Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-09-23
INRLUENCE OF HAR
UPON MORALS:
Frsm the CaAREss4ox CouRfsa.

portance which does not occur to com.
mon observation. This influence, there.
fore, should be considered in its undis.
euised character, traced to Its final Goa.
sequences, and exhibited in Its ultimate
enormities, by all those who i'll estimat-
ing the evils of war, would make enlight.
ened calculations War may give ten.
porary vigor to the body polite and
seem to remove some OF the redundant
humors but at the same time, II touch
es and enervates some of the essential
springs OF life. and abridges the duration
of existence. The moral capacl,ie and
habitudes of people composing Il Re-
public. should be carefully consulted by
sincere and liberal politicians. Aud the
excelIency OF measures should receive a
determination from their probable moral
tendencies. A remote principle In the
moral character Of man, may be the
strongest munition of popular consti.
tuition. To rend from its settled recti-
tude this principle and so to environ 1t
with temult and commotion that its re-
fined dictates can be no longer heard, is
% break dawn the fortress of govern
ment, and invite the sullen horrors of
anarchy.
As in the natural body the exact po-
sition & general diffusion of the nerves,
afford an early notification OF approach
ing i'll, so in the moral constitution there
is certain delicacy of perception and
feeling, wisely implanted by the Aulher
Of our being, which guards against the
strocity of opinion and the turpitude of
sentiment. And as the repeated inflic
lion Of pain upon any part OF the body
blunts the acutcness of sens .iion, 50 the
reiteration of tortures upon the moral
faculties, must impair their most anna
ole sensibilities. The refInements of
moral discernmeM give facility to the
most important and necessary discrimi-
nations in social and civil life. He may
Justly boast liberal acquisition who is
able to bestow appropriate designations
upon virtue and vice, upon merit and
demerit whose well disciplined mind
abhorrsnt from Discrimination, admires
the just delineations of virtue and honor.
1t cannot be expected, however, that this
highly finished species of moral percep.
ton should extend in the prevailing ex-
ccllency of lis character over whole
nation, or that the salutary peculiarities
Of it's influence shsuld reach every sick
ly member Of a community, tor in such
case the aspect of the moral world
must undergo visible transformation
but it is evident, upon admissible calcu
lations, that a comparative aggregate of
virtue may be attributed to whole ma
lion. And this amount must be the re-
suit of a certain chastity and delicacy in
moral perception. Although the bulk
of mankind, whose mental pretensions
are very humble, are not governed di
rectly by moral persuasions, yet they
may be controlled by circumstances and
habits which have derived their com.
pleyion from the most exalted morality.
To preserve a rscli6ed sense of moral
excellence, and to keep from ali debas.
ing mixtures, must, therefore, be work
of indubitable importance and extensive
utility. The best institutions and regu-
lations of government like ours, are
suspended from the elevation OF the mo-
raj tone, and depend essentially upon it
for their existence .Annihilate virtu.
Gus sense of rsctituae, obstruct the ia
cilities of communication with the moral
powers, invest these enn0bliDg agencies
of our nature with the garb OF calious-
ness, and you furnish people with the
instruments of their own destruction
YOU kindle fame which will melt noun
t,ins of venerable establishments, like
wax before the meridian blaze; you
bring into operation host of latent evils,
and raise the CHASTITY vi,age of vice from
ITS merited depression. Those institu.
tons of country which form its genu.
inc glory are erected upon basis, which
must challenge a stamp OF excellence
proportionate to the brilliancy of its SUI
perstructure. This basis is rigid sense
of virtue-a tenderness and delicacy OF
moral perception. Introduce into this
the worm of corruption, and its strength
becomes rottenness. The same impulse
of rectitude which first gave life and mo-
ton to liberal constitution, must by
continual operation give it perpetuity.
The moral constitution of man being
once invaded by the corroding poison OF
disease, can never resume its former
soondness and vigor. Its debility will
remain; and its sufferings and perils will
be more tremendous upon the renewal
of the disorganizing shock.
"War in its fairest form," says the
splendid Gibbsn, "implies continued
violation of humanity and justice. 1t
spreads deadly shade over the regions
of peace. 1t excites rebellion against
all the principles of virtue, and divests
of their efficacy the rules of MORALITY