Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-05-29

The positions, which he thus liked oui the me
mory Of his hearers, with untirng perseverance,
were, that Christian infant educated in Hindos-
tan would be Gentoo. in Turkey Mahomrne.
dan, in a cannibal tribe carnibal, in quaker
family quaker; and SO of the rest.-He would
have nothing 10 DO with speculation, and would
take nothing but facts. There were no facts, ON
which TO affirm, or deny, touching the being OF
God. the origin Of the material universe, or man.
We knew atew facts, and might form probable
conjectures about others. lie believed some his
torical statements, when they ran not counter TO
the twelve laws; but held all history OF contrary
! character wonderfully cheap. II may be, there
fore. imagined. how he disposed of the external
and internal evidences, the miracles AID prophe-
ces of our religion. His twelve laws constituted
grand bosom with which all religions, q all ages
and clirnes, alike 10 be brushed away, like
chaf before the wind lie described the biped
breed under present circumstances as being mis-
| cradle stock. He had SEEM he said, "a
! rational face in his fe.' Their origin seemed 10
him an ill-managed. half DOING circumstance
OF the legal prostitution, called marriage. That
matter was now better understood, as itre'ated TO
the great Improvement of the breed of quadrupeds,
which, he binted, might be carried TO an infinite
~ higher and moro worthy scale Of meloration,
when applied TO the breed of bipeds: The ener
gy OF mutual liking, and Of constantly accumulat-
ing power of mind, will AMI muscle, promising il
initable advantages 10 the generations of the fu
lure. AS II was now il was Joke, and rank per-
jury, to swear either in prose or ryhme, on the
tul Dumps that the parties would love each
other, tall death them do part; seeingit was not
improbable from the analogy of no small number
OF similar cases that they would prove very tabby
cats soon after the lapse of the honey Chris
tan society was one web of lie. warp and wool,
dissimulation, quarrel, and bloodshed. All tho
great drama OF deceptive acting, all the maievo
fence, poverty and evils of society he traced to the
free toiH system Of religion, to the priests the
weekly preaching Of ministers, TO whom none
might reply.-Some of his illustrations had simpli-
city, piquancy and point. Take example.
My friends, said he, ii is not quite two months,
since was in the great square in the city of Mex
leo. heard little bell tinkie. A friend said TO
me, kneel down, Mr.. Owen, or you may else be
killed The host is passing. took out my peck
ct handkerchieflaid ii on the ground, and knesed
on it, II al you been reared in Mexicomy friends,
you would have been serious in that way,
you are now in your own. And so far
hers can give authority to opinion, they great
W your superiors.'
According TO him the social system is to be
complete renova.or and purifier. Under its infu-
ence man is to be regenerated into paradisiacal
millennium. a nora progenicS, new race ofmoS;
vigorous and beautiful lads aud lasses to be
turned together into the fresh clover field Of ex-
istence. Undisturbed with meditations upon the
past or the future, unshacklcd with mairimony,
almost freed from disease and the seeds of decay,
performing the little Iabour necessary to subsis-
tence, chiefly by machinery, with the greatest
abundance oil the best OF every thing for human
nature, "a favorite phrase) these pretty will
have little to do, brt to eat, and drink, aud rise up
to play; billing like turtle doves, long mutu-
al liking lasts; and dssoiving the rtnership with
the hrst harbingers OF a ruurky atmosphere. They
will treasure chemistry, philosophy and useful
knowledge, and pay into some OF natures priva-
cies in new sort style. Childrea Of five years
will know more than the best educated scholars Of
twenty do in the present order of things The
world is to be dotted off into immense family of
communities, OF minimum Of 800, and maxi
mum OF 1000, all wantoning in the aforesaid rich
clover field. Travelling is 10 be freed from its
present bitter concomi,ant, EXPENSE for the trav-
eller will be every where at home, and welcome
| TO the commonwealth OF the community. Socie-
ty will be inexpressibly delectable; for like will
cling to like, precisely like two magnets. Such
| is MIR. Ovens romance of the social system-as
TAR as piony, as fragrant as white honey sue
kle; As loving, as the Vermentor said, as forty
and. alas as short-lved the prophets gourd
'lhe PARTICLES which compose my body, said the
philosopher, ARE eternal. They had no begin
ming. and can have end. shall be decom-
posed, and lose my consciousness in death, 10 be
re-composed, and 10 re-appear in new forms OF life
and enjoyment At least he could not be charged
with disguise or reservation; but came out with
gratuitous plainness, in the most revolving and
desolating tenets of the creed OF the everlasting
sleep OF death. As he uttered this, general re-
vuislon OF horror passed across the countenances
OF the crowded audience. We felt at the moment
the long covered Goals of own eloquence burn
made an overwhelming appeal TO the horror-stric-
ken multitude. Not so Mr.. Campbell. He had
other combinations, for the close Of the campaign
aud had determined TO put his antagonist to the
logical SWORD, in his own time and way, secundtna
drtem. Mr.. Owen, aware Of the impression he
had created diverted the current of feeling by
pun. My friends said he, 'you have heard these
wonderful stories. If you can away with them
all-you are able. indeed, to swallow camel
(Campbeli)
They very often hal gool and palpahle hits at
each other, raising good-humored laugh at each
others expense. Mr. Campbell generally com.
menced his tilt Of thirty minutes, by presenting
Mr. Ovens positions in a ridiculous light often
availing himself Of the argument ofreductio dd
dbSurdnn,. Many Of his ieIr de'Spyits were sim
gu!ariy quick and felicitous. Amidst the general
laugh. Mr.. Ovens equaninity never for mo-
ment deserted him. Some OF his own retorts fash
ed upon the yawny tediousncss of the prolonged
contest, like lightning Of midHight. We give two,
which remain distinctly our memory.
a certain Paul Brown wrote a book, entitled
"a twelvemonth's residence in New Harmony
lie was disappointed grumbletonian, and did up
Mr.. Owen and his system as with a cleayer. I'VE
have just heard said Mr.. Campbell, Mr. Ovens
beautiful theory Of the social system: and Paul
Browns twelve months residence at New Har-
mony'-and he made rhetorical pause, 10 give
force to'the intended sarcasm, in saying, niH shotO
| the thing IA practice. Mr.. Owen. who had bith-
| erto received the thirty minutes fire Of his an
| tagonist with smiling and unwncing silence, saw
what was coming after paul Browns twelve
months residence and nteriected in the rhelori-
| cal pause 'is az false.' The effect was electric
though whole members OF sentences are required
! 10 relate it, Another retoTt still happier.
! Mr. Campbell had been discussing the evidences
| OF Christianity from the fuflment Of prophecies
| lie gave the customary views of the duration OF
prophetic year. Said he, Mr.. Owen denies the
truth OF the prophecies, and is at the same time