Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-07-20
HONOUR AND INTEGRITY.

Honour and integrity ought TO be the
leading principles Of every Transaction in
life. These are virtues highly requisite.
outstanding they are too frequently
disregarded. Whatever pursuit indivld-
uals are engaged in, sincerity ln'profession,
stedfastness, promptnrsS, aud punctuaiity
in dlscharging engagements, are indlspeD.
SADLY incumbent. A man Of honest integ.
rity, and uprightness in his dealings with
his fellow creatures, is sure 10 gain the
confidence and applause of all good men;
whilst he who acts from dishonest or de.
signing motives obtains deserved contempt
Dishonest proceedings in word or deed,
are very offensive to, and unjustifiable in
the sight Of God and man, even in trivial,
but much more so in consequential affairs.
The most perfect uprghtness is highly
requisite between man and man, though it
is too often disregarded: and is much more
so between the stres. Every profession OF
regard should be made without assembling,
every promise preserved 'nviolate, and
every engagement faithfully discharged.
No one ought to make any offers or pre-.
tensions 10 lady before he Is, in a great
measure. certain her person, her temper,
her qualifications, suit his circumstances,
and agree perfectly with his own temper
and way Of thinking. For similarity of
mind and manners is very necessary to rem
der the bonds Of love permanent, and those
OF marriage happy.
"iarriage The happiest state ef life would be,
If hands were only joined where hearts agree,"
The man of uprightness and integrity of
heart looks upon marriage as business of
the greatest importance in life, and a
change Of condition that cannot be taken
with too much reverence aud deliberation.
Therefore he will not undertake it at ran.
dom, lest he should precipi'a'ely involve
himself in the greatest difficulties. He
wishes to act concienlious part, and con.
sequenlly cannot think Notwithstanding it
is too much countenanced BY custom) of
sporting with the affections of the fair sex,
nor Of paying his addresses 10 any one, till
he is perfectly convinced that his own are
fixed on just principles. All imaginable
caution is certainly necessary but after
mans profession Of regard, aud kind ser
vice and solicitations have made an impress
sion on female heart, IL is no longer q
matter of Indifference ,ohether he perseueres
in, or breaks off his engagements; and much
less without considering her feelings even
particularly dear TO her, and reason, honor
justice, all unite to oblige him to make
good his engagements. When the matter
is brought to such crisis, there is no re
treating without manifest y disturbing her
quiet and tranquility of mind nor can any
thing but the loss of virtue justify his dcser.
ton. Whether marriage has been ex
press'y promised or not, it is of little sig
MITIGATION. For if he has solicited and Cd
tanned her affection, on supposi'on that he
intended to marry her, the contract is. in
the sight OF Heaven sufficiently binding.
The very steps to the.altar Of marriage are
sacred, and no one should act The fr., lhc
coquet, or the traitor there A darker
stain can scarcely rest upon the character
of a professor than faith'essness to his en-
gagcments os lover. 1t is wrong for any
one to inveigle the affections of another
and then TO defend himself ailet he has
retired, by The excuse that he never made
any direct proposals, or that some profes
sed friend had in'erposed- basely inter,
posed In short, the man who baselv I'M
poses upon the honest heart OF an unsus
pectlng girl, and after winning her aft ctiol
by the prevailing rhetoric OF couttship, IN
generously leaves her 10 bitter sorrow an,
complaining, acts verv dIshonourable part
and is more to be deested than q common
robber. For private treachery is muc
more to be de,ested than open force /; an,
money must not be put in compeiitioaotcit
happiness.