Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-07-07
life, and continues to discharge the duties

lie, and continues to discharge the duties /,
IF mis- station.
Hotby any means that would be UNDER
stood to express wish TO screen the man,
who by false pretences, acquires credit for
talents he docs not possess, or for acquire
mcnts 10 which he has no claim. The man
who drags him to the light does service
to his country he thus warns the ignorant
and unwary 60 be guarded against his arti.
fees but this has no relation to the two
cases that have preceded it. In the krst
we were pleading the Cause of injured limo.
cence IN the other, by intoxicating compass
sion, We would drop balm into the wounds |
OF suffering humanity, and express our pity |
ter che imperfecticns of our common nature. !
But the last is a fiend who preys upon
the uugoarded credulity of generous people,
and by assuming the mask of virtue, would
render their 5enevolence an instrument for
the completion of his purposes and of their
deception
For the punishment Of the first, no pen.
ATTY can be Imagined too severe; provided
1t violate not that proportion that should
exist between Crimes in the constituted or
der OF society /: cor the other, though truth
be allowed as evidence in mitigation of da-
images; vet whenir is wantonly committed,
1t oe!rays ruthless depravity of heart that
deserves little mercy tor the last, so far
from punishment, he deserves the thanks
| OF society, because he has preserved them
from an evil which integrity eau seldom
guard against, for in the ingenious conf
dence OF the heart, it is little prone to sus.
picion. by the punishment OF the first, So
ciety does but guarantee the character of
Its members and prevents those conse-
quences that would follow from the resent
ment of the injured by the punishment of the
SSCnn1. LOG IS
and holds out encouragement to persons to
retrieve life of error by a subsequent vr-
tuors conduct |: the last, though he suffer
mas no CLAIM upon the laws unless it he Tor
punishment; his misfortunes have been the
consequence OF his own conduct the man
vino has dragged him forth to public view
and barred the Vaccinations OF his breast,
has but performed social duty.
For these evils most governments have
provided, though all have not established
punishments proportioued to the atrocity of
the crimes; nor by any correct standard Of
guilt. in England, an injury done to the
Character OF the rich is appreciated by the
scale OF wealth AMI station whereas such
persons Icing further removed by wealth s
rank from general intercourse, their wealth
supplies them With not only all the neces
saries, but also with many OF tho iu,suree
or lie and the partial society which they
iorT with rlen Of equal wealth ard ..nls
render them often regardless of nuhIic cen
sure, and at all times independent ne i.
physical consequences.
1t IL with that class of men to which ma
aous owe their celebrity called men of liks
erai professions, whose support en,ireiv de.
pends upon the requirements of the mind
oesiVed from a superiority OF intellectual
powers combined with long 9. painful refec.
ion, thas character is truly esCimabic. De.
po''uc!e Gu TINS as the Only means of procur-
.hs SUBSISTENCE to them boubt of its cxis-
tfnce, combined with an insinuation of
moral depravitY, must ever prove fatal
In regard to such it nay be emohaticalIv
s@id tiiat Character is life because TO such
itis an essential prerequisite to procure the
means Of existence.
nence scale may be formed for the
panishment OF personal libel from the nrin-
c'ples we have here disclosed. In those
PROFESSIONS, which depend upon the eyer
ions OF the mental powers, and in such as
uePend upon accidental resources called
ceptai, together with such as participate
Oh 'he nature OF both punishment is TO be
,,io' eaSed or diminished in proportion as
'ie Iai'iiiS or profession IS more or less de.
i IN ior US success on general opinion,
whether called credit or reputatioa.
FOR such 1t would be needless for anv law
10 ahx any determinate penalty: jurv
are personality Interested In pun.shiur any
violation ofchlFactcr each personally feels |
Interested in avenging the injured person, !
"heh ne reflects that it is TO the preserya. |
sioa or his own that he owes his present in |
iiuence, and that by suffering tbs. accused in
.ie present instance TO escape, he is ONLY |
"be,ting weapon which may he afterwards |
employed against his own person.
nose who assert that ali truths should |
De spoken promiscuously, and that to this |
mankind would owe the aNelioration of Their |
natare' mare forgotten the frailty of human |
ia.sre She uncomfortable dominion the |
passions acquire from repetition of action Sc |
reqsent indulgence that human law, SUD-
pose re possible amend ent OF the trans
sress'T; thatthe dread of public reproach Sc
he pcslre o. public approbA ion has with |
nAIiy the effects OF confirmed virtue and |
not from the introduction of licensed crimi-
lIlion hardness of front s. an absence of
ceiins would shortly follow, which would
DANISH shame, the great outwork of moral
virtue
But the cause IS vidsly difTeren. with
'egard to those VINO are placed in public
stations. fhey are chosen By ths people
IN account of their real or supposed quail
a f,e t,.bI,r II.