The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-03-15
W. oral aa ID Hs eAigiOus u.
Il II e T a MIL Y.

The Moral Government of Man in Society.
The Society of those we love exers genial in
fuence the affections; warns, anma;es, and
brings them into contact with their appropriate OBJ
jects. Society among strangers may, on the con.
tIary, awaken and give strength to the passions
And this because the conflict of competition is not
there modified and controlled by the presence of
the object we love. Hence, spirit Of licentous
ness is engendered, aud, INDUCED, often becomes
fragrant. The natural tendency of RIGHTEOUSNESS is
10 nfdelity. conscience, convicted Of wrong,
finally comes to make demands, which must be
swered 1t cannot always be sienced without rea
son-and the fool says in his heart, 'sihere is no
Cod t'Let eat and drink, for Tomorrow we
die" Thus, he who cannot persuade himself that
his practices right, and who resolves, neverhs.
less, that he will not abandon them, flies to inide
ty to turn the edge of conviction far the present,
and hopes for humiliation to save him from final
settlement with conscience. So every moral dere-
licuon leads to inGdelity. But how can such ia
tai process of reasoning be entertained in happy
and harmonious action of the moral conviction,
constantly?
If such be the effect Of the family discipline on
the moral constitution, it is not less important on
the political institutions "f society nation must
be what its families are. Its citizens are made in
the families which compose it. II, in the family
under the fist of all human governments, they
have imbibed spirit of INSTRUMENTATION and
tempt Of law, they will carry it through life with
them the stamp is given to their character there
and they will hardly be reformed from the strong
direction impaired by the education of the nursery
and domestic discipline.
Look at man in society. Divest him Of these
lalions, and separate him from their influence -his
passion will rage without antagonist, the affec-
tons will wander and evaporate without object,
or merge, in their kindred passions. But let him
know that he has father, a mother, sister, a
wife, child, to feel exquistey every sensation he
feels, to feel too and suffer keenly for his derelic-
tions--and the man who will he able to brave his
conscience and the public frown, who can
commit suicide and destroy his own soul will re
volt at his own acts, when he that they strike
the heart, or plant thorns on the pillow OF fond
parent, an affectonate sister, devoted wife, He
who can irample on his own reputation, or even
sacrifice it to Ms snpetos, may yet not be able to
meet his friends in tears for his delinquency. This
strong hold does the family economy take on the
depraved heart. He, therefore, who nvades the
moral sanctuary, beseiges the citdal of human vir
tue. Ifhe succeeds, every virtue withers. Just in
proportion as this sanctuary desecrated and sub
verted the relns of appetite will be sIackened ard
RIGHTEOUSNESS prevail Look at France, when the
marriage covenant was renowned, or its obliga
tons relaxed and see the consequences. emo sab
bath"-"No human government''-"No God"
were the rapid conclusions which followed the i'm
notation OF the family altar.
In order to form tolerably correct idea of the
moral condition ofany people, we need only to
know the state and discipline of its families That
is the true index of man of all the social virtues.
And he, who would reform society, with "no gov
eminent" no parental authority, no Immediate con
troll short of the divine, restraint but The native
sense of obligation, will repeat what needs no
proof that human depraviy is stronger in the heart
than any native sense Of right.