Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-08-18

breast,-yca, the very pillows Of union and
friendship are broken down-everv heart is
bursting with envy, malice, and fell re-
vcnge.
Here, reader, pause to ask what can be
IA greater calamity to mankind than such
state Of society," Will your best judgmen,
admit that there can exist greater evil than
slander2 Intemperance. famine and war are
tremendous; but the still small voice Of SLAM
der. is il not more tremcndous2 Why, it
pervades the rcmotcst parts Of the habhed
globe; and who is allpowerful TO Withstand ils
wasting influence
What is il that has so often fixed the fatal
rope to the neck ofthe suieideg What is it
that stimulates the arm TO give vent to the
purple gore-draw the razor to open the
deep wounds in the throat--or whispers 10
his ear. go drown yourself and bury your
sorrows in watciy grave. What is il that
has so often drove fond reason" from her
throne, and forced the incoherent meanings
Of the maniac2 and above all, what foul de-
mon is that, who with bastard steps climbs
over the wall into the sheep-fold. whispering
peace. peace to the lambs OF Christ,-who.
with intrigue and black deception wins their
hearts with promises ofconsummate felicity.
But alas, no sooner are they in his power.
than the poisoned shafts Of calumny are rails
ed, TO fell them into the vortex of human de-
graduation
o were endowed with the tongues Of an
gels-were clothed with the eloquence OF
a Cicero. words would fail me to detail the
crimes. the bloodshed. and the assassinatious
which. in consequence Of this "bellish vice"
hav hs,a MI faI b. I'll .a-lA
Human language is not competent to afford
words black enough TO paint its enormity."
Here then leave the subject. yet imploring
justice from some more efficient source than
my weak pen
But to the slanderer duty demands that
should offer few remarks.
Fellow being. are you mother, have you
daughter. on whom your fondest passions
Of love doai,--who is the joy Of your life
the ornament Of societyf II so. what would
be the anguish Of your soul If some -nvious
neighbor should bias, her bright prospects
should wound her reputation--drstroy her
character-and leave her disconsolate and
friendless, 10 the scorn Of the wide world
Would not the pain Of your soul be intoler.
abIe2 Think, o think, and beware lest you
commit the same heinous offence against
your neighbor. Brothers and sisters, be-
ware; remember the ties OF nature are strong;
do to others as ye would that they should dc
unto you!
Sianderer. are you conscious tina; you are
the instrumen,-the undisguised emmissary
of some black powerl Are you con
scious that you are scattering seed that ere
long will spring into plants Of the most OBJ
noxious. and degrading immoralIty2 Are
you aware that that sweet morsel which you
roll with so much pleasure from your tongue
may one day, as an arrow of DEATH WOUND
the yitals Of your neighbor, and launch hin
into premature gravel Are you not fear
full that the blood Of the suicide will be founc
on your garmen,s2 o, you are the bane o
society-the bitterest scourge-the most OBJ
noxious curse that can infrs, people or ma
ton. Your breath is 10 the happiness o
man, as the chilling frost Of autumn to th'
tender plant. Being fostered in the lap o
ignorance, and fed with the milk Of human
misery, your associates are TIE demons o
darkness, and all the hosts Of midnight CLAIM
YOU as brother Innocence and virtue shut
YOU as the hydra of society yea. so irigh,
ened are they at your approach, that the,
4 cry to the mountains to fall and shield then
from your sight Who would not rather en-
dure the pains Of the rack, or fall victim 4
the cruel rites OF heathenism. or drag out
life of solitude in the loathsome damps OF
dungeon, than fall by the blasting mildey
of your wiiheIipg breath.
WARREN
Westminster West, July, 1887.