New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-12-05
Libertinism-How to DO Prevented.
SCHENECTADY, Dec. lst, ls45.

| SCHkNECTApF, DEC LET, lSi1.
To the Editor Of The Tribune;
Good news cheers us, when we find leading
porer is willing to undertake to do battle in the
pban,hropic and holy cause of Moral Reform, and
lend its influence for the passage OF law Furnishing
as criminal offence, deed SO justly deserving il
as Seduction. We are willing tina, those who are
ADLER, and who have long been before the public
should lead in the crusade against this secret nsn
uating enemy. But ii is because it seems apparen,
that they have erred who hold to direct in this mat
ter, and because willing to speak con
corning it, that wish to be heard for moment
The reference is al present TO the n. Y Observer
Ii says in one of its numbers-and is copied by the
Advocate of Moral Reform OF Nov. 18th" W ben
were free people known 10 be better than those
they choose 10 rule over them?' And concludes
the paragraph by saying that the very first step
toward the reform OF our laws the subject Of
those vices TO which we allude, must be the selec
ton of virtuous men for our Legislature w onld
il not be more consistent to say that the rery trSt
step should be public opinion right on the SD D.
iect? Then, when the community Is properly awake
respecting il, will follow as matter OF sequence
that yirtMous men would be chosen.
Il eeems TO be the impression with the Observer
that this can be accomplished noiselessy and il
were by stealth but II is our conviction that this
must be brought about in the as all
pcOptt'
Again, although it does not say directly that both
parties should be made liable to punishment, yet il
does in effect 1t says farther that owing 70 this
being offered amendment, that the law relating TO
this subject WAS not passed by the Legislature during
the last Winter Now it nothing more than prob
able and nothing than should have been expected
that such amendment would be just the thing that
would defeat the passage Of the law and the very thing
that would make the measure unpopular. 1t is plain to
see that such law holding its rod the head would
be the very restraint that is necessary-or what To
save the tempted from faingi Let us rather cay to
withhold the tempter from his hellish designs. IL IS
easy that in every of such misfortune the
miserable victim is punished with punishment which
human laws cannot enforce, more severe than prisons
chains and stripes Il is plain Also TO see that H. on the
part of the aggressor there were nall TINS punishment
inflicted there would be need Of no human enactments,
! for there would then be no offences.
But, says the Observer lit was no excuse TO Eve
that che was seduced by the Devil But is il 10 be
considered that the Arch Seducer and his victims are TO
be punished the same. They were punished with one
punishment and he with his Then, since the betrayed
doomed inevitably let US take care that the temper
who ia subject TO no romorse be made subject
tribunal which will mete to his nlguy the punishment
merits Let take care that the egs oil the In" be
thrown around the weakness OF innocence and shield II
from the Vaccinations of the destroyer. The question
then is what should be the punishment OF the emper'
He who steals my purse steals trash but he steals II al
his peril He who applies 10 our habtatlons the nceh-
diary torch is hurried hence TO prison He VINO Poisons
our children expiaes the crime by the forfeit OF his own
existence But he who enters our house ana pliers
fair name for which yield all life itself Coca I'M
punished He who unaware steals to the affairs OF our
homes and kindes PASSIONS torch walks away not only
boldly and unreen,ing but exung in the mighty moral
contagraon which il consuming with an excruclains
torture that gives affinity 10 that hrc which is I'M
ouenchable He who by his tendish ncantations poi
sons the moral purities of families and spreads that
moral leprosy in midst, which no ablution can
cleanse, aud which condemns the sufferer 10 iiTng
DEATH he Ices and only lre' but t'res unpublished
-lires prding himself the tdurels Of his tatdmy
Viii free citizens permit such things longer 10 be