Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-03-28

amendments were uiducs tut w. -
be engrossed.
The Judiciary bill was reported IN the senate
from the Committee, and $50 copies were ORDER
ed to be printed. This is substitute tor the two
Judge system of the House of Delegatcs-and
proposes one Judge to each Circuit--but the ar
rangement and number Of circuits are not specl-
fed. 1t also proposes new mode OF proceed
ing in civil Suits particularly in relation to the
pleadings, testimony and trial.
We understand, that the growing wheat gen.
orally, looks at this time very badly. In many
fields it IS very backward, and some OF 1t Is
withered or killed by the severe weather to which
it has been exposed.
The spring is late-The almond. apricot, and
peach trees arc beginning to put forth few OF
their blossoms.
A part of the Rail Road is finished near Man.
chester-and vehicle ixe; upon wheels is put
i'm operation upon it--for the transportation and
amusement of passengers. A car is expected to
be put upon it in three or four weeks. The Road
will probably be completed in June or July next.
-zas3easn-
The criminal Court of New-York which has re-
Gently closed its session, concluded the sentence
of a yuuIfs man, who had been well instructed In
books, with the following happy remarks:
.There is perhaps nothing more calculated to
give birth to painful feelings. than the frequency
with which we see men of education placed be-
fore their country to receive the requital which
the law gives to its violators. Al the late ses-
sion of the Criminal Court of this city, four or
five individuals who had been well educated, IN
the ordinary sense of the word, who are respect
l. -, g., ykf,c., c,ch
as might have aided them in acquirlnga an honest,
respectable livelihood, and who had knowledge
of some profession by which they could make
themselves reputable. and benefit to the COM
munity, were placed before the bar Of justice as
convicted felons!
Let US ask, why is this? Are the fields Of our
country SD barren as not to yield reward to him
who labOrs on them? Are the energies of our
portion of her citizens the avenues to wealth and
the honest enterprise Of our peoplei No-none
of these things are so: and yet here are men, in
the prime of health, possessed of almost all the
qualities which aid man in his honest labors; ed
ucatlon, respectable family influence. proposes
sing person and address, and profession, and
vet who prefer preying on the honest labors Of
Others forgetful Of all sense Of honor, ard reck-
less of punishment. Whence then comes this
obliguity of thought and of practices Where is
such cases, can we look for a cause-Where ex-
cept in the want of that love of virtue and hatred
of vice, without which education is to man, as
sword blade would be to baboon which should
attempt to WELD it.
In no one case alluded TO was the crime con-
sequence of sudden temptation which could &C
quire strength from pinching want, because this
crime for which conviction took place, was but
one Of series, two of the persons had been be-
fore detected and punished for other crimes
Nor was the amount Of sufficient Importance to
dazzle for moment, the minds ofmen accustom-
ed to move in the sphere they did-ln one case.
the things stolen were articles of wearing appa-
rel, in the other, piece Of silk Of small value
In this last mentioned case, the convict was once
a merchant doing business in this city to a very
large amount-he did very heavy business be-
tween this city and Canada. he commenced snug
Cling and was detected more than once, and fl
nally ruined by this sy stem Of dealing. And to-
day he stands convicted of stealing few dollars
worth of silk.
One of the persons it is true, did cheat on a
large scale-but he was hardened to crime, as
his career has been long and active.
All this proves, that crime in educated men,
can occur only in consequence Of the absence of
an early imbibed, and deeply fixed system of mo-
rality.
Man is naturally inclined to love ease, and to
avoid labor; he who has education without virtue
follows the bent of man, he seeks to be idle; to
remain so, he must have money, this is to be had
only by cheating or by industry. He who be-
lieves not in an all-seeing eye-who heeds not an
after life-who has not been taught early to abhor
crime-wil prefer the former mode, if he believes
he can escape detection.
Would, that young men, who have fallen into
crime, could pause in their career. and reflect
upon the risques against them-could they think
upon the consequences Of dlscovery-to be con-
fined amongst the drcgs, the corrupted dregs of
the human race-obliged to labor harder than
slave-without a cheering ray of hope in this
world-from the tender ties Of friends. relatives
or home, Stunned by their former friends, as if
the plague spot were on them-even their rela-
tives shudder as they think upon their misdeeds
And then the anguish of mind inflicted upon.a
beloved mother who watched his childhood or
grew up with him, Or the torturing dsappoint- |
ment of that father or brother, who expected that