Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-03-16
From the Southern (Charlcston) Patriot.
INSTRUMENTATION.

The spirit OF INSTRUMENTATION which is spread-
ing upwards among what are called the educated
classes oil American Society is a fact too striking
not to have become subject of remark. Men
who have been instructed in principles of high
morality, and youth who have had the benefit of
personal association with exalted worth, have a.
like exhibited in the United States, within few
years, depraviiy OF purpose and RIGHTEOUSNESS of
conduct shocking tocontempla,e. The destructive
have obtained the mastery over the conservative
principles Of society.
There must exist some general cause for this
iaxiiy. Instances of malfeasance in pecuniary
trusts may be traced to circumstances of a tempo
rary character. Speculation and over action in
gaintul pursuits are the sources of LARGE norton
OF the tobes and crimes exhibited in the forms
OF infdelity to private engagements, public dcfa-
cations, luxurious expenditure, suicide, and even
murder. But, independently of these social vi
ces and Irregularities, there is general relaxation
OF the bonds OF society exhibited in an increasing
spirit OF INSTRUMENTATION among the youthful por.
ton OF our population, that does not strike the
eye OF The observer with the startling appearan-
ces that accompany the ordinary forms OF crime
but which, silent and unseen in its effects, is
gradually undermining the fabric of American
society.
1t is the duty Of those who impress their own
character on large classes of men, and shape pub.
nc opinion, to discover tho sources of this relax
alton. And apply the corrective before the evil
assumes magnitude too formidable for removal
or restraint. We have own theory on this
subJec: II may not be flattering to the self.iove
OF our people, but are satisfied of It's general
truth. We have arrived at the conclusion that
our en'ire system OF law, in its incertitude and
feeble influence and sanctions, is acting most in
Jurlonsly on the public morals and manners
Those whose reccollections reach back to TWEEN
fy years, will well remember how more sure
were legal penalties, and how moro largely
they Were respected by public opinion, than they
are al present. Juries then held in high, venera-
ton the shield that the law held over persons and
property. Now we acqui,tances by them,
through misplaced mercy, of atrocities that the
whole world have agreed to call murder, because
they are averse TO capital punishments.
How is all this to end If the in
functions and sanctions of the law in the case of
capital crimes are to be thus dsregarded, where
shall we be at the termination of a few wears
w hat crimes will be thought 10 merit punishment
That VIII sufficiently secure person and property
or what scale, abandoning all the standards OF
punishment that have been devised by civilized
society, are we to graduate penalties to offences
against social order! Are we, i'm our higher
claims to wisdom and humanity, to adjust pun
/ ishment to crime by standard Of our own!
! There would then appear to be something in the
state OF public opinion which has brought the law
and us administration into condition Of DANCE
rous laxity. that is silently. bnt irresistaby un.
| dermIning what have been deemed social safe
guards In the present organization Of society.
Morals and manners are formed by the laws. Be.
tween them there is sympathetic inNuence-ac-
! ton and reaction. The people are the fountain.
head In this country of all authority i'm matters OIL
Legislation, government and the administration o.
justice. Juries, magistrates, Legislators, Junction.
aries, are all under the dominion o! popular opn
lor. Legislative measures, official conduct, anC
the administration OF the laws acknowledge will
US the healthy influence, the reverse, of sounc
public sentiment. But let thes continue to eXhib
II an indifference 10 public engagements and NAL
feasance, private and official, will s,ill spring NJ
III all its irightlul proportions. Let Jurics, from
, misplaced mercy, display increasing DISPOSE
, ton 10 screen guilt from punishment, and crime
in all its forms and grada.ioas, will be sown lk
dragons teeth over the land. Let the peopl
place no sefrestraints their natural love Of pow
er,as seen in the occasional ourages that suppressed
t the authority of the magistrate. and a more des
= tructlve range will be gwen to msrule and lcen
tiousness.
Real ame!ioration Of opinion, conduct and man
: ners, must proceed from the people themselves
The basis Of such ameoraton is the overthrow c
a most perncious DEMaGoGuersM, which is fast 81
r preceding with us all the natural influence of Ia
(, en,, public virtue. and solid requirement. II,
: better-educated portion OF American Society
rapidly leaving our legislative halls; the neg
step in our social decline will be the abandonncr
OF their stations Of our valuable body of iudicis
magistrates. tho only remaining counerpoise
the destructive influence Of the demagorues wh
are striving to destroy their Independence. i
changing the Tenure of the judicial office, throug
the basest arts Of popular Gaitery.
A Jr,Y,, C,,, Tho Nouv Nort Sup etato