The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-05-19
Mr.. Owens Diseourse OH new system
Of Society.
Continued.) J

mite variety OF character to any Infants, on
principles as fixed and certain as those on
which any of the sciences are founded; and
that, by such varied circumstances, any, or
all infants may be trained to become ignor-
ant or Intelligent, cruel or humane, selfish
or liberal--a Cannibal or Hindoo, a misera-
BILE being, or one whose existence shall be a
life of happiness Is it not fact, that all
infants are capable of being formed by the
overwhelming influence of circumstances,
acting upon their original individual nature,
into any of these characters, provided their
physical and mental organization be not I'M
perfect: and that in such case, as nature has
been disturbed in her process, that the be-
ings thus injured, physically or mentally,
become objects for compassion and tor IN
creased care and kindness and proportion to
their malformationa And is it not clear
and evident deduction from these facts, that
those who govern society, possess the pow
er, if they knew how to use it, to combine
and regulate the circumstances which ought
to influence and form the character OF every
individual of the rising generation And
thus do they possess within themselves, the
sure means of creating afluence, intelligence
virtue, and happiness, throughout the whole
population.
These are living facts, confirmed by the
history of every nation and people, and they
are Ill StIlCt tCCOINtilNC Win WuelSNCF w
know trom the evidence of our own senses.
And it was i'll consequence of acting upon
the belief in the truth of these facts, that
che characters OF those placed under my di-
rection, were SO much changed for the bet
ter, and that their condition has been SO ma
terially improved.
With knowledge Of these facts, coud
not be angry or displeascd with any of those
placed under my guidance, on accoun. of
any original personal defects; for to ME, it
was evident they could NOT have had the
slightest influence in producing them. Nci-
ther could be angry or displeased with
them, on account of the injuries which they
might have received from being surrounded
with unfavorable circumstances, over which
they could have had no control, but which
circumstances formed their language, dispo-
stions, habits, sentiments religion, feelings
and conduct. If these were detective and
inferior, they necessarily created, i'll my
mind, compassion for their mlstortunes, and
my thoughts were employed in discovering
the circumstances which produced these
unfavorable effects, and all my efforts were
directed to remove them, and to replace
them by others having beneficial tendency.
Having discovered that individuals were al
WAYS formed by the circumstances, whatev-
er they might be- which were allowed to eX-
the circumstances; and thus, by means i'm
pcrceptible and unsnown to the individuals,
formed theGl, TO the extent could control
the circumstances, into what ! wished them
TO become; and in this manner were the
Beneficial changes effected in the population
under my care In this process could moi
be disappointed: for | did not expect any
evil to disappear, until ! had removed tho
cause or causes Which produced it; nor wl
evil of any kind ever be excluded from So
ciety, unit the cause which gives it exist
enCe shall be discovered and removed.
Here, .hen, have we before us the naturQ
means by which, on sure grounds, societ,
HAY be made virtuous, and immediately
improved, to All extelt that no ore can lin
1t; and, by 4 similar practice, the cause
which generate all the inferior motives, and
consequently, actions OF man, may be cAsil
withdrawn; and BY the same means, uniyers
81 charity, bcnevolencc, and kindness, may b
made to become the ruling principles in II
governr, ent OF mankind.
With u knowledge Of the facts which
have enumerated, relative to the constitute
ofhuman nature, the error and childishnes
Of praising td blaming each other; and {
devising rewards and punishments, aud {
applying them, through gross Ignorance c
our nature, to particular individuals, mus
become too obvious 70 admit Of their lomge
continuance among these who have any re-
pretensions TO nationality.
For what shall we praise or blame eac
otherf Not, surely, for our personal qual
hcations, which we had no will in forming
Still less for the being born within the circ
in which Jewish, Christian, Mahommcdal
or any other general impressions are, at a
carly age, forced into cur minds! Or do "
praise and blame each other because "
have come into existence a IuemDer OF ar
particular sect, class, or party, in any coul
try, within either of these large circl
which now SO etitctually divide maa from b
fellow man, and, i'll consequence, make hi
one OF the most unjust and irrational of Il
beings! Or shall we praise or blame eat
other because we have been born Of rich
poor, yirtnous or Vicious parents; or becau
the more or less favorable circums. 4nce
existing in the place of our birth and trai
Ing, made the popu.tio around Ms mo
or less WISE or foolish, strong or weak {
shall We praise or blame each other for al
conceivable combination of our personal
acquired advantages
In this irrational cont.Gct, behold the re
cause of almost all the evils that have ev
afflicted humanity; save taose extraordir
ry overwhelming diSpets .tions OF Pro
tience, which seldom occur, and soon p,
away.