Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1801-09-14
THE OBSERVER.

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! more perions then in he'll for that fin than
ssfor any other, to which mankind is ad-
ditted. 1t is indeed a fin with which al
moffsall are more or leis ohargeable, and
fome in. an aggravated degree. Nothing
flows human nature in more unfavorab!e
light, than the readiness with which ca
lumny is taken up, circulated, enlarged
and multiplied, than the plealure which Is
found infcahdal and inyeetive. Nnt on
ly the injured, excited by refentn,ent, and
the intereited, having a tavorite point to
carry, are guilty of this vice, butthc idle,
the e.svious, the thoughtleis and the vairf,
\ employ their tongues and iouetimes their
Apens, 10 Gain and calulnniate worth. to
traduce patrio,ifn, TO diisouragc induf-
try, 10 depreciate beauty, and TO oppreis
genius.
srhe weekly journals of all free coun-
tries have been nored as vehicles of detrac-
tion and while fome have beenthe guar
dians of well earned reputation, multi
tudes have been proitituted to party fpirit
or individual malice. Devoted to thefe
unworthy purpofes, theyhaye fported with
the great, the venerable, nd TIE good !;
expofed the misfortunes ofprivate families
and infulted the friendlefs and the fallen.
and even perfecuted the dead.
But when We complain of this fpirit of
detrattion and abute, we mutt be careful
to underltand what detraetion and abufe
are. Decent perfonal remarks and free
tiifcuGion of men and their conduct, are
often pronounced detraetion BY thofs who
are continually babbling about the free
dom of fpeech and writing, and uGng it
with a wanton contempt Of truth and de-
corum.
Whatever is faid or written againa
their favorites,
They read, int 4Oitb lgR to milabbly,
Make Iafiye a lumboou, and /fl7iou lie.
We are not obliged to fuppreG every
thing injurious to the feelings, or the con-
iequence Of our neighbour, but only to fee
that we break iilence with good reaion
and virtuous motive. All reproof or
cenfure of a mans works or Actions is NOT
to be coniidered an invalion of his rights.
nor arc characters to be always excluded
from among the topics Of converfation or
writing. When dullnefs iets up for wit,
and folly for wifdom, it is no offence
againf brotherly love, but the right of
common fenfe and talte to express con.
tempt and diigua. An iniipid poem, a
bombaaic Grafton, book Of barren me
moirs or lying travels, are not too facred
for iatire. Iris no duty Of humanity or
jaltice to fee in iilence the irnpohrions of
the crafty upon the fmple, of the impu-
dent upon the modea, of the artful upon
the credulous.
We are not forbidden TO examine and
proclaim the principles or the vifions Of
acandidafe for popular favour, whether
feeking or holding office; or to reprefent
.thofe defects or vices of character which
difqualify him for the fation for which he
or his friends declare him fit. tits eyerv
individuals right 10 eSpofe the milreprc
ientagions, and TO dfplay the motives of 4
falfe accufer and to deifroy, by all re-
gular means, the power Of his adversary to
DO him wrong. To promote in ourfelvcs
and Others an adherence Of the wicked
and the bafe, it is lawful TO fpeak aoa;na
'hofe who plainly offend againR religion,
morality and decorum, if it be done with,
out that fpirit which delights for its own
fake, in the modification and difersce II
another. When we complains Of detrae
ton, we would nor be underHood TO to-
ieTate that indifcrimiuate praife of men and
parties, OF silociations of the honef, for
honcH purpoies, and confpiracies Of the
Ignorant, the vile and the vicious for pur-
poles of faction, which argues either a
frivolous understanding or iettled con
tempt Of all moral diftinetiens.