Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-08-25

virtue. Every man being governed by
his own taste, and free to choose his own
I pleasures, must be subject only to the
4 control of his own mind. 1t presents no
motive to enforce the practice of virtue.
The consequences of the prevalence of
this system would be the frequent perpe-
tration of great crimes, and the total alb
sence of great virtues. The crimes to
which men are tempted by avarice or
ambition, will be only restrained by fear
of human punishment, which would be an
1 Intellectual barrier, because crimes would
soon lose their infamy under such sys-
tenn. Beyond this immediate effect, we
must look and consider the disruption Of
social ties, the destruction of confidence,
the terror, suspicion and hatred which
would prevail in that state of society i'll
which barbarous deeds are familiar.
The tranquility of a community is found
ed on an implied indisposition to annoy /;
in the justice, humanity and moderation
of those among whom we dwell The
dread and hatred Of our species would
infallibly be grated in a conviction that
we were exposed, every moment, to the
surges of an unbrided ferocity, and that
nothing but the power of the magistrate
stood between us and the daggers of as
sassns. In such state, laws deriving
on support frompublic manners, are une-
quail to the task of curbing the fury of
the passions, which from being conc enta-
ted into sclfishncss, fear and revenge,
acquire new force; terror and suspicion
beget cruelty, and inilict injuries by way
of prevention; pity is extinguished in the
stronger impulse of sclf-preserv alton; the
tender and generous affections arc crush
ed, and nothing is seen but the retalia-
ton of wrongs, the fierce, unmitig ated
struggle for superiority.
This system will be also barren of
great virtues. The only motive to
gre at actions will be love of fame, which
thus makes virtue the servant OF opinion,
and can seldom be expected to operate
with much force III the retired duties of
private life.
The system tends to promote the growth
ofthose vices which are the most hostile to
social happiness. Vanity, ferocity and
sensualty are its natural results. The
latter vice is especially encouraged by
the doctrines now circulated on the sub
jcct of marriage. Mr.. Hume asserted
that adultery was no crime if secret, and
but a slight offence if known. Marriage
was denounced during the French Rev.
olIton, as ii c worst of all monopolies.
1t Is nc cdless to point out how contrary is
the spirit of revelation and reason Mar
riage was ordained to be a permanent
union; it is the great civilzer ofthe world,
without it there could beno permanent ia
miles, domestic society could not exist
But domestic society is the seminary of
social affections, the cradle of scnsibility ,,
where the first elements are acquired of
that tenderness s. humanity which cement
mankind together, and which, were they
extinguished, the whole fabric of human
\ institutions would be dissolved. Fami-
lies are so many centres of attraction,
which preserve mankind from being scat
tered and dissipated by the repulsive
powers of selfshncss. We advance
from private to public affections, from the
love of parents, brothers and sisters, to
those more expanded regards which
embrace mankind The advocates of
the new system instead Of inculc cating
the private affections as discipline by
which the mind is prepared for those of a
more public nature, set them in opposition
to each other; they propose to build gen
eral bencvolence in the destruction of
individual tenderness, and to make US
love the whole species more, by loving
every particular part of it less. Virtue
is limited to a passionate attachment to
the general good, but when the bonds of
society arc loosed, whence is this ahcc-
ton to spring.
i 1t is no new boast of infdels that their
system is so much more liberal than chris
tianity, that if fairly tried it would great
ly increase human happiness. But was