideration, is doubtless unpopular.—But we should not, we will not, therefore abandon the purpose of exposing the evils of smoking, and chewing, and snuffing, that dirty weed, which is so hostile to animal life, and so offensive to every creature on earth, that no living being but man—and a loathsome worm, called the tobacco-worm—will taste, or touch, or handle it.[A]
Though it be unpopular to expose the evils of using tobacco; these evils are so appalling, it will not do to slumber over them longer.—We must look at them; we must lay them open—we must raise our voice against them; (we would gladly raise it so high that it should reach every family in the nation.) Yes, we must cry aloud and spare not; or give up our claim to patriotism, and benevolence.
In approaching this subject, I am not unmindful of the pertinacity with which men adhere to old habits. Dr. Rush speaks of a venerable clergyman who closed a long sermon, in which he had controverted what he supposed an heretical opinion, with these words: "I tell you—I tell you, my brethren, I tell you again, that an old error is better than a new truth." There are few who will assent to this proposition in plain terms; but there are thousands upon thousands, who act up to the very letter of it, constantly.—The history of man is extensively a history of folly, delusion, and sin.
No error has been so absurd as not to find advocates—no habit has been so foolish, or so deadly, as not to find martyrs. But of all the delusions, which have prevailed among civilized men, there have been few—perhaps none, but that of intoxication—so disgusting, so inex
cusable, so destructive to health, and wealth, and life, as the habit which we now ask you to consider.