Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-09-13
PUBLIC MORALS.

PUBLIC MORALS.
That the increase of some species of
crime in our country is more rapid than the
advancement Of our population, is very ap-
parent to every one who has given attention
TO the subject. The circumstances attend
ing the melancholy catastrophein New York
not long since, disclosed one Of the sour.
ces of moral corruption which, like the upas,
is blasting Unfortunately and irreparably
all who come within its deadly influence
The house in which the degraded female
was murdered, is not a solitary one ofthat
character-hundreds in that city and thou
sands scattered in the larger towns through
out our land, are supported by those per-
sons who ought to be now forming charac-
ters worthy the rich inheritance Of free in.
stitutions be9ueathed by our virtuoH faith.
crs. Such houses are supported too by
those who arc honored with stations Of pub.
lie trust and authority in municipal, state, and
even national affairs!
1t is question of some importance TO
ask,-what are the upholding causes for
such a state Of things? and how can these
evils, Of which all are sensible, best be re-
mcdied?
The prevalence of Infdelity. is the ground
work Of loose morality, vice and crime. So
cieties Of men who are attempting TO break
through all the moral restraints imposed by
the laws of God and man, disannulling all
those ties which give society a state OF social
organizatien-are busily engaged in lnstl-
ling into the minds of youth those vile prin-
ciples which are so forcibly illustrated in the
case of the deuded Robinson. The gam
bling room, the tippling house, and the bro
thel, are schools for those who are taught
that there is moral accountability-and there
in their degraded revellings, they are conso-
ed by the thought that no small number of
the recipients of public honors passed thro'
such scenes to the places Of dignity they
now hold? The elevation TO high office of
alibertine, debauchee, gambler, holds
out so many models for the ambitious youth
four land-so many palliatives for the
lcentious course they feel disposed to pur-
sue.
That "Rank gires force to example," is
not to be disputed. When Christianity was
almost extinct in the earth, Constantine
ascended the thronc--bis sanction and ey-
ample shed a benignant influence, and mil
lions of the human race by their reformed
lives, showed the impressive force Of high
example. In later days, when our country
was attempting to throw off the yoke offor.
eign oppression, a Washington hesitated not
in public as well as private, TO acknowledge
his dependence on the Most High and in.
woke his aid. Then the evils attendant on
nfidclily were but little known in our land
the virtues of the leader, shed every where
mild moral lustre: such character was
then vencrated, and it was the ambition OF
the young to initiate it.
Bu: what is the public example now of
many who are high in office! Cannot the
duellist,-the gambler-the debauchee,-
be pointed out in stations high? If such
crimes are thus made reputable, is 1t not
time for us TO look to ii? Does not our na.
tional character, our individual safety, dc.
mand it!
10 say nothing Of any other candidate,
calculate for q moment the influence upon
the nation of the elevation by the present
dominant party, of their candidate for the
second office in the people'sgift. An avow-
ed and open libertine-his own family bear
ing the dark impress ofhis utter disregard
of one OF the distinct commands ofthe Sec
ond table. Ifsuch men areto receive the
high honors of our nation, and the influence
of their example is as great upon Society as
maybe reasonably calculated-debauchery
will hardly be considered crime-our
youth will be led astray-and robberles and
murders will become the common incidents
of the day.
Republicans should ever remember that
"RASK GIvEsFoacE TO ExAMPLE"-and see
to it, as they regard the permanency OF our
institutions, that such men onlyhare rank as
set q GOOD EXAMPLE.
Portsmouth, ~. H. Journal.
,roSDrpC1-J EEEECTS OF CCLTURE,