The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-12-09

RAILS, AND THEIR EFFEcTs.-lt is not only in mocha
meal philosophy and the arts, that the march of mo.
dern Improvement is visible. In all the relations of
social life great many principles may be seen
at work. Many troublesome and old fashioned doc
trines in morality have been decently buried for
ever New and convenient articles of belief have
been substituted for the DID, obsolete creed and are
getting rapidly into practice Valuable discoveries,
for instance, have been made relative to the pay
ment of debts--the fuhlment of obligations-the
observance of domestic duties-the punishment of
crme-and so on. The world is assuredly growing
wiser every day.
1t is most curious and instructive study to trace
the operation of the loose and erroneous systems of
morality which have been of late promulgated so
industriously, and through so many different chan
nels, in this country. The whole tendency of the
majority of the popular lectures the teachings of
vast number of the clergy, and the sage philosophy
of several Of magazines, has been to obliterate
the old distinctions between right and wrong-to
foster selfishness and vanity-and to substitute a
cold, scepca unsettled spirit of infidelity, for an
animatng and confding faith in the truth, and un-
bending adherence to moral rectitude. High-sound-
ing harangues on the dignity of human nature from
the pulpit-sceptcal lectures on geology, antique
ties physiology, phrenology, and the philosophy of
the human mind-the transcendentalism OF Brown
son and others of the same stamp, and the extern
sve circulation of Gcentious light literature-have
produced the most remarkable and appropriate eff
fects on the character, principles, aud conduct of
what are called the educated and upper classes
FIVE justly estimate crime according to its moral
turpitude, and the character of the cuprs, we must
IN he oh n hx for III I,
portion of offences against the laws of morality, and
the good order of society, have been of late wears
committed blythe intelligent, educated, and emo
RAP classes. What are the petty thefts of the poor
and ignorant, conrasted with the defalcatons and
robberies of intellectual church-going bankers and
merchants! And even in the records of grssser and
more revolving crimes, murders, aduleres, attempts
at assassination and on do not the higher classes
figure more conspicuously than those who are re-
garded as the low and vulgar! Why, the man must
be stone-bGnd who cannot see that some wide
spread, demoralizlng influence must be at work in
such state ofsocety. And the fact that such an
influence can successfully set at nought all the
counteracting agency of education, and the refine
ments civilization, is proof enough, surely that
1t has taken deep root amongst us. Not only
In the alarming prevalence OF the worst crimes
amongst the rich and influential portion of So
clety, but IN the manner in which these crimes
are regarded and punished, are the extent and
supremacy of this laxity of moral feeling and
principle apparent. 1t would seem that to earn
immunity from punishment, an offender has merely
to commit crime of sufficiently magnificent enor-
NIFTY. The ragamuffin who vegetables at the Five
Points and steals loaf of bread or picks pocket
Is visited with summary and severe chastsement :;
but the wel-dressed rogue, who lives up town and
rents well-cushioned pew in fashionable church,
and who steals quarter of Million is only under
the necessity of making the tour of Europe The
miserable daughter of frailty who fees from the
scorn OF her virtuous sisterhood, to some wretched
den, is seized and sent to rot in filthy cell but
the fashionable harlot who struts Broadway attends
the fashionable lectures at the Tabernacle, and
sends Bibles to the poor heather, is universally al.
lowed to be the ornament OF the refined society in
which she moves. The uneducated wretch who
Kills his fellow man in drunken fray, is at once
convicted and executed; but the respectable MUIR
derer is the object Of general sympathy and in most
instances is allowed to escape.
There must be something sadly wrong in such
state OF society. In fact the whole moral sense OF
vast portion of the community has been perverted.
False and runous notions of honor justice and mo-
raly, prevail to an alarming extent The minds of
youth are poisoned by false philosophy, which
affects great liberality and benevolence and
which is well calculated to deceive and lead cap
tive the inexperienced and enthusiastic. All who
possess any philanthropy, should endeavor to stem
this torrent OF immortality, error, and vice. Let
more sound and substantial moral and literary in.
struction be substituted for the present snowy and
specous system of education-let works of unequi-
vocal value be circulated, instead of the trashy and
licentious noves-let the elevating, strengthen
ing, and restraining influence of parental authority
and discipline, be more faithfully employed-last,
but not least important, let those itneratng teach
ers, who are corruptng the crowds who flock to the
fashionable lecture-room, be carefully watched, and
their specious errors exposed.
THANKSGIVING DAY.-Yesterday was an interest,"
ing and memorable day. Invent hard with turkeys.
ducks and chickens; but they fell in good cause,
The doors of our churches were generally thrown
open to the deveut and thank full and while the
hearts of the people went forth in gratitude for the
abundance of the goodthings we enjoy, the windows
OF heaven seemed also to be opened. The rain fell
IN torrents during the day, but its influence was
cleansing and Turiyng. And we have reason to
believe that the mercies of heaven were equally pu
rifylng and salubrious. An unusual number OF gen.
temen were seen at church who have recently re-
ceived appointments from the corporation We
heard one of them remark, with great peace and
serenity of mind, that he felt that call his sins were
now washed away" person ofthe opposite party
replied, that he was never before fully con ,inced
OF the boundessness Of heavens mercies, and that
hereafter he should look upon no case as hopeless
We therefore recommend all parties to take this op-
porunity to make clean breast Of it,
NAvAL.-The United States steamer Poinset,.
Lieut.. Cong. McBlair, arrived a, Norfolk on Fri
day night last, from New York.