The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-06-30
The Value Of Chura ctcr.

The Value Of Character.
Young persons, on commencing life
and having little experience, are frequently
heard TO ridicule public opinion. They
disregard what is said of them by the
world, defy the sentiments Of neighbors
and friends, and imagine that they are
to be iour a very Independent course. A
sad mistake, this. No one is Independent
in civilized and moral community, who
willingly and wifuIly pursues the path of
error. We are liable to vicissiludc, to
calamity and suspicion, and disguise it as
we may, when SANDER is related of an
individual, we are apt to believe it or dis
believe it according to the character which
the individual before enjoyed. Thus, if
he had been perverse vicious, irreligious
or immoral, ifhe had defed public opinion,
violated the prophecies of life, and ncgIec-
ted his duties as son, a father and citi-
zen, we should be very apt to credit, TO
some extent at least, any story that might
be related TO his disadvantage, no matter
how serious the charges against him. If
violent, passionate and vindictive, we
might believe it possible that he had COM
mitted murder-and ground our belief
on comparatively slight circumstantial
evidenc. But if, on the other hand, we
had known him TO be subdued, well regu-
lated in temper and iorgiving in DISPOSE
ton, we should discredit any serious
charge of violence or bloodshed, except
upon testimony Of the most unequivocal
kmd.--The same rule is applicable to
every other description of crime. A
known fasifier, if charged with bitter
and malignant SANDER, would be regarded
as guilty upon slight evidence while an
individual whose whole life had been one
of benevoence and generosity-who had
rather soften and apologize for, than eXag
gerate the defects of character in another,
would be considered entirely innocent,
except upon the strongest tesli-
mony, with having calumnisted a neigh
Dor or friend. The importance of
character, therefore, will be readily appre-
cjaed by the intelligent observer. The
value Of a good name cannot be over-osti-
mated in an enlightened, moral, and civil
iZed society, Even vice is constantly
paying tribute to virtue. The vicious
never select from among their associates,
persons to whom they coniide important
trusts.-.Knowing themselves, they sus-
pect and doubt others similarly situated.
Tbs the beauty of virtue and the value
of c, 'racter are more palpable.
We remember having once read an ac-
count Of trial for murder. The evidence
against the accused was altogether circum-
stanial, but it was nevertheless strong.
The prospect was gloomy, and a few
friends who still clung to the unfortunate
man, believed that his chance of acquital
was very feeble. At that moment a
thought struck the mind of the attorney.
He sent and discovered an old man, who
had been the teacher OF the accused during
several years Of his youth. He ques-
toned him as TO his character, habits and
in boyhood, and found that the
answers were Of the most gratifying kind.
He had, as a lad, been favori,e with his
teacher, and deservcdly. lie was gentle
of disposition, courteous among his asso-
ciates, never engaged in quarrelling, and
was generous even to a fault. The testi-
mony Of the old man, which was given
before the court and jury in an agltated
voice, and with tears IN his eyes, turned
the scale, and the accused was acquitted.
Here Ne value of character, even in
early life, was forcbly illustrated. A
case somewhat similar, was recently tried
in this city. A young man was indicted
for forgery, and the prosecutor testified
positively, not only that his name had
been forged, but that the defendant had
issued the paper to which i was attached.
But host Of witnesses came forward who
had known the youth for several years,
and also testified to his good character,
and he was consequently released.
This was altogether right. It's almost
for an individual who for ten,
twenty, or thirty years, has been in the
habit Of walking conscentously and up
rightly, 10 commit a base crime. Years