Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-04-05

on under the pretence other reformation I
and tie public protection. Neither OF
these purposes has it yet attained. Fac
tlious or artificial pain. urged by man
upon man. hey ond the natural consequence
es flowing from any actions, must gener'
ME greater degree Of depravity or, IN
other words, must make the criminal a
more determined antagonist against the
community which treats him in this un'
godlike manner. So that it becomes evil
dent TO any one who bestows due consid-
Grafton on the subject, that the govern
mental system tends constantly to make
matters worse inseld ofmending them
Governments Of course have no objection |
iothis They live by it; their existence
depends on il. Had we no thieves there
could not be even a pretence for thief
calchers; were there no crimes, either
social or moral, governments ota political
character must cease. Their craft is based
on vice; the foundation, like the super
structure. is wickedness. The contriv-
once works in circle. into which il is
dificultto effec. an entrance
It has for long time past been seen by
mOny minds, and is always confessed by
the candid, that If mankind were,honest,
the present police system Of governing
would be unnecessary. 1t is only toiera-
ted as check upon lie depraved, in the
character Of constable And it can only
be upon the sense Of depravity in any
ones own heart that there can be any
consistent support given 10 such an instl-
tuition. Every consciously innocent man
must declare that such contrivance to
keep men honest, such piece OF machine
~ to make men preserve the right track
is altogether a waste OF human energies.
He who is himself really honest will not
be afraid 10 trust his fellow man without
such letters; he who is essentially pure
tho he may not yet have realized the senti.
ment in every outward act will not wish
for so hateful and deeenerating system.
A man with but tendency to good, who
desires 10 possess no other property than
he may. with heallhfuI consequences to
himself and all mankind vii! not support
such system. He will turn his back
upon.it, he will not perhaps attack it. bu
he will let il die out as quickly as it may
Quite piliful is il to witness what q
miserable and deplorable business man
kind pervert human life into by this falls,
idea. this vain pretence Of maintaining so
cial virtue. Every thing, every pursuit
every function Of our nature is so fenced
round by forceful institutions that after al
its boasied freedom the spontaneous ant
yonlhful spirit of America has to looI
around and ask where this freedom is. :
Neither ia blacks nor whites is il YER
rselfevident The whole plan. is like
checker board where one is checkin,
another ia wrong and no institution ca
pretend to be promotive in positive man
ner OF virtue and healthfulness Indee
the highest boast oil American Statesme
on behalf OF lis Constitution is that il is q
most admirable system Of checks an
balances"
We must take up this subjec. largely
and, as our reforming ancestors did, in
new spirit, in the spirit Of newness. W
will trace the workings oflhe present o
der from the elementary Town meeting
to the legislative assembly. and to the U
innate complication Of diplomatic subtle
and International communion. We ne,
no,.be afra;d of doing TOO much good
Neither should we be intimidated by Il
frowns Of priests, lawyers, Jaw make
judges or merchants. These once e.
ployed kings and governorsio frown v
tue down for them, and still do so
drowsy Europe; but here they are obi
ed to do their own bugbear work, viii
we may safely prophecy they will I
much longer have the opportunity Of
ing. Il seems very much TO BE- forgotl
thai the present institutions are the VIC
Of our own hands, and that we m
amend them as soon as we know how.
Let Us notsworship an idol which we hs
set up. Let us no. act as ifhuman beir
roune ;n,n the u,orld r., -. 60: