Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1833-01-24
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
Causes Of the Ruin Of Nations.


Though adegenerate state Of morality, and a def
ciencyin general knowledge, the primary causes
whyrcpubcan governments decline into State Of an
aFchy despotsm; and though the public press,
der the patronage ofa faction, and conducted by
princpledmen, dangerous engine Of national ruin,
there are other which grew out gilmore origin
al canses, ana fnally combine in one overwhelming
SURGE 10 sweep away the bulwarks offreedom, reared
and perfected BY tie councils Of wisdom.
Ofthese secondary causes, profanity has conspic-
place in the chain that connects all evil Its i'm
fuence throws around society baleul shade, and
blasts thegrowih ofyrtue, and the spread of useful
knowledge. All profanity, either in language, or the
holy sabbath, fashionable they may be, and ofsma
moment as they maybe considered by infdels and
practical atheists, the canker at the rootof
civil institutions, causing their gradual decline. And
ifcustomary with rulers and those in authority, re-
straint loses it's influence natural consequence,
and RIGHTEOUSNESS and vice descend, by the law of
common consent through all the grades Of society,
demorazing its habits and destroying all its bands
Intemperance, that fell destroyer Of all moral princ
pie, has spread it's balenl poison extent unpar-
alleled perhaps in any other land The globe. And
it is equally moral and political evil, in the sense
here 70 be considered; for whatever weakens the |
moral principle, endangers republican freedom
There issomehing in the character Of intemperance
gilmore deadly and baneai nature than can be traced
in any other vice. Il itself both the cradle and pa
rent OF vice and crime-anda most formidable curse
that degrades this nation and undermipes s exis
tence-and notwithstanding counteraciing cause 10
steadily gaining strength, still there is a vast weight
that prependeraes the side Of evil cherishng and
extending idleness aud dishonesty, and increasing the
departure from rectitude and virtue and ecrrupsing
the manners and customs (which tend to shorten
the existence Of like ihis and to change
into another form less congenial and less free or 10
produce state Of things ut which the benevolent
mind reyos.
The nrease ofpopaIafion increases, in proportion,
e difficulties Of legislating. by both additional num
bers and eaousies and by the increase Of conflicting
opinions and interests. Hence the national veal 10
by many forgotten, disregarded, for faction seeks
aud pursues its own success with reckless madness
This spirit is annually increasing. ..s@
This nation from early existence, has cherished in
its bosom evil that mocks its boast Of Freedom
and may day become its scourge and bane. Ithas
long given an illegiiuate the naiion
allegisa,ure to the great danger Of the union But
there is less danger from spurious representation
than from the source Of that representation. Slavery
and freedom can never analgamate on the soil
and the Heterogeneous mixture must finally cause
tragical explosion, unless timely separated by wise
measures. Slavery has already becoms u gigantic
evil. IN every pointof view in which itcsp be ccnem.
plated; and when taken into the great account of d
vents not very future, is neither to be thought lightly
Of nor forgotten. Two millions Of the human race,
held in slavery in republic boas.ing Of lie liberty md
freedom, ,makes i vulnerable to ruin. and aids
penng it for that catastrophe which has been the fate
Of alirePubcs. The cultivated ofthe soil by slaves
instead Of freemen, i direct contradiction Of the
principles ON which this government 10 founded; and
where slavery exists the genuine principles ofrepub
icanism cannot. The liberation Of slavery. fosters
prejudces and sentiments, the practical effects Of
which viii shake this Union to iis centre and should
resist the shock tll the cause 10 removed the evil
will prey On The vial parts ofthis nation, and hasten
lssn'ssolu'ion. ZANcHIUs.
iShnfop, Jan. a, 1888.
\ - LL