Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-01-14
Tz sc <. z.
PERSONAL ABUSE.

discussing IdcsuoDs Win tHsIf opponents,
and to engage in heaping personal abuse upon
all who do not happen to think or act accord
ing to their notions. of right or wrong, M all
matters, social, moral, and political. The fol
lowing extract from a speech delivered by the
Hon. William Castor, before The Wing and
Ciiosophic Specifies of the College of New
Jersey on the Goth of September last, contains
sound doctrine upon The subject, and will am
ply compensate the reader for tbs time HAT
mayoc cdnsameJ IN perasing f.
Civilized nations, by a perfectly under
stood. though tacIt compact, have estab-
lshed rules by which their hostilities are
regulated, and Of which no extremity will
permit the violation without mourning uni.
versal infamy. 1t is time that The litera
ry struggles of contending factions should
also have their fixed rules ofwar; I" Non
Jraude, neqne o%ceuitis, sed paiam et a,nq.
tum Poputum RomGaum hosies sues ulcisei.n
not by fraud, not by secret maehlnations.
but openly and armed, the Roman people
avenges itself on its foes was the answer
Of the senate Of Rome TO the proposition
OF the king oil The Catii to take off Armi.
MUS by poison. Assassination, the poiso
ning Of weapons aud Of waters, are regar.
ded by every civilized people as utterly de.
testable aud inadmissibie in war. 1t is TOO
much TO hope that the managers Of f~actious
warfare Can ever be brought to confpe
themselves TO fair arguments addressed
solely 70 the understanding of their hear.
ers. Nay, il is, perhaps, not 10 be wish.
Cd that ftcH 5che4tl t-kyII- C..to.. -
those appeals TO the feelings and passions
OF human nature, which often quicken the
Judgment in It's operations, and without
which, few will take an interest in discus
ions Of a general character. Bat detrac.
lion is intimately allied ia baseness, and
cruelty 10 assassination. Ii iaficteih dead
~ wounds en- one who cannot defend him
self on equal terms lie who besitates
cot by ~ialsebood, either known to be false.
hood, or reekIessly taken up without care
whether it be false or true- to destroy the
falr1dme of au adversary, wants but liz.
lie Of the guilt of him who would stab an
enemy in the eaik Personal abuse is a
poisoned weapon. " here tie blow is not
IN itself severe the venom may yetrsnkie
s. corFede. ltis a weapon, too which eqi-
allies the true man and the false, the eou:
fageous aHd The coward, and requires for
lis use neither vigoF OF intellect nor MAJ.
Illness Of purpose. Ia truth, the bassst.
The feebiest ID temper, and the weakesti in
argument, are usually the most disposed
and The best qualified TO resort 10 IT.
While II dIsgfaces those by whom il is
employed, II grievously annoys those a.
gainst whom II is directed and all enga-
ged 10 the contest whether yic;ors or van.
pushed. come forth fromit diseased, spot.
ted, manned and infected,
Ii is always difficult 10 conduct an ear,
nest controversy without committing in.
justice. 10 the most sincere, the ambition
Of victory usually impai!s the love OF truth
and warps the judgment. Even To the
benevolent. opposition 10 confident opinion
is apt TO kindle wrath, aud 20 draw upon
the opposer that hostility which should be
directed against his errors. Who is there
that ever engaged 10 such contests that
did not complain that bis motives or his
actions were misrepresen,ed s. tradaeed ?
The experience Of such injustice should
render him slow TO charge his advcrsaries
with wicked acts or wicked designs. as he
cannot but know that he isequaliy liable to
commit rash mistakes. In proportion as
the temptations to this injustice are strong
The victory over them is noble and useful
1t has been said Of Charles Fox, that
few circumstances contributed mote TO bis
exalted fame as a public debaler. than the
perfect fairness with which he always sta.
ted the arguments ofhis opponent. Such
irankness impressed every one with a con
%yiction o. bis sincerity. eviaccd his calm,
collected, undoubiiGg confidence in the
cause Of truth, and bespoke for him the
most favorable attention OF his bearers
Would that it were possible 10 inspire all
our dIsputants, who carry on the wordy
war IN the daily weekly and monthly sheets
political, literary, and theological, that Gy
around Us, with a practical sense Of the
advantages that result from candor, tenn
perance, and fair dealing. But TOO many
Of them are so intent on detecting the bic
mlshes in the character and conduct of
those who dissent from them. that they
have neither leisure 10 consider, nor thot
TO bestow on their own moral improve
ment, They wholly invert the maxim of
beneyoience and wisdom. They do not
regard perfection as the rule by which 20
regulate their own conduct, buI hold il up
as the standard by which 10 censure The
acts Of others They consider themselves
as making every atonement for their own
violations OF justice. truth, and charity. By
the kecnness Of their invectiyes and bold
ness OF their denunciations against every
opponent, whom zeal, prejudice. or re-
sentiment. converts into a trausgressor.-
Would that they could he prevailed on TO
take for their guide the counsel Of Cole
ridge himself the most earnest and dog
matte Of public writer's" Show %infoler-
anee TO erroneous principles aud opinions.
because they are repugnant 10 truth and
virtue ; but be tolerant 10 men, be tolerant
10 m%otiCes, for no one knows but that he
may have mistaken positive opinion for
certainty and clear insight. ConscieD-