The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-11-19
FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS SPY.
PUBLIC OPINION.

The acquisition property by Illegal piac
tres is reprobated by public opinion. Tht
man, who personally, or by the agency o
another, defrauds his neighbor, is held il
solemn contempt by the community AL
though by the means of his wealth ne NAY
nave many obseqnious dependents, who dc
him exterior homage, still it is matter ruth
er of necessity than regard. 1t can onl,
give the summer friend whose affection vii
last as long as his interest is concerned
The reproaching tannts, the accusations o
the offended, and the suspicious and ever
belief of friends, when called to mind, are
pnngent sources of compnnction and RE.
morse, which cannot cease to act on thelof.
fender. The consciousness OF former pfac-
tees OF deceit and fraud, of this truth, when
applied to himself, that the public are moi
ignorant of such practices, that it solenniy
condemns the wrong doer, and that justite
reprobates his conduct, by stamping on hi;
name the marks of infamy and disgrace =
say a consciousness of all this will haunt
a man like demon of night; nor will his
riches save him from the scathing breath OF
OF public opinion; nor can he hush or silence
the feelings of a troubled conscience.
Think, base man, does your present fever
lsi state of anxiety, and the fear of exposure
OF your wlckedness, correspond with the an
aclpatlon you formed when you set yourself
about the deeds of darkness, and soberly
and advlsedly put your hands on the proper
ty OF your neighbor, of the innocent and un-
suspecting, and under the cloak of hypocri-
syand fraud, concealed those base transac-
tlons? You mistook the road to pleasure or
happiness, whichever you sought. If you
desired wealth, that you might enjoy the
good things of life, or thought that it would
he'a passport to Office and honor, you have
judged wrongly; and by so thinking and act
ing, you basely perverted the talent which
mas been put in your keeping. Ifyou mag
med that III got wealth would procure you
the means of happiness, you rather imposed
on yourself an untruth, or brought yourself
to believe that fraud was not vice, when
concealed, or it was only vice, when reveal
ell to the world !; and thus you COMPOUNDED
virtue with vice, and made yourselfthe dupe.
by attempting personally to prove your doc
trlne 10y an experiment on yourself The
pubic have set mark on you not less last
ing than that which was stamped on Cain.
The ssycophant, the hard pressed debtor, and
the dependant, will be the only persons in
the whole community who will bow the knee,
or DO you homage, or court your favor. But
your baseness in disregarding all moral and
religious principles in your conduct, excites
the adherence of all good ant.virtuous citi-
zens; and in the breast OF every honest man
your acts of meanness will awaken con-
tempt, inasmuch as you have condesccndetI
to court the low and vulgar, and TO purchase
yourself into favor, by loaning money to tie
young, and all those whose aid you intended
to make use of to your own ggrandisemelt.
say such meanness will and ought awaken
contempt in the breast of every sensible man.
A. 3. c..