Southern telegraph., 1837-04-18
mIsoELLANnoUs.
INDEPENDFNCE

where every man is, politically, on an
equality with his neighbor, with the Chiel
Magistrate Of the Union, that they wani
freedom Of thought, Of speech, Of actioni
That the people arc obnoxious % the charge
of pusiIlanymisy? We fear that there is
too much reason for tho charge. We fear
that the descendants of those WHO resigneC
the comforts of life, flrsOok country and
kindred, and braved the stormy deep in
search of a land, cold, bleak aud unculti
vated, where they could at least enjoy free
dom of thought, of speech, and Of con
science-who resolved to maintain their
freedom and independence at whatever ha-
zard- have lost much Of the bold, free and
manly spirit Of their sires, aud have become
sordid and luxurious The noble senti-
ments, the untrammelIed thought and the
watchful jealousy Of power, which charac-
terlsed our ancestors, seem to have been
weakened in US by the inervating influence
of wealth and luxury.
II is said both by fmeigners, and by such
Of our own citizens as have travelled in Eu-
rope, that we speak our sentiments with
less frankness and freedom, and with APP
parently greater anxiety 10 know what
may be the opinion of others on tho same
question, or how our remarks will be re-
cieved by them, than the subjects Of almost
any Europcan Monarch. We must admit
that there are comparatively few among
us who have the moral courage to utter
sentiments known to be unpalatahle to the
multitude, though persuaded Of their truth;
or who, if any one ayows such sentiments,
will risk their own popularity by espousing
their cause, and enlisiing 10 their defence.
Fear keeps us silent till we can ascertain
what is to be the public sentiments, and
then we are ready to join in and swell its
tide; or if we are too honest to <lo that, we
perhaps close our mouth and lock up our
thoughts, or speak them with caution and
hisitancy.
"The despot we acknowledge says an
able writer, sis the aggregation of ndivid-
ua opinions and wishes. How few, in re-
ality, think their own thoughts and speak
their own words! Haw many are there
who would spurn the idea of living other
wise than perfectly free, who would no more
presume TO go counter To those around
them in matters of belief or opinion, than
the slave to resist the commands ofhis mas
ter. Comparatively few weigh or examine
the opinions they entertain upon any sub
Iject. If tits religionI theirs is the creed
Of their sect. If it is politics, their party
gives them the test by which to try theil
opinions" and whether this be the standard
oftruth, or the false measure of error, they
do not stop to inquire.
In dress, in furniture, in our amusements
and entertainments, and even in the selec.
ton of our acquaintances and visitors, we
are peculiarly and most sIayishly subservi
ent to the opinions of others; and the eas
suspicion that we have incurred the censurc
Of that autocrat "lhe fashionable word,' OF
have exposed ourselves to the shafts Of rid
icule, which he throws with such dreaded
effect, gives us more anxiety and concern
than real calamity. The time and mode
of making call, of inviting guests, of serv
ing refreshmenis-the knot of cravat, tht
plait of a bosom, the position Of pin, the
arrangement of the hair, must be conform
able to the m de prescribed by fashion, ant
thousands, aye, tens OF thousands there arc
who would feel less modification at hens
charged with habitual gaming than with
want of conformity 10 her arbitrary rules
Nay, we venture the assertion, mWiifvn.
as we feel the fact to be, that there are no
a few OF orr bellies who would consider thi
heln0us crime OF nnn-conf0rmity, as a mucl
more serions objection to man than thu
character Of a lbcriine and seducer, and i
would sooner banish him from good society
While writing the above remark, irient
relates to US the following anecdole;
yonng man connected with one Of the fines
families in our cities, though a notorioa
and heartlcss seducer, was nevertheless ad
lnitted into "the first circles,n where Ii
carried as high head, os brazen fron
and ''baslled in beauty's smiles" as freel
as the most flyored Itso happcncd that
party of ladios and gentlemen was nude Il
fora steamboat excursion, and among tn
rest came our gay Lolhario. On seein
him, a young lady enqliged whether he wa
to be one Of the party; and on being al
swcred in the affirmative, replied, then
cannot; and insisted on being permitted
return home. living bad The moral cout
age TO adopt that line ofconduct which sci
respect dictated, she wns sustained By
few other ladies If the party, and the rosu
was, that the seducer vas compelled /
leave the boat, and was from thqt day Q,
cluded from the circles where he had b,
FIRE been received with marks of pecuIig
fWor, and made to feel a portion Of The puI
ishment due 70 the destroyer Of innocenc
md virtnc. -iIow many ladies' out OF
thousand, would have had tho maral cou
are to act as this one did, thaugl, in deir
s. they would mainiain the dignity of the
! scot, and conmahd the respect and adlr
= PATTON Of ours we teaF but few. Bit
rosufn 70 our subject.
The same despatic poworwhiclt enclail
lti,n ,,.sffie nf infivitistalz e3tefe IL f.shls