Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-04-04
shlts, why do the adjoining
after onnkhar odoot.thon ,0t;I

ditcE duOGHer, aQOpC'Lhem, until
already spread over nearly one
States of the Union7 Virginia
a law-tries tit produces, all over
borders. the worst results violence,
= breaks Smd general disquiet.' North
k1roiina - her neighbor-has free inter-
ouKse with her-knows the evils ofthe law
Cal she adopt it? Will the people of any
coute in this Union bear for years a law that
willses general ~disquiet ? Think of what
Stat say, gentlemen not the disquiet of a
caYs but general disquiet.' Here is another
You ance in which you presume upon the ig-
'ew, Gnce of the people. Do you suppose the
retders of your Report are so ignorant as not
to know, that in every State the people make
their own laws and unmake them at their
pleasureH The fact that the people do not
repeal them-the fact that ~neighbOYing States
adopt them, ought to have satisfied you that
the laws do not do mischief, and that they
do good.
But in addition to what is to be inferred
from the facts, we have the direct testimony
OF the people that the laws are useful-that,
as compared with former times, their jails
are empty their poor houses tenantless !;
theH dockets less crowded: their public
gatherings orderly; the Sabbath observed.
and public sentiment elevated. But what if
the laws have not get accomplished all that
was hoped for from them? Will you not
stand still and see? Was this world made
in a day? Does it not require time to effect
great reformations? Let me quote your own
high authority. In your 18th paragraph
you say:
"The rcfOrmers lHs member that it required
more thar one d. form to this world, and
should know thS atoks affecting grsat
changes ia domestic and social life, have been BY
slow degrees; that it requires time and ihcessan
labor to bring about revolutions in manners anC
habits"
Must the reformers remember this? The,
why do not you remember it? You arc mo-
reformers, do you say? True. Retentive
ness OF memory is not your fort, do you say
concede it. There is abundant evidence If
your Report of that fact. If the Editor O
the spirit of the Age is to be believed
most OF you did not even remember that vol
had written the Report. Moral and pHvs
lcar philosophy and logic are your fort
The present serves all your ends. If you Car
but get what your 'appetites ~crave,' obliv
iousness covers the past, and philosophy anC
logic may govern the future. Belials chic
excellency is yours. to
"Make the worse appear
The better reason to perplex and dash
Matarest counsels; for his thoughts were low
10 vice Industrious, but to nobler deeds
humorous and slothful Yet he pleased the en-,
AND with persuasive accents thus began :"
Indeed your committee think YOU cannot
reform men by violence violence engender;
vlolence-producing outbreaks, open run
lures and general disquiet.' See your 18th
paragraph: Now what need is there thai
you should have q memory to help you, wher
you can produce at pleasure, off hand, with
one a moments reflection, such polished
righteousness lie who never forgets an,
thlng, may ransack his store house of mem
DRY, and among all that has ever been sale
or written in the world, he cannot find sub
liner nonsense What sort of violence die
the memorialists pray for? A standing
army or the militia Grape shot or canister,
Minnie rifles or Colts revolvers? Pistols
or coffee | thought you said that the,
prayed for q laU. Do you mean to saw tina
law and violence are all one? When YOU sa,
violence do you mean la,o? And do vol
mean to say that you cannot reform men b,
law! Why | thought that this was the reyI
object of law. Why do you hang a man
Does 1t do hin any good? Does it afforC
you any pleasure? Why then do YOU nan.
hlmY Evidently to pregent other crimes-tt
eenedt society-to reform-not the men yo,
hang. but, to reform men, But / do no
desire to do you injustice. l am not sur
that you mean law when you say violence
because you say violence eRgenders vic
lence ) which would be the same as to sa,
law engenders law Ha, ha, ha! So tina
L cannot tell what you mean. That Repor
OF yours needs n glossary, gentlemen. Blu
II you mean to say that it was the purpose 0
the men'orialists to effect their object hy vic
lence, or In any manner to outrage public sen
timent, you do yourselves no credit, an,
them great injustice.
shall do myself the honor to address yo,
again, and it may be again. But after awhiI
will do you the same favor which the Leg
stature did, and discharge you from til
further consideration of the same
Yours truly, PiCKLED-ROD.