Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-04-14
and not notice tiff he is dishonest in such

L
and act honestly in great things for the
sake OF bolstering up his own good opin-
Ion of himself, while in little things he
will cheat and play the>knave
said in the beginning, that | did not
mean, that if a man would take small ad-
Vantages, he would certainly never act
with apparent uprightness. 1t often
comes TO pass, that indiy iduals who act
with great meanneSs and dishonesty in
small affairs, will act uprightly and hon
orably, on the ground that their character
and interest are at stake Many a man
who among merchants is looked upon as
an honorable dealer, is well known, by
those who are more Intimately acquainted
with him, to be mean aud knavish and
overreaching in smaller matters, or in
his dealings with more humber and more
dependent individuals. 1t lis plain that it
is not real honesty of heart, Nhic h makes
him act with apparent honestyin his more
public transactions.
So | said, that if an individual will COM
nit petty thefts, it is not certain he would
commit highway robbery. He might
HO'N val IOho AEuSOuS 1OI aUSkdIllllPS NitH-
out having a particle too much honesty
TO rob on the highway, or to cut a purse
out of your pocket in the crowd. TIE
individual may not have courage enough
to break out in highway robbery, or not
skill enough, or nerve enough, or he may
be afraid Of the law, or afraid of disgrace,
or ether reasons.
An individual may indulge unclcan
thoughts, habitually, and yet never actu-
ally commit adultery. He may be re-
strained by fear, or want of opportunity,
and not by principle, If he INDUCES un-
clean thoughts, he would certainly act un-
clearly, if it were not for other reasons
than purity of principle.
An individual may manifest a covetous
spirit and yet not steal But he has the
spirit that would lead him to steal, if not
restrained by other reasons than honesty
or principle.
\ man may be angry, and yet his an
ger never break out in murder. But his
hatred would lead him to do it, so far as
principle is concerned. And if it is not
done, it is for other reasons than true
princip Pile.
An individual may Cypress his fellow
man, enslaye him, deprive him of instruc-
ton, and compel him to labor without
compensation, for his own benefit, and vet
not commit murder, or 60 to Africa to en-
gage in the slave trade, because it would
endanger his reputation or his life. But
ifhe will do that which divcsts life of all
that is desirable TO CRAFTY his own pride
or promote his own interest," it cannot be
principle, either of love to God or love tc
man, that keeps him from going any
length, if his interest requires it. If a
L. man, from regard to his own selfish in
terest, will take a course towards any hu
, man being which will deprive him .ofaI
, that renders life desirable, it is easy to see
that, so far as principle is concerned there
is nothing in the way of his doing it b,
violence on the coast Of Africa, or taking
life itself, when his interest requires it.
So an individual who will defraud thu
United States treasury Of eighteen cents
/, in postage, has none too much principl,
! TO rob the treasury, if he had the sam,
r prospect of impunitv. The same princi
: pie that allowed him to DO the one, wouI,
S allow him to do the other. And the sam
= motive that led him 10 do the one, woul,
lead him to do the other if he had an op
S portunity, and if he were not counteracte
1 by some other motive equally selfish.
y A man may, in like manner, be guilt
S Of little misrepresentation, who woul
/, not dare to tell downright LIE. "
s if he is guilty of coloring the truth, an
), disappearing facts, with design 10 dt
s ceive, or TO make facts appear othcrN is
t, than they really are he is really lying
a and the Individual who will do this woul
g manufacture ever SO many lies, If it we
j. for his interest, or were he not restraine
n by other reasons than a sacred regard t
n TRUTH
1t V. | will mention some instance
d where persons are dishonest in small ma
h ters, while they appear to act honest
a. and even piously in regard to matters
greater importance.
a /. We often find individuals NANTES
IS ing great want of principle in regard
h the payment Of small debts, while they a
to extremely careful and punctual in the pa
e. ment of notes IN the bank, and in all the
v commercial transactions.
m For instance, there is a man, takes
De newspaper, the price is only small SUI
a and the publisher cannot send colIcct
&c to every individual, so this man lets b
er subscription lie along perhaps for veal
tn and perhaps never pays it. The same il
o, dividual, lift had been note atthe ban
w would have been punctusl enough; al
nd nc. pains would have. been spared, rath
be than let the note run beyond the day
ge Why? Because, if he does not pay h
e. note in the bank it will be protested, al
of bis credit will be injured, but the lit'
ol-1 debts of twenty shiElings or five doIIa
1t will not be protested, and he knows ii, al