The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1843-03-09
CONSERVATIVE DOCTRINE.

I
more Just induction from indisputabIe iacts'
than the following, which we copy IRON
Southern paper, whose politics are not oil
a decided party cast, but which IS rather
opposed than otherwise 10 the Wing party.
We welcome the sentiments expressed IN
the closing article, cunning from such
source, as a proof that rejecting men,
without regard to party, begin 10 look
with alarm at those doctrines which strike
at the foundation of both public and PR.
waite morals = Nat Intel.
From the Southern Charleston Patriot.
Iasubordina,ion.- spirit of lnsubor-
dinationw hlch is spreading upwards among
wha, are called the educated classes OF
American society is too striking not TO have
become subject Of remark. Men who
have been instructed in principles OF high
morality, and youth who have hud tue
benefit ofpersonal association with exalted
worth, have alike exhibited IN the United
States, within few years, depraNIty oil
purpose and RIGHTEOUSNESS OF conduct
shocking To contemplate. The dts'ructire
have Obtained the mastery over the con
serratire principles of society.
There must exis, some general cause for
this laxliy. Instances of malieasance ~
pccuniary trusts may be traced to cIrcum-
stances Of temporary character. Spec
ula,inn and oyeraction lc galntul pursuits
are the sources OF large portion OF the
fo,bles and crimes exhibited IN the forms
4 Of inhdei,y to private engagements, public
I defacaiions, luxurious expenditures, sui.
/ eide and even murder. But, independent.
+ ~ of these social vices aud irregularities,
there is a general relaxation OF the bonds
+ Of society exhibited in an increasing spitit
Of insubordlnation among the Youthful por-
ton Of our population thai, does not strike
the eye of the observer with the startling
appearances that accompany the ordinary
forms Of crime, but which, silent aud M
/ :. en- in it, effects, is gradually undermining
the fabric Of American society.
4 I; is the duty Of those who impress ihel'
own character on large classes Of men, and
, shape public opinion, TO discover the sour
ces of this relaxation and apply the correc,
8 tive before the evil assumes magnitude
+ too formidable for removal or restraint
, We have cur own theory on thls subject
. II NAV not be factoring - the sc!t-loye Q
our people, but VIC are satisfied Of rs gen
eral truth. We have arrived at the con
L al. 4 Iutr .
lis ncerlltude and feeble influence anC
,, sanctions, is acting most inJurloGsly on th'
. public morals and manners.
Those whose recoleciions reach hacI
i 20 twenty years win well remember hoV
more su,s wers Legal penalties, aud hoy
a more largely they were respected by pub
lie opinion, than they are at present. ia
ries then held in high yeneraiion tho shell
, that the law held over person and proper
tv. Now We see acquiiranccs b. them
( through a misplaced mercy, Of atrocltie
that the whole world have agreed to cal
, murder, because they are ayerse to capt
: tai 2nHishmcnts. How l
oil this 10 end II the injunctlons an
sanctions Of the law IN the case Of capita
. crimes are to be thus dlsregardcd, whcr
shall We be at the termination OF a fe'
yearsl What crlmes viii be thought I
merit pmishaen, that viii sufficiently Sc
4 cure person and property On wh0
4 scale, abandoning all the standards Of pur
ishmeDt that have been devised BY civii1
q ed soclrty, are VIC to graduate penalties t
offences against social order Are ",
e in our higher claims TO wisdom and hu
manly, to adjust punishment 10 Grim
bv standard Of our own
There would then appear 10 be somt
thing in tho state Of public op,nioa whic
a has brought the law and liz admlulstra'io
: into a condition Of dangerous iaxj'y, th'
D is silently. bat irresislIbly undermmin
u WIN, have been deemed social Safeguard
81 in the present organization OF society
81 Morals and manners are formed by III
}. laws. Between them there ~ d 81 mp;
~ ihetic influence action nnd rcacton.-
I. The people are the fountain.head N III
Z, country Of all authority 10 matters ol ic,
ID islation, government, and the administer
ton OF jnstice. Juries, magistrates, LEI
, islatorS, functonaries, are all under II
ie dominion Of popular opinion. Legislaii'
II measures, official conduct, and the admit
d isiyatiou Of the laws acknowledge wth /
+ the healthy influence, or the reverse,
o sound public sentiment. But let this col
. linuc TO exhibit an indifference to pnbl
h engagements, and malleesauce, private AZ
,e official, viii still spring up IN all it, frigh
\ f1 proportions. Let juries, from mi
y placed mercy, display an increasing dlsp
IS sllion TO screen guilt from punishmer
l. and crime, in all It's forms and graduation
il will be sown like dragons teeth all or,
. the land. Let the people place no SCI
"a restraints 90 their natural love Of poyc
as seen in the occasional outrages ih
: supersede the authority OF the maQsirat
!. and more destructive range viii be Civ,
- to misrule and RIGHTEOUSNESS.
= Real amelora,on OF opinion, conduC
"a and manners mus, proceed from the pc
:. pie themselves. The bdMs of such and
o,utino az fLe orprfbrop n E N y1nst n,rniso