Litchfield enquirer., 1843-04-20
n From the n: Y. Tribune.
THE PUNISHMENT OF SEDUCTION
AND KINDRED CRIMES.

dCtiIleULS against nervousness. II IS not a
document Of eminent originality or ability,
; but it states important truths in plain lam
} guage, and is more forcible That many doc.
ument of far greater rhetorical pretensions
Indeed, we do not see how any pure man can
read it and remain uEconvinced that the Sc.
Queer of innocence to degradation, misery,
and shame ought to be subject to the severest
penalties of the Law. 1t is here shown that
no crime can be more heartless and selfish
in its origin, more revolving in its nature, or
or more deadly in its far-reaching conse-
quences, than that of libertine. Not merely
is his immediate victim consigned irrevoca-
bly, to a life of infamy and wretchedness,
death of agony and horror, but the evil ex.
tends even to her unstained and till now un-
conscious relatives shame and anguish are
rendered the bitter portion Of the parents,
brothers and sisters, who have through life
been btameless and unspotted-
Upon those brows Shame was ashamed to Sit"
and who have hitherto looked the worldwide
face unshrinking and unabashed. And all
this ocean of misery is caused and suffered
that some demon in human shape may graft
fly brutal appetite and boast amid the bac-
chanalian orgies of his boon companions of
the ruin he has made And the law looks
on, and for years has looked smilingly on,
seeing Lcentiousness people its secret dens,
its brothels, and speedily the all-embracing
grave, with its thousands after thousand of
victims, without even for6idding the unremit-
ting secrifce! Isnot this glaring iniquity,
arguing corrupt Public Opinion. tainted
and vice-loving Legislation, which .lisre-
| CARDS alike the commandments of God, the
protection Of the innocent, and the we'll be-
ing Of the community, in tn cir anxiety to
screen and cherish debasing sensuality !!
We rejoice that the attention Of our Legis-
lature has been SO directly, forcibly and
! early called to this subject. Four weeks of
J the session remained when this report was
made. How the members of the Legislature
can look their constituents in the face ifthey
adjourn without passing it we cannot i'm
agine. Atall events, we ent reat those men,
bers who are cGnscientiously in favor olson
law against Licentiousness to press this
| measure daily and with all their force. Only
get it within reach of the Yeas and Nays,and
no Legislature, though personally corrupt as
corruption can be, would dare TO reject 1t.
| There is time enough yet to ensure It's passage,
if all its friends ia both Houses will but ACT.
This bill subjects all persons guilty OF
adultery to punishment by Imprisonment in
| County Jail, or State Prison for a term not
exceeding thr,'e years, or by fine not exceed
ing $500. Lewdness, when neither party is
married, is punished somewhat more
mildly, Seduction, where female under
eighteen wears ofage is enticcd away from
her parents or guardian for vile purpose. is
punished with net less than three nor more
a 70 NE same penay sh Keeping az
| Of i'll fame is punishment by like imprison-
ment, or by fine, or both. The letting of a
house for such use punished by imprson
ment not exceeding two years, by fine of
$500, or both, and by forfeiture ofthe rent OF
the premises for five years ensuing TO the
Overseers of the poor. Such IL the sub stance
Of the bill. Its passage would do more 1or
the Public Morals and the substantial we'll.
being of our State than all the Legislation OF
the last two years.
We cannot drop this subject without ex-
pressing our gratitude to the band Of high.
hearted and noble women of our City and
elsewhere, who, under the appellation OF the
Moral Reforla Society," have done so much
TO enlighten the public understanding and
awaken the public conscience in regard to
the guilt of RIGHTEOUSNESS and the desolationit
| inevitably occasions. At first small but
steady increasing company, they have pa
tiently labored and meekly suffered in a
cause which subjects them habitually TO the
reproach of the thoughtless and undiscern-
ing, the violent and reckless abuse OF the pol
luied, the sneers and the base insinuations OF
the lbertine, creating often in the minds OF
the well. meaning misconceptions and suspii-
cions more dreadful than death. But through
all they have nohly struggled and patiently
borne, until al last the day of their signal
though not final triumph evidently draws
nigh. The ear of Purity has been gradually
won; the confidence and the sympa,hies OF
the Good are firmly and warmly enlisted
the timid and the wavering have been
brought to know and declare for the Right
and at last series Of the most awful TRACE.
dies in our own and neighboring Cities has
aroused even the careless and the unscru.
pulous TO the frightful dangers and blasting
evils of which Licentiousness is the origin,
and impelled them to sympathise with If not
unite in the efforts for its repression. VI TINS
great reform 10 the public sentiment, predic.
ling and preparing one in the Legislation and
Morals of the Country, these pure. minded
Women-includng few of the wealthy or
prominent-have been the authors; and to
them should the homage of the good be paid.
u SANDWICH IsLANDs.-Recent intelligence
from the missionaries at the Sandwich ISL
ands is of very interesting and encouraging
character, as we learn from the Boston Re-
corder. A letter from Mr.. Armstrong, pas.
tor of the First Church in Honolulu, dated
Oct. 18th, states that during the year he has
had the care of the church, [since Rev. Mr..
Bingham left.1 three hundred persons had
been pronounced as candidates for admls.
sion. The schools are In prosperous con.
dition. Nearly all the children over eight
r wears of age at Honolulu can read the New
Testament. copy of which has been given