Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-09-06

only evil-.he two so incompatible that
they cannot be mixed SO as to make them
unite in producing the one or the oIher q
Ii il is, men apparently have never com,
pretended it, Repudiate as many DO, in
profession now days, thatthe end justi-
fies the means, how few who do not con-
tinually reduce it TO practice. You adopt |
it 10 your doctrine that we may rightful. |
ly purchase land. Receive it as true in J
this or any particular instance. and why |
shall it not be so in every other, until the |
atrocities of the Spanish lnqusition. of the |
American and French revolutions, or the
conquests Of Napoleon, may all be jus,i-
fed /! This brings US to point in morals
towards which l am anxious to invite in
vestigation. In the present condition of
the human family there is evidently a
clashing Of the physiological and social
laws. II the social law be paramount and
Supreme and demands OF the individual
the violation Of physiological laws for the
good Of his fellows as is generally held
among reformers, there seems to be laid a
foundation upon which to erect the claim
which society asserts oy her present instilu-
lions of right TO sacrifice what we call
the rights Of individuals, when to leave
them inylolate threatens the general good.
For if l may violate natural Iaw-my
own right in my own case, for the benefit
of society, it is difficult to show whv L,
with the rest, may not violate the natural
rights, as we term them, Of others, for the
: same purpose. And he who advocates
capital or other punishment may argue
that since The highest good to the individ.
url is that destiny which secures to the
, mass or family the greatest possible amount
of good under the circumstances, the in
terests Of the whole race being insepala.
bic = the greatest good of the individual
as wei! as to society consists in incarcerat
ing him In prison. or breaking his neck,
although this maybe contrary to the opin.
!, ions as well as the wishes of the criminal
: Unless it can be shown that difference
exists when the penalty succeeds the vic,
lation OF law is voluntarily assumed and
when ii is enforced upon an involuntary
: victim, see not how the conclusion is to
> be avoided.
> five take the opposite to your deter
y minatiou, and assume that we may never
. under any circumstances violate natura
o law but only so far obey social law as il
: pracliole without violating the physiolog
u icui, or meutui, ttris is seuiug up stand
y ard, different from the golden rule AMI
u seems 10 be limiting the apparent amour
q Of good we can effect for our race. sa,
&c the apparent amount Of good for am nc
~ certain that it is real. If we conclude tina
a. we may do eyil-that is violate Eatura
&c law in any particular that good may CON
10 of it, why may we not in alf2 and whs
G guide have we! And if wrong actio
p may produce right results, then there is n
j. immhability in the law that like must pr,
y duce its like, and we may be permitted
50 do ything we fancy may chance
or work out good.
DC In seeking guide for the future whic
40 shall be unerring, here is the spot in n
IA pathway ahead upon which perceive Il
IN least light Your remarks in reply
'or my letter indicate what are your coDel
an sions, but do not feel satisfied that W
are right Your guide seems to me 10
On. an uncertain one-lhe same which
no misled humanity into all the misha
ost which have befallen her. My mind rat
n" er inclines TO the adoption Of the belief Ii
ak we shall produce less good by yiolati
are natural law on any occasion, and yet p
'es.f ceiying tremendous difficulties in the W
+ ii ST receiving that as the basis Of actor
for hesitate and ask for Ligh.
the | am veryglad 10 see your remarks !
;es- on the subject of clo,bing-In this as
and every thing else let Universal Inquiry
ca followed by Universal Reform.
ers Yours sincerely,
ons A. Books.
ct Tu Bruts1:
al On,Dy way home from New York,
'lea met ID. w. Burroughs. In Manches