The daily union., 1854-10-21
For The Union.
LEGISLATION AS A MEANS OF MORAL REFORM

III 10 be almost sclickldcnl proposition
character and objects of the laws OF nation must depend
the degree of general and morality HUI
laws rules Of action prescribed by human author
ity for moral and political agents aud such must
result from rather their form their social and moral char
aeter This effect it is true under certain circumstances
may be directly produced than under others but
the general principle still remains true The conse-
quence necessarily follows that social moral reform
finds its origin in legislation 1t may with equal truth be
said that the form of government the mode OF its adj
mnisaton forms the social political character
of people the contrary both the necessary
quences of their physical position mental activity and
moral energy and in proportion to the varying power of
these elements the form of government whatever may be
originally, and the laws rules of action which it pre-
scribes in the progress of time will be modified radically
changed For the truth Of this latter position ii is only
necessary refer TO the reign of the Stuarts in England
and the contemporary history of the of Europe II will
be that during the very period that the people OF Eng
land successfully contendng for and establishing the
great principles of civil and religious liberty, breaking
down the prerogaves of the Crown and extending the
powers OF the popular branch of the Legislature during the
very period that presented 10 the world Hampden and
Comw other llustrious republicans types public
sentiment the great States the of the
throne steadily advancing and crushing down the last
vesge Unpopular representation consgning the and
their rights to the slumber of political DEATH to be at
last awakened into in the terrible resurrection Of 1889
No enervated morally degraded, and ignorant people
would hardly accept the gift of popular government
and if accepted it would prove greater tyranny than alb
solute desposm itself
Although the foregoing propositions beyond
doubt yet in country the belief appears to prevail
in the omnpotence Of legislation The legislature of
nearly every State in the Union is annually in session
some two or three months and the national legislature the
greater part of the year, busiy engaged in framing
laws carrying into effect schemes of ameoration,
and amending it is believed repeating old ones until
the stauteboOk becomes mass OF contradictory egsa-
tion from which the acutest mind hardly extract
clear and wel-setted rule Of action until the egisa-
tive cycle rolls round edeunt sarnia regina and we
find the same old theories and principles reyivng again
which progressive wisdom has once repudiated and
eced certain class Of reformers appear in every
principle doctrine that has received the sanction of time
| and experience obstacle to human progress and
impediment the of human happiness, and
imagine that they have discovered new theory
or some great moral principle which by its inherent
power shall effect entire renovation of society,
and prove grand specific for all injustice and inequality
or that he has devised effective scheme for the sup
preston of and vice requiring only the sanction of
legislative enactment realize the most sangune anticpa
tons In such instances the legislative reormer too
often premaurey congratulaes himself upon having made
some marvellous discovery in the depths of the moral
heavens which proves in the end like that of the
mer who exultingy called his attendants 10 view his
derful observation of an immense moving object in the
moon but which, in fact, was only puny insect on the
object glass of his telescope Substantial reform must
originate not visionary anaies and theories Of egis
lators sestyed reformers it must have deeper and
broader foundation than physical or pecunary PEN
aties and the first and only etectua step to act upon
the moral sentiments and feelings of the people at large
Without this whatever may be the character OF legislation
however severe the penalties it may nfic practical
benefit produced Legislation has been entirely inefec
| tua TO check the practice of dueng where the moral
sense places but trifing value upon human life, and
where malignant murder is styled duel of honor, and
its perpetsato instead Of being regarded felon is
ceiyed as the iubodue4t ol ehvary and magnanimity
The legislator may heap penalty after penalty on the VEN
dor of intoxicating liquors. and imagine that in this pro-
vision or that he has found specific for the evils Of
drunkenness but until the fire of depraved and morbid
appee is held in check-untl learns to know and
to feel that there is slavery of passion slavery OF the
soul compared with which every other form OF slavery
sinks penalties and enacimens
will prove but tie spiders most attenuated web
Legislation Il uue may inHict upon remove from a
community serious and permanent evils il may fetard or
their business operatous may confer great and
enduring benefits but did and ofitsefe
feet a social or moral reform II has made brave
men of towards, has it made men OF honor and
integrity of false and treacherous Reform said be-
fore must deeper il must begin in the elevation
Of the moral and intellectual character of the individual
aud when it thus begun legislation may be called in as
an auxiliary The foregoing principles illustrate the folly
and nsncerity those who claim by legislative enact
mens to obliterate institution based upon the moral
sentiment AS well as peeunary interest of large portion Of
our counryhe institution of slavery Whatever powers
the general government upon the most liberal construction
may be supposed TO possess they would call at once into
action But The whole history of this subject shows now
little has been accomplished by legislation on this subject
bv the general government! The constitution under which
we live was the result of compromise 1t has granted Ger
tain rights on this subject the saveholdng States so
long then this bond OF union continues long az is
regarded US a fundamental law, so long may the South
Justly and squaby claim all the rights and powers which
grants and long is the North every principle OF
honor Justice and fair dealing bound to concede them,
without restriction aui without opposition The South is
not to be justified in claiming more OF the North in yield
ing less As might naturally be expected times OF in
tense excitement have occurred in which cool and deber-
ate views Of abstract rights hardly to be looked
for; and as at the formation Of the constitution, the
questions at issue haye attempted be settled by
compromise Such the in 1920 when the expert
men was tried Of establishing by legislative action geo
graphical line the boundary DsTeen slavery and free
dom In this the fundamental principles which ought to
govern legislation entirely overlooked An arbitrary
geographical line traced by legislative authority
regarded sufficient at rest and settle great ques-
ton IN which The most momentous pecuniary, POLITICAL
social morai Interests efs Involved Few at that time
could have anticipated the eShausess aow population
into our western territory aud this population has
creased so the interests social aud pecuniary depend
ing this question: increased in greater ratio Against