The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-10-06
To the Editor orthe Wilmingtonian.

M To the Editor ofthe Wilmingtonian.
IA /" Prove all things; hold fast that which is
good."
rfs rnqurers after truth, we are willing
#torest the truth or falschooi of the doc
tfnes we have bren advocating, on the sue
cess or failure of the society which will be
Harmed at New Harmony: if the society
isucceeds in its object, without artifciallv
punshng any of its members, the princi-
y pies on which it is founded must be true if
sthe principles are false, the society cannot
exist under them there can be no medium
or compromise between success and failure
in the communities which will be formed Of
those generations which will be born and cd =
heated there.
't ~ is immaterial what may be the senti-
ments ofthe individual members of the COM
munty, acting under the regulations at Har-
4 Mony; they may all believe in free will, in
1Hclection, or in necessity, as an adopted
creed or the community may be composed
lIof members believing in all these different
afteles. without any detriment to the society
gjn general These opinions are detrimental
or Beneficial only in 1~s.lating and govern
ing mankind. All the laws which have been
made from the earliest period of history,
down to the present time, have been found
ed Oh the supposed natural depravity of man,
on election and reprobaton, and on his sup
posed power of forming his own character !;
these laws have in every instance widcned
the distinctions between men, and have uni
formly increased crime and misery. The
elect, who are always the rich and powerful,
have made them to secure their wealth and
power; but the repro5ate poor have nothing
Warranted to them, but their toll, their pow
erty and suffering.
Robert Owen IS the first man who has had
the daring courage to oppose the almost uni
versal prejudices Of mankind, and to pro
pose rules for their government on prnc-
pies of the most perfect equality, as deduct
Bile from he doctrine of circumstances.
His system holds out motives for honest in
dustIy to all, by securing to them all the
comforts and advantages of the mutual ex-
ercise OF the physical and mental powers oi
&al. He has discarded those more than
wlckcd codes, which only hold out motives
70 avoid crime, by the fear of punishment,
without securing to any OF the labouring
Class, sufficient employment to afford them
the necessarIes of life. In short, he has had
The courage to discard the whole Of that sys-
4x.N.
op basis, degrading to our nature, deroga-
tory to the attributes of that being who gave
ms existence, and contrary to the establish
cd order ofnature in every thing else, but
poor "depraved man."
We shall conclude the subject of which
We have been treating, by summing up the
whole in extracts from an enquiry into the
di8tributioh Of qvealth, BY Nm. 1Aomhson.' .
page 491.
Mr.. Owen advocates the doctrine Of
what has been called Philosophical neces-
slty,' and says, that the character of man is
formed by the circumstances surrounding,
and acting upon him; that as his charac-
ter, &C., are formed for him and not By
him; and as a consequence, men may be
Grained to any thing, good OF evil, consist
ent with their organization. These prepo-
stions appear to be quite just. Many OBJ
Ject because they misapprehcnd the mean
ing: others, because they cannon Part with
earty associations Of, free zvW, ii. c. hoso-
er Of acting or forming VolhiOn soHhou'
snotiUe, OR CONTRARY TO THE STRONGEST
MoTIvE,) as eaistmg in hoiat offact; or as
gustifying being whom they style benevo-
Vent, in tormenting without object, the crea,
lures he has made. when all benefit from
example or reformation would have ceased
Let men theorize as they may about the
idle power of acting without motive, they
ali admit that this power is seldom exercis-
I'd, and that mans conduct is zcry much in