Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1842-12-07

OF Inc law ) u MIC MS syfnratbies are
1 bui too apt to be enlisted far tho suffering.
(which be witnesses, his Imagination is no,
Mess likely 10 be excited by The imposing
importance Of u scene, in which the sense
= ofcrime is lost in admiration of the forri.
tide, or in commiseralion of the asonie.
of,he offender.
Our legislation should also he directed
10 discourage The rash and criminal iudis.
cretions oil youth among the most fire.
Yucnt and fatal vi WHICH. is that which
arises GU, OF The tnleraIinn (t not the pro,
,~sction) which u jurisprudence, or the
mode 81 administering il. has hitherto ex-
tended TO The practice Of dueliug Foun.
ded IN The most deeply rooted prejudlccs,
as well as upon the MOBILES, and mos,
honorable Incentives vi The human MUD
The judici0us correction Of its evils and abu'
scs is an object OF as much importance 10
tho peace and harmony Of society, as the
manner Of effec,ius il must be acknow-
iedged 10 be both difficult aud delicate.
III, be regarded Us a necessary evil,
which cannot be removed without, cradi-
ealing some Of The highest Incentives TO
virtue, aud substituting baser means Of
qualification 10 the malignant passions Of
society !; is i, not still expedienl TO limit
II within the STRICT bounds Of that ~necessi-
~, by rendering The penalties Of the law
scarcely less odious or endurahie. than the
motive 10 violate it. Tha, i, is sometimes
the only, or most available evidence Of u
high sense Of character ; or that II may
possibly be needlui to riskIile 10 preserve
honor, furnishes no reason, why lis worse
consequences should so lrcqleu,l, aud
unnecessarily, be permitted 20 STAN the
inconsiderate indiscre.ions Of youth, aud
the trivial occasions Of mrei airy life with
tho blood OF human victims. And let
IL DO instructively remembered tina, it
has become in practice. as much, aud as
often tho cloak Of dishonor, and resort OF
oppressed and prosecuted merit. 10 its
westward progress, the las, eleaminss OF
chivalric origin may eve now be discern
cd to mingle in the disgraceful brawls Of
the murderer, the assassin and the felon.
The difficulty Of efectuslly REFRESHING tho
In this State, is perhaps insuperable ; bat
the omissions IN our legislation. Of the toll
GRAFTON of onr laws. should no longer be
justly charged with 4 tendency to encnur-
age tina, morbid stale Of public opinion.
requiring such bloody and unreasonable
sariices TO crafty an unoppeasable appetite
for excitement and revenge. Some saluta.
~ check nigh, al ieas, be impo ed by The
example Of cur public f%anc,i"naries. To
the too frequent and reckless abuse Of this
practice, Il would perhaps be safely
advancing u step toward the reforma.
ton Of public opinion, if every public fame.
tionary ID the State, were restrained from
participating ID il by the condition Of his
Office. ltis but just, rha, while ENJOYING
the confidence and liberali,y of the State.
they should be required to comply with
the obligations imposed byI,beir elevated
positions to present high examples ofcon.
duct, principle, and OF morality; an err
mine uasiained by crime, and hands un-
sIificd Ss blood.
Among other causes OF moral Improvement,
canno, but Contemplate with grca, s~a,;slac.
the rapid and extensive progress OF the
Reform, 10 operating upon the la.
bits. the henith, and the happiness Of our pco.
No moral reformation can be conceived
10 be more important or beneficial IN It's intlu-
ence on society. OF promises n greater harvest
Of those peaceful virtues and moral blessings.
by which the harmony aud The prosperity Of u
community are so eficctually a,Id beniguiy pro-
From It's influences on the habits, we
;nay Justly anticipate the happIeS, effects on
the passions aud the vices OF man and bv ab-
s,racting the strongest incentives 10 crime. il
may reasonably be supposed TO strengthen the
moral sanctions Of the law. aud perhaps IN time.
10 supersede the necessity of many OF is penal
4, has evoked a ~salu,ary sjririr OF
change from the iicen;i"isness aud ;hc piirrn
w of lntiamcd passions. and madicunug excite.
nien,s, 10 that slate Of dispas-iona,c reason. aud
reflection, 80 cninen,iy conclusive
10 the enjoyment O: q ~virtuous ard peaceful
life. And were i, proper TO look beyond ,Irr>e
general Considerations, FOR motive 10 ie- %Is!aiIoi.
In the ordinary dctaiis Vi private lie, they might
he amply deduced fiom The iucrea>,d amount
Of individual health aud happiness. AID IN the
relations Of the domestic circle. OF
which it has been so beueiicia!ly prnrnotiys
But " lille indulsing IN The gratifying cou-
temptation o.: It's eminent sirceSsrS aud infi,t.
ences, hitherto attained without icsllairyc IN
or restrcuons. II Is well 10 reflect.
whether amy legal provisions. however judi.
cious and well-In.ended on your part mlsiI,
not impede. rather than facilitate that progress
which other and moral causes. have SO much
10 advance. Legal interference. TO
the obligations oil morality. is hm, too
aptto be regarded by the people with jealousy
and dis,rust, and often besets a disposition 10
cvade and violate those s~alutary restraints.
which q sense Of their own interests nigh,
otherwise induce lircS, voluntarily Ia assume.
and sacrediy to respect. The authority of the
law, would be as inadequate, To enforce moral
habits, rs it has been found by experience. una
vailug 10 incuicaie religious tenen,s. They
mus, be left to The voluntary impulse oil the
heart, and the moving inspiration Of their Ill
vine origin Human institutions borrow strength
and lus,re from the sanction, oil pure aud hish
morality. but they cannot rccIproca,s the sup
pom which they receive. Oar enictrnenls NAV
punish crimes, but cannot correct wees: they
may reform the conduct, hut cannot reach the
heart, the motives. or the habits of men; for
they can neither imPari greater terrors. or add
snonger Inducements, TO the reiributions or re-
wards of an alarmed or an enlightened rom
science. Let us leave ii. then. in the hands IN
which it has so much prospered-,o The iutlu-
enccs Of an enlightened public opinon-to the
dictates Of a sound philosophy-'o The sus:es.
tons Of reason. and the reslrGinsrs of morality
-.