Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-04-30

terest in tho subject, some reflections Oh forced
matt imonial come ons or in other words. of
such as are entered into, not by cheerful con-
sent OF the parties, given under the assurance
that there exists between them, mutual alice
ton, but made rp by their best friends, from
motives Of convenience, pride, or pccuniary in
te1cst.
That such subject should have existence A.
nong us, is at the same time misfortune to in
d'vduals, a matter of astonishment and renre,
10 all, and stain upon the condition and char.
acter of our society, and the philan,hropis,
must mourn over the evidence it affords of the
dcpravity of our nature, and our liability to be
swayed by motives which lead to any thing.
rather than true and substantial happiness.
1t there be crime, that is odious In the sight,
OF both God and man, that is revolving TO every
dictate OF Christian duty, TO every feeling of
common humanity, i, is surely that of ooupen-
ING helpless AID INNOCENT female to unite her
destiny for life, with that of man. for whom
perhaps, she feels nei.ler love, honor nor re-
sPect. And Al those who from casual circum-
stances, possess the influence OF the power suf
hcent to effect this, should so far prostitute and
abuse what nature or fortune has placed within
their reach instead of eRdeavorDg honestly and
conscentiously to promote the happiness OF
their daughter, their niece, or at least their
friend; they are rendered just as unworthy OF
the countenance and respect of vrtuous and
enlightened community, Fas though they had
taken that which did not belong to :hem, or had
imbued their hands in the hearts blood of fell
low creature! There is in principle no differ.
ence, and though the laws of man visit the
one with their vengeance and the other with
Iimpunity, yet, if there be Just retribution in
an eternal world, between the two classes of
crime, surely no discrimination will be made
| Can those, who with so much unkindncss and
so little feeling would compel others to be guild
ed in their choice of a companion for life, by
their judgments, by their notions of what would
condnce to contentment and happiness, be ig.
norant of the fatal tendency of such a course !?
Does not reason denounce it Does not the
voice of nature cry aloud against il ? Have
they not the ample volume of experience before
them' Alas for human nature the sin that
is committed in despite of all these, is done
knowingly and wilfully, and the most earnes,
professions Of dsinterestcd friendship aud zeal
for the promotion of the happiness of others, is
no pal!iation of the wicked folly but let the Gil
cumstancos of the case be what they may, its
commission stamps upon its author the charaG-
ter of little, selfish, grovelling and Interested
mind and if the depths of human depravity
could be tathomed every made up match could
be traced to motives of the personal inter est
and ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the individual actors
concerned in the dreful tragedy. Even paren-
ltal love itself and EindraI of,
make a shameless sacrifice at this unhallowed
SHINE, or by strange perversion of reason,
lpreteud to anticipate the happiness of their VIC
tim from the very act, which consigns her to
undressing misery. This indeed is the plea,
which has ever been too effectual, in protecti
such miscrcants from the just Indignation of
the world. Unable to estimate the wisdom of
I others, and equally incapable of knowing the
motives OF their conduct, view them as
creatures almost without reason, without power
: TO discern, and pursue good avoid evil, and
Whatever of the latter may ensue fiom their
agency is ascribod to blind fatality, which the
purest intentions on their part could not con-
trol. 1t is time the world should be getting rid
Pf this weakness, which whilst Ms indulgence
Screens those, who have no claims to our sym
nathies, and whose true characters, if revealed,
you'd cause to be ashamed of our blindness.
facilitates the ruin of thousands, born to bless
: mankind" and whose surest defence is public
sentiment, in rewarding virtue and furnishing
, ice. Who that is possessed of the least phi
hnthropy, or that boasts spark Of patriot
Bm, can view with indifference the institution
: If practice, which had already been attended,
tlsewhere with such fatal consequences In
England, in France even in the larger cities of
: our country, how many instances of incon-
s:ancy occur on the part of those who have
sworn at the sacred altar of their God, eternal
fidelity, to warn us against the danger of pro-
noting unions, upon any other considerations
than those which nature, reason and experience
point out. is the frequency of these instances
surprising? We'll might we be surprised were
we not to recurr to the fact. that in the places
to which we have alluded, marriage is in many
; cases, subject of mere bargain and sale, OF
speculation, where the chances for the happiness
OF the parties, Off that indeed forms any con.
slderaton) are calculated, just in proportion, as
the terms OF the contract seem beneficial or not
in pecunlaTy point of view. Such sooner or
later, must be the case here; if the proper cor.
receive be not applied. That corrective will
be found in the frowns of an offended com
munity, whose sense of morality and decen.
Icy, and feelings OF humanity have been out
ragged. If it remains wrapped in its accustom-
; ed Indifference, perhaps a few mere generations
) shall have passed away, and marriage, the ordi-
nance of God himself, established for The honor
OF mankind, and as the ERNEST pillar OF morality
will cease to answer any other ends than those
fof oppression of the innocent. and the advance
ment of the views of unprincipled, unfeeling
and designing characters. There are no hopes
: OF retaining by reason or persuasion, such