Canton herald. (Canton, Miss.) 1837-1839, 1837-12-15

be known 10 many of our readers. an
account Of its rise, the first promulqa.
ton Of It's principles, and other partic-
olars, might prove entertaining. IL
q denomination which includes n large
class Of our citizens, who have figured
conspicuous IN the field of politics
during the last lew months, and are
TOW exertng powerful but unpropi-
toos influence throughout the country.
any, probably, who 90 under tic
naInc, and rank themselves with tic
party, are unacquamted with the pa.
ternity OF their principles, aud the ex,
trayagant and pernicious lengths 10
winch they were carried by the orgi-
nal propagators. TO others it must
be matter Of curiosity, as well as Of
interest, TO know something Of the
history and doctrines Of class of POI
lIilclans who now attract so much Of
public attention, and are made the sub.
Jects OF such frequent discussion and
go" - W. fSdHtbhNes
Some writers pretend to trace the
origin OF loco-ioeoism to Robert Owen.
lie was foreigner, supposed to tie
from Scotland--a man Of cultivated
intellect, and rich requirements inI
science and literature, withal some
what gifted as a public speaker, but
unfortunately imbued with eccentric
R.9tlons and addicted to wild theories.
lie was moreover Il rank infde in his
opinions, and an open and ayowed OPP
ponent to religion and its institutions. |
Not Content that his eccentricities Of
opinion and sentiment should be con-
lined to his own bosom, he was seized
with an ardent desire TO propagate
them, and q few years ago crossed the
Atlantic to this continent, for the pur.
POSE Of making proselytes. To this
end he travelled through the United
states, delivering lectures explanatory
o. his views, on subjects social, poIiti.
cal and religious. These views were
indeed curious, and ultra beyond the
widest extravaganza, aud earned for !
i.lm at the time the reputation Of al
dreaming, hali-cracked enthusiast or
'nono-nanac. Their most prominent ,
leattlres were, opposition TO the exist. !
once OF any form Of government as $
totally needless, and a useless restraint $
lpon the liberty of individuals, and a
me holding of all property in com. a
non. lie contended further for the s.
iepeal of all laws whatsoever, de- 81
lounced the institutions of marriage. y
md every other moral restraint i'm o
3osed upon the vices and passions of Ct
nen under the present constitution of al
hIngs, and strcnuously insisted upon tt
ne necessity OF overturning the very CT
foundations of society, and dssolvinr e'
! back again into its original elements. 81
lis lectures made but little impression CT
i the time. Large audiences some. ht
mes attended the discourses. but az
we're drawn together more from Gu n
iosity to hear a tissue of strange va IN
aries, than from any respect TO the
peaker or his opinions. After striy. nj
ng IN vain to make converts, and 81
pending u fortune in visionary expe- m
imcnts at New Harmony, where he p'
ounded asettlcment with the view of til
estlng his principles, he finally gave W
'p the project IN despair, and returned n
Q his own country. The next indi. Il
fldua who appeared before the pub pl
&c as the advocate of such principles. bt
vas the notorious Fanny Wright. OF
whose name has been rung from one pt
md Of the Union 10 the other. Her pI
history and principles are as well
,nown as those Of any of our states.
nen. She differed from her prede- b.
'essor only ia having little more til
act and smartness. which gave her to
lrt enough to throw a veil over the
more disgusting features of the svs- q,
EN-. Her prudence and KNOWLEDGE n
! mankind forbade her going the OF
anne lengths in the extension of these ii
1ischlevous doctrines. She confined an
erself more within the bounds of 81
loderatlon, andonly inveighed against II
ne distinctions now existing in soci. IN
ty-the different grades and castles \,
feated by wealth, aristocracy, and as
ther causes-denounced the banks oe
bused monopolies--wcnt in for the l6n
BOLTON of all differences Of rank in "
ociety--was the friend and advocate 10
J the lazy lounger and ragged loafer. We
nd would have placed them ON a level br
nth the industrious mechanic and n
lriity merchant. n
Such doctrines would of course be ~
opular with the lower class Of men "a
dense and populous city like NewIir,
REE hAs \