Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-07-31
FOR THE SPECTATOR.
ON SLANDER.-NO. Ill.

Envy, PRIDE and revenge, her common
attendants, lend all their Ingenuity to her
aid. Her modes of operation therefore
vary according to circumstances. The
most despic able mode consists in hypo-
critical professions of regard to some
well-wisher ui the injured person. By
disclaiming all idea of enmily being the
cause OF his narrative; and protesting
that nothing but a tender regard for the
welfare of the listener himself or bis
family, could induce the disclosure, he
expec.s to secure willing prejudice
against the object of his maleyoence.-
If profession OF friendship torcligion
has been, or sun Is, an ostensble trait
i'll his character, SO much the greater
chance for credence being given to bis
siander. Secrecy at the same time is
"to prevent the poor fellows character
being pubIioly injured more than neces-
sary;" bu IN reality TO prevent explana
tons and dctectlons OF such cowardly
li>e. ''Now sir you may think" con-
tlnues he, that | tell YOU all this be-
cause | am an enemy 10 L, but really SO
great has been my concern for the well
fare OF yolr family that could not con-
sclenlionsiy to"Dear letting you know
my unbiased opinion OF his character.
For my part, my feelings Of delicacy, OF
deceney, of refinement and ofreligion,
have long been so shocked, that for the
sake OF my own peace OF mind, am
glad Of the public opportunity afforded
me OF breaking connexion with SO bad a
man. There is < you know who is very
much debased in public estimation, and
concerning whom have myself hereto
fore particularly expressed the very
worst opinion, yet notwithstanding Z
stands stll so much higher with the pub
lie generally, yeti can assure you on the
honor Of a gentlcm an would infinitely
prefer tie ALI this may be
urged by the man whose theory or prac-
tice would never induce person to sup
pose tina, he was governed by a single
correct or proper opinion relative to
those principles, the infringement OF
which had inspired him with SO holy an
|
only exhibits a despicable mode, but
shows the general magniiying and dis
figuring power of malicious SANDER; for
there Is the abuse of words TO magnify
iad.screuons. and the attempt to change
lndiscretI6n into crime.
From the very i.nperfections Of our
language itself many words are obliged
10 sustain different Offices and bear diff
ierent meanings; and even the success
sion Of words lii phrase and sometimes
! in q sentence, are moulded TO form a
| aew Specification as a whole combination
| different from that which the definition Of
the words would warrant.
Expressions used by the chastest and
most delicate tongue may therefore as
sociate opposite IDEAS on the minds of the
lewd and the lascivious. The most re-
fined conversation OF the purest but art
less) female has recalled to the rake, the
utmost vulgarities of nightly debauchery.
Blu, was she to blame? Shall he when
communicating the contagious lewdness
of idea to his fellow .dehauchers-shall
! he dare to boast that the sounds which
first excited it rose from corrupt breast
like his own? And if he ventures the
murderous suggestion against innocence
even to his lecherous associates; would
not the sounding cavern of conscience
within the breast re-echo the charge of
lilr? And shall the wotds Of the thought
less, the careless, the C.eehearted and
the gay; of the blunt apd honest, the
plain and independent man, mscon-
strued by rascal, be accepted with his
rascaily construction And shall the
cheat, the liar, the perjurer, and the by
pocrite, be entitled to credence when re-
pea,ing expressions Or detailing ndis-
cretions with the discolorations of malice.
Not single word when SANDER is on
the hunt, but what is liable to be misre-
presented and misunderstood not sin
gle action but that may be tortured into
the distorted features Of crime. Delica-
cy, decency, rehnem ent and religion are
I all relative terms. is almost needless
to use arguments in order to support this
evident truth, that what is decent or de-
licate or refined or religious under one
Sc. of circumstances, will under others.
admit of very different epithets; and
that according TO the ideas men have OF
such subjects should be our criterion in
Judging OF deviation with respect to the
cuipability Of the individual. Because
a man differs from my ideal standard of
propriety have no right to arraign him
for guilt, since on this same principle l
should be found guilty in return.
Yet / have known persons devoid of
every pretension to truth or honesty, pre-