The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-02-18
LlNcnBuRG, FEBRUARY 10, 1898
Ioh rnE NIhsINfAN.

Gus fully, IN winch his patriotic suul CAV,
.ent to the sorrowlul Indignation witt
which IL Yves filled, nj the number and e.
rormity of the vices which tainted the Ro-
man morals during the Caialuaran era oi
bis Cousulship, has from It's too frequent
* inappropriate application, become some.
what stale and common place. Yet land
TIE question is 0fthe last Importance might
rot the few among Us, whom modern de-
acneracy hath not reached, use similarly
indignant and emphatic expression in rela-
lion 10 the present times, without subj
ing themselves 10 "ensaro for an improper
arrangement of the morals of their eotcm-
porarins The dispassionaic aud dscrlm-
mating observer, however much he may
shock the feelings oil superficial minds, al
WAYS prepared 10 laud the existing state of
things, and 10 contend FOR the indefinite
perfectibility of man, must, under n fearful
sense OF truth aud justice, give firm and
decisive answer in the affirmative. Yea,
however much the allegation may crate
the coinplacent feelings of our nature and
unseille oar fondest impressions, 1t cannot
be denied that the morality of the Amefl-
Can people, has, within four or five years
tbs last degree 10 the lovers OF virtue aud Of
constitutional freedom. Official al-le
s4nce, so unusual IN the earliest K purcsl days
ef the commonwealth, has, Of late years,
become too common 10 excite even tran
sient feeling of surprise or indignation. In
how many iiagrant instances have the la,-
ished confidence Ola generous community,
The positive injunetious OF morality, and
the sacred obligations of religion, proven
utterly Insufficient 10 protcctihe public trca-
sure against the rapaciiy of the men TO
whose care il was entrusted How often
since the appreciation OF money, has the
confidence Of nIonied corporations been a.
buscd, aud their essential interests made 10
yield TO the unprincipIed cupldity of their
most confidential agents The instances
are almost TOO many for enumeration aud
too iiasraut for palliation. Were these IN
famous sacrifices Of moral honesty ut the
internal mol0eh .shrIne OF asarice, pc
culiar TO our public tunelionaries, and other
confidential agents, there would be room
10 hope that the powerful influence Of pub.
lie opinion might be successfully oxerted for
their suppression. But when we see the
adroltness aud audaclty with which the
mos, rgregious frauds IN the various bran
chcS OF commerce are prdctiscd; when VIC
behold, IN the private transactions Of indi-
siduals, cozenage, the most unprlncipled,
reduced 10 practice aud punetualty aud
good faith, which constitute the HES blood
OF commerce, become mtrn idle names,
siguifying nothing," have we not good rca-
son 10 distrust the efficacy III any correc
tive, however powerfully operative IL may
appear Aud when, moreover, We call TO
mind the fact, attested by the voice of all
history, that the rare and tender plant of
liberty can only vegetatc, with iuxurlancy,
IN the genial soil oil virtue, have we not -
quail reason 10 tremble for the common
wealth Official dignity has recently becn
seen" to stoop from ITS hsh estate !" yalor 10
lower lis warrior crest" IN obedience To
THE fell and insidious suggestions OF asavlce
The most exalted offices IN the gift OF free
people have, IN several instances, been con.
femptuously renowned for subordinate,
yet more money mdkiag stations and our
gallant tars, who, IN our late conflict with
Britain, bure our maine IN thunder round
the world /" and won for themselves, impe-
risbable renoNn, have on the Pacific, de
graded the proud, floating theatres OF their
glory, into commercial hulks for the trans.
portniiun, On freight OF" ,,ile irash," from
port 10 port Can these things bc,wthout
exciting ia the patriot bosom, well ground.
cd approximations for the durability of our
national r.nown From these views, sup
ported as they ale by incontesiible facts,
are we not warranted in the Inference that
avarlce, unholy omnis asare., is ra-
pldly acquiring mastery over the American
soul subdulng its honour dcthroning
Its virtues extlnguishlng It's digpiiicd
charities" When tlle horrors of an APP.
pretended universal bankruptcy were sta.
ring Us IN the face, from tie recent and un
exampled appreciation Of money, and tn,
consequent aud proportionate depreciation
-oi property, some persons found consola
ton, for the pecunIary distresses of thu
people IN the belief that we should be bro'
back io the republican simplicity and eco
-Domy, which Characterised the good oil,
patrlarchal times of the revolution. I'll
true that the scale OF our expenditures la
necessarily undergone considerable re
ductioD; thatmany ofour equipages, s. mos
of the slittering urnamets of our boards
have vanished and e. alas what ialn
of is here :''l some have been compelle
10 relinquish the splendid aud costly fat
riesoi foreign looms for the homely an
long neglected products of domestic toll
yet, Notwithstanding these admissions,
much doubt if the amiabe and necessar
virtues, simplicity and economy, the fir
arising out Ola principled adherence
ille,pomp and pageantry, the latter fouut
ed on a conviction of the moral prophet
0. III exact husbandry of our means, ha,
been at all promoted by the alteration
the times For how many of the pro
;Iate victims Depreciation are there, VIII
i..stcad OF making vigorous and uaiirir
,exrrtions for the liquidation Of their deb
and the rctrieval OF their affairs, consum