Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-02-19

farther adds, that in real life, we see, in generai
only detached scenes Of the tragedy; and that Inc
impression is slight, unless Imagination 'ur-
nishes the characters, and supplies the Incl
dents that are wanting. Here, then, 1t Is SEEM
tina, in the repre- alton Of an evening, We are
enabled to contemplate, almost at one coup d,ed'
those events in the history Of man-thuse revo-
unions in the government OF na,ions-w"i'h
prove so useful an acquisition to our Stock OF
experience-and, had almost said, impair TO
youth, the Judgment apd Dissemination" OF age.
This example. to such as are MOI he'e''cs 10
their own peculiar doctrines, ought 10 De 'o"k-
ed upon as conclusive in itself. From this view
Of the subjrcl, therefore, II APPEARS, t"at inca
trical reprrsen, ations, considered in the ah'
s,ract, or as disconnected with the assemo'age
OF individuals before whom they are usually re-
presented, are very Ear from being main in sc;
and, if they are found TO produce no good ef-
feet in modern Jays, cannot consequently Or
condemned as injurious in their tendency ne-
cause they are represented in an age when
the public morals are TOO fur gone TO be re-
claimed.
1t is evident, then, that the only question
bout which any doubi can be entertained, Is IN
regard to the character and tendency OF public as
sociaiions.
Lord Kaine has somewhere remarked, that
the moral sense is the only touchstone OF right
and wrong, as eason is The touchstone of.uu:h
and falsehood The moral sense, il is tue, die
ta,es that, on no precept whatever, II is lawful
to do an unjust or improper ac:; and men, con
scious that it governs in matters OF right and
wrong, submit implicitly to its dictates. But
were we to rely, in all cases, upon this in
heren, quality Of the mind, we should find our
selves frequently in error. And. although the
dis inguishtd writer, mentioned above, declares
reasoning absurd in endeavorng TO fix the pro-
prie,v Of human actions, In respect to their
moral character, still it will be evident, from
r, Fiction, tina: reasoning must, OF necessity be
resor,ed TO, be fore we can be convinced Of their
correctness and propriety. Morality, as con-
nec,ed with the Deity, is the same, or nearly
SO, among all nations; but, in reference to par
,icula, actions, some Of which enter into our
principles Of ethics, we should find il satisfac-
torily settled in, wha, is usually termed, the mo-
raj sense. In truth, although originally Fixed
and inheren, quality Of the mind, we frequently
find il operated upon, and sometimes materially
modi6 d, by the circumstances under which il
| is found 10 exi.t.-Thos !, is custom, even al
.to- r,-a.sn, day-s, AMONG a certain ui1. of In.
dams, 10 despatch those who are debiliiated
and rendered useless by age; and This is consi.
dered an obligation, which some member Of
the community is morally bound To discharge
The Sparlans, We are informed, considered
theft, when secretly perpetra,ed, as highly me-
ritorious. II therefore appears, that the mora
sense is not the same among all nations and in
dividuals-and reason must consequently be
employed, in order to DEF. rhine what i, should
be. Having premis'd thus much. as 10 the in
,ufficiency Of any decision based upon what
is termed mo, al srnse, we will now proceed 10
more particular examination Of the subject.
(To be contimed.)