The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-09-17

absurd controversy, perhaps, whether the
infinite Creator is more gfatifed by the
faith or ny the works Of insignificau :.
man; or whether it is pleasing TO him
that little water should be sprinkled.
in due form, upon the forehead.
But the passion Of anger, was not i'm
planted in the mind merely by an over
sight of nature; like all other strong
passions, II is liable to great abuse, but is
emineu,ly useful and commendable when
properly directed and restrained. Its lc-
climate direction is against criminals of
every grade, from reckless votary Of
ambition, who glories in his shame, down
to the dastardly wretch who decoys and
murders an unoffending female. Man
is made capable Of violent resentment
that he may redress his wrongs, with
promptness, when redress is rationalv
aud that when the public good demands
resistance against oppression ne may for
get, in the warmth Of honest Indignation,
the enervating influence of selfish fear.
Would nations remain 90 long bound
down in slavery, were not the feeling Of
resentment, in manner, dead within
them? What could support Don Miguel
or Nicholas, were they viewed by their
subjects with the cordial hatred due to
their crimes
II is shewn by anatomy, that Of the
numbcrless parts of the human body, not
one is withou, its proper use much less
then can we suppose that any strong
natural passion, is implanted IN the mind
in vain, or is given 10 man merely for his
torment, Those moralists, therefore,
who would extirpate fiom the mind all
feeling Of resentment for injuries or
crime, are scarcely more reasonable than
a certain ingenious machInist, who ad-
mired, very much, the construction fthe
human body, but imagined it would ma.
terially be improved, if instead oflegs
we could substitute pair Of wheels.
Awaythen with all sympathy for a
cold 'blooded murderer, let it be account
ed solemn duty, to hold him in utter
hatred and adherence and let little
children he taught to lisp the name of
Avery. with shuddering disgust. Every
man is rcquired,by his obligation TO dis
,urage crime, by his reverence for the
insulted laws, by his love of justice, and
his abhorrence Of triumphant guilt, by
these high motives. he is required to keep
ahvs wholesome feeling of Indignation
against this murderer, by uDmeasured
reprobation Of his crime.
But If we are bound to execratc the
villain who has ,riumpaed over the laws
and who laughs in his sleeve at the deli
cate scruples ofa jury, what are we to
think of his professional adherents, who
falsely pretend to believe that there is no
ground ofsuspicion against him! If the
fear Of disgrace is one Of the greatest
moral restraints, and if the man who
wilfully diminishes this restraint is ac-
cessary TO the consequent increase of
crime, then these men are murderers at
heart.
There is this difference between the
verdict ofthe jury, and the decision ofI
these most Reverend divines; the Jury
conscientiously believe that there
was remote chance of the innoeence ofl
Avery, which, according to their view of
law, was sufficient to acquit him; where.
as these interested clergy, pretend to be-
lievo that there is not even the remotes,
chance of his guih.-Yet even the yer.
dict of acquittal, must be accounted san-
culinary and cruel; crime to those who
may suffer in consequence ofthe sncour-
sgement thus given to crime. envy
notthe feelings Of the jury, should other
secret murders be committed in this
State. But those who join in reprobn,-
ing the guilt Of Avery aud his confeder-
ates, have the satisfaction of rejecting,
that, in this case, they can wash their
hands Of innocent blood.