Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-06-18
SI,ANDER.

SLANDER.
or all species Of hypocrtes, none Is
more despicable and dark Of heart, than
he who processes friendship in your pres
ence, and covertly stabs your reputation
by slander. The "bod faced villain is
far less to be dreaded, than the cowardly
and insduous defamator, smiling as
.subservient parasite before you, aud fab
ricating venomous falsehoods for the
purpose Of detracton, when placed be-
yond the reach Of your power. lie
who laughed at you till he got to your
door; fiattered you as you opened it; felt
the force of your argument whilst he
was with you .arplaudcd when he rose,
and after he went away blasts you In
fame-has the most indisputable right to
nn archdukedom in Erebus." The
wretch who with the basest ingratitude,
betrays petty mad, which pri-
yate and confidential intercourse have
unfolded to him, distorting their mo-
tives by misrepresentation through NAL.
ice or envy, is far more entitled to the
services Of the executioner, than he who
murders for gain. There is depth,
darkness of depravity in malciously cal
umniating those who have beiriended US
from purost philanthropy, which seems
! of too shocking character to be blend
ed in the human composition, and which
requires an extraordinary effort of faith
on the part Of the observer to enable him
to credit its exhibition. Yet there are
wretches among the human family sullic-
icnlly depraved to slandcr in mere wan
tonness Of spirit; nay, there are those
who by the most insiduous policy will
wind themselves into the confidence OF
the unsuspe ectlng; condole and affecting
ly sympathze with them in their mis!or-
tunes, and all for the horrible purpose OF
detraction. We are not Of that class OF
individuals who magnify the trifl'ng er-
rors of human nature, or reprehend petty
foiblns of disposition as heinous and ire
medable crimes. Errors of the under
standing-errors Of education, or those
derived from false principles inadvertent'
ly instilled by the society in which we
, have commingled, should be lcniently
, considered, and their victims rathel
phied than punished, But those which
f proceed from depravry of heart-tht
! consequences of which are rather Wis
= tied upon the heads Of others with |
: malicious intent to detail injury, thar
4 upon that of him who exhibits such vic
r. es,-are indeed blackeniIg stains upo'
the face Of humanity, and the miserab!,
beings who take pleasure in their unfold
y ment, are justly entitled to all the scor'
). and contumely, which avenging Justic
: would award to them.
q He, who with littleness of mind
@ truly characteristic of narrow SOU
J. can derive pleasure from retailing tn
e conversations of his fellows and aggra
N vatlng their faults into errors OF impor
* tance, is too contemplate to receive tn
IF chastisement which would entail con
st tumely upon an honorable man, and
too abject in thought to feel such lnla
" my, even should 1t be devoted to hin
" A man who has once been detected
is an act of this kind, has thereafter n
le middle path of action. All his assoca
% tes who have any principles of honou
e, must despise him, because HIM froI
at whom it is necessary to withhold tn
at slightest evidence of confidence, is frol
BIT that circumstance placed at an immens
h. distance from our friendship. We kno
him to be a villain from mere depravit
9. Of heart, consequently il would be fo'
d lsh to trust him with farthng's wort
,e Of confidence, in matters of bushes
n where his self interest would bo anoth'
3. inducement to render him perie
ne scoundrel. "Thc discovery ofhis GRIN
by must rankle, must ferment through lil
xt within him; dead to honour, and inful
or ate against society, he will either rus
no from plot 10 plot, to indiscriminate pc
As dition; or if he yet retains some NOR
Dt. sense, contrition and self abhorrencc M
os kindlc the latent spark into blaze
ri pcnitence Such is invaribly the pc
o. ton Of the slandercr. Those who a
TO- opposite TO him in principle, sooner
SO later detect his dupicities, his CO
% blooded hypocrisy, shndder that a v'p
in has been near them 80 long undlscove