The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-02-27

gagged, for the last few weeks, in introdntin
bills for the punishment of the crimes OF adultery
and seduction. This is mere revival OF one oil
The numerous isms that have marked the career
of certain contemporary in this city, and which
forms but small item in the budget OF blum
ders and inconsistencies, that attach to this veri-
liable journal.
The crimes of adultery and seduction can be
approached under the ordinary laws of the coun-
try ; and while every moral citizen denounces,
and would punish, such crimes with the utmost
rgor of the law, our Solons in the Legislature
should be careful lest they open door which
would flood the State with new species OF
crime, and invade the freedom of the citizen to
such an extent as would eventually turn out
serious evil to the community at large. There
are no classes of crime less susceptible of legal
proof than that of seduction and adultery. The
very character of the offences, and the history
of every trial had in our courts on the subject,
afford conclusive evidence of the danger that
would result by placing the liberty of the
citizen at the mercy of every female who
might choose to lay snase to entrap some such
unsuspecting victim. We do not mean to throw
any unjust imputation upon the high moral recti-
our fair citizens in general but as long as the
world is world-nay, down from the days of
Adam-history has recorded, and will record,
deeds of erring humanity in this shape. Take,
for instance, one of our wealthy miilionairss
upon whose fears or tmidity some practsed
courtezan should wish to speculate by threaten
ing prosecution. Would not the fears OF
exposure, or of bringing the name of the
party, hewever gultless, before the public,
induce such wealthy person to give any sum
of money, in order to escape noticel The same
will apply to all the different relations in society
and when both parties are the willing instru-
ments in crime, it would be unjust to give either
power which could be welded with such un-
due advantage, and with all the worst passions Of
the human heart.
In tracing up this species OF crime, which
abounds to such vast extent in the community
throughout the land, the truth OF III. matter is,
that it is to be attributed, in great measure, to
the Fourierte doctrines promulgated by some
Of our journalists-to the pulpit teachings Of
some of our clerical gallants-to the camp meet
lngs-the Millerte delusions-and the loose
manner in which religion, so called, is paraded
through the land, making very Babel of Chris.
that still prevails among many of the sects-
their bitter denunclations of each other-the Sc
cessions, and the loossness ard latitude that are
tolerated in the intercourse between the dlffe-
rent members of congregations in many of the
churches-these are the sure foundation for this
species of crime. The wild and conflicting
elements of religious discord, the secessions,
the pulpit denuncations. the ordinations and
recrlminatons-all produce bitter fruit; and
when the mind waivers amid such storm, true
religion soon vanishes, like an empty phantom
an idle dream. "
This ia the true history of much of the crimes
that are fastened upon the body poltic-the dis
sensions in our churches, where we find the diff
ferent clerics, in the words of the old ballad -
| rFighting like dis for eonciliation,
And hating each other for the love Of God"
The Fourierite pulpit declamstions are partic-
ularly injurious in this regard. Without the stern
and ordinary restraints of religion, what fanatic
can declare that the passions Of the human heart
or the human mind, can be curbed In such com
munities as those which the FouYierites propose
to foundl We should like to see this new law in
| f,u -.--.:-- .----e - H'---:--.I- ---., -rs0i a
| twelve months existence; and when we gravey
examine the question, and read the teachings OF
our Fourierite philosophers, We incline to the
opinion that these bills have been introduced to
substitute criminal law where gospel eachinqs
necessarily can have no restraint in such COM
munities as our Fourierites, Millerites, and
every other ite, that runs rampant in the land.
We would again repeat, and warn our Solons
in the Legislature at Albany, to be careful In
! framing such laws as we refer to- in relation to
adultery and seduction and many Of the cleri-
cal brethren themselves, belonging to every sect,
who have figured before the world for the last
few years, will thank us for these suggestions In
relation to punishment of those crimes. We
have had case recently in our courts, in
which young female, knowingly and will
lingly became party to this offence, and un-
der circumstances which at once, in the
eyes of jury, deprived her of all sympathy
from twelve OF her fellow citizens, or the laws o!
the country. This decision of jury in New
York, should give our representatives at Albany
an insight into the general tone of public feel
ing on the subject here, and we might add every.
where. The present laws could be judcously
amended, or so modified as to steer between the
old system and the newly proposed law. This
would answer all the purposes required IN these
days Of advanced civilization, steam and cleo.
trlcity.
CANApA.-In our journal of yesterday, the i'm
portant fact was related of the triumph of the
liberal party in Canada, in the election of Speaker
of the Canadian Parliament This may De
hailed as the commencement of new and great
movement soon about to shake all Canada, and
likely materially to change her destiny and
relations.
The policy and conduct of parliament, in
English politics, are always indicated, marked
out, and settled upon, by the election of a
Speaker. If Sir Harry Vsne had not been
elected Speaker of the Long Parliament, we may
certainly say the great revolution of England
would never have broken out; and since NJ.
MORN is now elected Sneaker of the Can sdian