The Arkansas advocate., 1830-12-15

But he that tllches from me my good name, Rohs me of that which not enriches him, And makes me poor indeed.'
 Poor indeed"-for what, to those who are endowed with ordinary sensi- bilitles, is the possession of wealth and rank and influence, if slander, with it's envenomed breath, poison the atmos- pheFe around them? Poverty, sickness. and every other calamity, may find al- deviation in the the sympathies of our fellow beings, but he who blasts our re- putation, cuts us off from the healing balm of consolation, and attaints us with a leprosy of character, that sepa- rates us from the social community.
 Whence originated the wild and un- founded islanders so current in all soci- cites! We are aware that the instances ot pure invention of injurious reports are comparatively rare-usuallY some circumstances relative to the concerns of our neighbour, which, from the want of information, we are incapable of ex- plainlng, furnishes the foundation upon which our imaginations raise a super structure. We thoughtlessly sport cur crude fancies, and often, when too late to correct our unfounded reports, be- come aware of our precipitancy. If our conscience upbraid us, we easily pa clfy 1t by the consideration, that we had no malignant motive-that we believed what we asserted. Admirable exeusel and to the wild creations of imaginati- on, the character and the happiness of families and individuals must be saeri- feed.
 At moment when 1t is asserted that society is advancing so rapidly in rehae- meat; when individaalsaHd associations are laboriously exerting themselves to stem the torrent of wickedness. and 10 disseminate the principles of true reli-. gion, we arc not aware that any iri- Progement of our social state has been attempted in the particular aspect un- der which we have been contemplating It. Indeed, we are apprehensiYe thai the circumstances of society," =as the present moment are particularly .- yourable to the diffusion of the n.cs ral nalady which we are nov consider ing.
 The practice of duelling has fallen under the strong reproduction wilici, this murderous vice deserves from all ranks ofsociety. But, much as we ab. hor the principle of the code of honoy. falsely so called, we are not ignorant, that by the fear of responsibility, a sa- iutary check may be applied to the propensity of the male slanderer. We are apprchensive that the removal of this restraint, unless some compensatory influence be brought to bear upon the minds of men, will have the unhappy effect of rendering calumny more gen eral and malignant.
 Much may be done towards the era dlcation of this vice by exposing it, in its native deformity; by directing the mind to its malignant influence upon the happiness of society. Much may be effected by the decided disapproba- ten of conscientious individuals; and still more, by the advancement of gen. eral information, which by creating relish for intellectual cony yersation. will supersede the necessity of resorting to the common topics of fashionable gos- sip. The production of such reform is worthy of the highest cxertion of the press and the pulpit. We regret that, as far as our experience informs us. the subject is SO rarely introduced into the sacred desk while the most subtle shades of faith form the burden of ma- ny sermon equally destitute of inter- est and efficiency in promoting holiness of life.
 We eannotfatterourselves, that these observations on the detestible vice, ,slan- der, viii produce any other effect thai an assent to the truth of the proposi- tions. But should they excite the atten- ton of the candid and just portion of society, and engage the exertiou8 of en- frightened and generous minds in the cause they are designed to advocate. the author of them will consider him. self amply compensated.
 From the Auburn Free Press. THE PRINTING OFFICE.