Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1818-01-27
Morals of the South.

y
We q few days since published an. adver-
tisement from New Orleans paper, notifying
the inhabitants ofthat city Of an intended ex.
hibition of wild beasts, bull fights and fire
works TO be held on the Sabbath. We have
now before US another paper, from which we
learn that this awful PROCLAMATION of the Sab
bath. was followed a short time afterwards, by
an exhibition ofwire and rope dancing, balap-
cling, tumblng, feats of fhorsemanship, bufoon-
cry, &c. by special permission tthe Mayor
New Orleans has never been distinguished for
wholesome laws upon the subjects of morality
and religion and her citizens have invaria-
bly, shewn disregard for religion and a con
tempt for every I, thing sacred and divine,
which would almost have put nation of pa
gans, or even inhdel France 10 blush. We
recollect that In March, 1914, soon after The
state was organized. a bill was introduced in
the House Of Assembly, the object Of which
was 10 punish, by fine, all persons who should
be guilty of opening their shops or taverns or
gambling, dancing, or attending theatrical a.
inusements on the sabbath; disturbing any
religious worship; living in state of concu
bnage committing the crime OF incest or
injuring any monument erected TO the memo
ry of the dead.
1t would naturally be supposed. that in
country as enlightened, virtuous and christian.
as The United States processes to be. bill for
such purposes could have met with no oppos;-
tion. But, strange as it may appear, such
was the horrid and lamcntable state of socie-
ty in that new state, that the bill, after short
debate, was voted down. During the debate,
crimes Of the most abominable nature-crmes
against the laws OF God and man, were advo-
Gated on the principles Of Justice, POLICY and
MORALITY! Such law, it was said.
would answer for the people OF the northern
states, who were pronounced " a melancholy
thinking set of beings, who were naturally
bigots and hypocrits J" but it would never do
for the people Of Louisiana, who were gay,
airy and social, and Of course had right to
sell merchandise, labor, dance, sing, attend
the theatre or any other amusement, they
chose, on the Sabbath.
We were at the time shocked at this mon
strous and abominable doctrine but we were
not without hope that time and little civil
zation would gradually have cradicased these
pernicious principles, and that the triumph of
inhdelity would be short. The population of
New Orleans is so heterogcneous-being
mixture OF Spaniards. Portuguese, French,
Creoles and in short of all nations, the most
OF whom have not had The advantages of a
religious education--it was moi of course to be
expected that an entire reform could at once
be produced. That the spirit of licentious-
ness however, would wear away, was conf
IDENTIFY believed But all hopes Of any very
speedy reformation have now vanished. 1t is
evident, that in general, no respect whatever,
for religious institutions, or for public morals
can at present exist there. The Sabbath,
which we are commanded to keep holy, is mol
only neglected as day of prayer and rest,
bu. is made hol day for the most barbarous
and indicate diversions. In addition TO the
sin, how depraved must be the taste OF those,
who can be gratihed with the barbarous sports |
Of Spain, or pleased with beholding ladies
dancing jigs, and turning whirligiss, upon the
rope in imitation of the monkey.
We recollect few days since TO have seen
that the Legislature Of Virginia has refused 10
employ chaplain, upon constitutional scru-
pies! We sincerely hope that the irreligious
principles of New-Orleans are not extending /
themselves north, .alb. Gav.