Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-02-17
From the Southern (Charloston) Patriot.

characterization. -Tho spirit of characterization
which is spreading upwards among what are
called the educated classes of American society is
iact too striking not 10 have become n subject Of
femnrk. Men who have been instructed in prn.
cpes OF high morally, and youth who have
had the benefit OF personal association with eXa-
ted worth, have nike exhibited in the United
States, within II few years, depravlty Of purpose
and RIGHTEOUSNESS of conduct shocking 10 con-
template. The destructive have Obtained the mas
terry over the conservative principles of society.
There must exist some general cause for Thu
laXly Instances of malfeasance in pectIniary
trusts may be traced TO circumstances of n tenn
pornry character Speculation and ovcraction in
ganuI pursuits are the sources of IL large portion
OF the foibeS ard crimes exhibited in the forms
OF inhdetY to private engagements, public deia-
cations, luxurious expenditure, suicide, and even
murder But independently of these social vices
and Irregularities, there is general relaxation of
the bonds OF society, exhibited in an increasing
spirit OF subordination nmong the youthful por-
ton Of our population that does not strike the eve
OF the observer with The startling appearance that
accompany the ordinary forms of crime but
which, silent and unseen in its effects is gradual
ly 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
lie opinion, 10 discover the source of relaxation
and apply the corrective before the evil assumes
magnitude too formidable for remoy al or restraint
we nave our own theory on this subject. IL may
not be flattering 10 the selfove Of our people ut
we are satisfied Of its general truth. We have
arrived at the conclusion that our entire syhem of
law, in its ncertltude and feeble influence and
sanctions is acting most injurously on the public
morals and manners.
Those whose recollecions reach back to TWEEN.
ty years will well remember how more sure were
legal penalties, and how more largely they were
respected by public opinion, than they are at pres
ent. Jurles then held in high veneraion the
shield that the law held over person and property
Now we see acquiitaHces by them, through mis-
placed mercy, OF ATROCITIES that the whole world
have agreed to call MURDER because they are ayerse
to capital punishmeuls. 4 How is all this
to end If the nunctons and sanctions of the
law in the case of capital crimes are to lie thus
dsregnrded, where shall we be at the termination
OF a few years What crimes will be thought to
merit punishment hat will sufficiently secure per-
son and property? On what scale, abandoning
all the standards of punishment that have heen
devised by civilized society, are we to graduate
penalties 10 offences against social order AIe we,
IN our higher claims to wisdom and humanity to
adjust punishment to crime by Il standard of our
own?
There would then appear to be something in
the state of public opinion which has brought the
law and its administration into n condition Of dan.
gerous aXiiy, that IS silently, hut irresisby un-
dermining what have been deemed social safe
guards in The present organization of society -
! Morals and manners formed by the laws. Be-
tween them there is n sympathetic infuence-ac
ton and reaction. The people are the fountain
head in this country OF all authority in mulers OF
legislation, government, and the administration OF
justice. Juries, magistrates, legislators, function
aries, are all under The dominion of popular opin-
! ion. Legislative measures Official contlucI, mud
the administration OF the laws acknowledge with
It's the healthy influence, or the reverse, of sound
public sentiment. Bat let this continue to exhibit
an indifference TO public engagements, and nul
ieasance private aud Official, will still spring IN
in all its Irghfnl proportions. Let juries, from
misplaced mercy, display an increasing DISPOSE.
ton TO screen guilt from punishment, aud crime
in all lis forms aud gradations, will he sown like
! dragons teeth all over the land. Let the people
place no sell restraints their natural love OF
power seen in the occasional ouirages that 80.
persede the authority of the magistrate, and a
more destructive range will be given TO misfult
and RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Real amelioralion of opinion, conduct, AMI
manners must proceed from the people them.
selves. The basis Of such ameiioration s the oper
hroio u a most perflicioHS DEMAGoGUIsM tohich /,
fast SuPerseding ,0M us all the natural influence Of
talent, public uirtus and solid requirement m,
better educated portion of American society il
rapidly leaving our legislative halls the next sieI
IN our social decline will be the abandonment o
Their stations OF our valuable body of iudicia
magistrates, The only remaining counierDoise 10 M
destructive influence Of The demagogues iuho ar
striving 10 destroy their Independents, in changing
The tenure of the judicial Office through The bases
arls Of popular dttery.