Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-09-04
COLUMBUS:
"wednesday Morning, sept. 1. 1852.
Revenge.

RCtCnSCs
Christianity teaches US that to indulge this pas
sion we commit one of the vest sins, and that for
gveness is one of the hottest virtues. Revenge,
under any circumstances, is no doubt ungenerous
yet is there principle of stern but rude Justice
about it, that no other evil can lay claim to. We
will not enter the field as the champion Of Re-
venge, still do contend that much is cast at the
door of the man who redresses his own wrongs,
that passes away upon mature reflection. Here is
whose very composition is of the milk of
human kindness he has been dashed into mad
ness by repeated attacks of fendsh craft-cool
calculating malice has plunged the poisonous dart
into his breast-his nature as trusting and unsus-
pcious of aught that is evil, the babe that first
draws the pure breath of heaven. Accumulated
wrong has soured his kindness-the heart that
once was mellow by continued friction, has con-
gealed-the evil demon that lay dormant in his
breast is aroused, and the foe of his peace re-
ceives back some of the many things from the
avengers hand. The precepts of benign Christi
Rnity checks this courSe-the meek angelic doc
trine of forgiveness interposes her radiant shield
between the avenger and his victim. The storm
is laid. Mans vengeance upon man cannot then
be h,d as guitless; yet but little discernment is
required to perceive that if the hand of vengeance
is culpable, the engenderer of malice is infinitely
more criminal. Law holds it not thus. The man
who avenges great wrong is held up for public
execration and lie the couSe of this error against
society-the who by fendish wiles has driven
the avenger step by step to this sad, rash act,
walks forth unblushng--and the world, the great
every day world, if it does not recognize him as
immaculate, at least regards him prosecuted,
injured The wife or the loved daughter is
beset by reckless libertine The cool, calculating
plotter weighs his chances of success-he weaves
the web of his hesh designs around the path Of
the virtuous victim, whose only defence from the
assaults upon her virtue is mans honor and hel
regard for the dictates of religion Society call,
upon her to resist her own passion-to crush bel
love, and to push aside the man perhaps of hel
choice. And if she falls victim, the world 81
upon the bench in judgment, and she is ':cast GU
as unclean." Man assas her, and he is not helC
amendable--he assas society; but this does no
disqualify hin--for he is good father, hus
band, or citizen, before. His passions may
run riot" because no moral restraint in society
CHeCho CHeu-II ScuSIdIIg CoH9iuCICO 'to d MAJ
of distinction, rather than disgrace, to pursue
women to their ruin. Society has constituted
it, and the general expression of man prohibit i
not. But the woman! the doors of the world ar,
closed upon her--her presence is never permitted
in the saloon of fashon-she is the impersonatol
of vice-lewdnesS has set its seal upon her fore
head, and the joys of the world and the swee
cOnoununn Of wuddpd life cau never he hpr LOT -
No! never Law recognizes this crime-penal
ties attached and the victim of heartless lib
ertinsm may wash the stain from soul and char
acter with few hundred dollars. Years of men
tai suffering and of penitent tears may b
wiped away by few dollars. This is justice
this is equtyl The father, brother, or busban
has received wrong that money cannot repay
The load of the victims sin may rest upon tn
fallen one, but the faint falls upon ALL and tn
'senslive'' virluousIy inclined. and they are me
at every corner, turn with holy horror from an
who are unfortunate to be in the least DIT
gree related by consanguinity. The injured hu'
band steps forward and revenges his own wront
Money has not displaced the wound which ranklt
deep in his heart. He chastises the blackened Gu
prlt and justly too, but tnen he is derogatng fro
the law Its merit! What has law to do with man
honor-hls good name 1t cannot reach tt
source, nor can 1t apply the proper punishment
The cowhde is the desderatum, and the law
the land should apply it in the most public plac
A punishment of this sort will forever mark Il
man-the snap of the lash will remind libertin
the doom that awaits them. But is revenge
unworthy passion after all? 1t is natural o
at least Give to it then the name it deserve
and what name shall be found worthy for him W
furnishes food to feed it upon-who takes prid
ali! pleasure in sowing seeds OF discord-dlYldl
friends and families, who in gazing upon wort
deeds their eyes become sore--who sap up
foundation of true greatness by inuendoes-W
weave around the pathway of the harmless
virtuous, filthy nets-7Who do evil for evils sal
We are willing to grant that the spirit Of reyen
should be crushed god-like qualification is Ii
same forgveness-and when we meet the M
who possesses it in truth, we will write the line
the phiIosophc poet as an epitaph, which sh
be
'.Forgiving man is the noblest work of God. =
~ Dir ~. \ - f41w@