Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-09
MASSACHUSETTS, SOURCE OF
ISMS

There is great tendency in political parties,
nowadays, to incorporate all sorts Of isnis into
their platforms. This proclivity is nothing more
no other object or end than the advancement
of its own power through the prejudices of
the ignorant and tanatical classes of men. Nor
do they stop here-women, those who were
given to subdue the more rugged natures of men,
and to still their passions and preiudices, have
been brought from their gentler and more genial
vocations into the vortex of politics. They are
denominated '.Sirong minded Uomen;" we wish
we could say they were right-hearted women.
But we accord such women no such tribute.
They are bad, wicked women, who, to see their
names in newspaper or feel themselves upon
public rostrum, would make any sacrifices what
ever of delicacy or Judgment. We have no taste
for them. But, strange to say, the quarters of
the globe from which emanate these newly de-
vised schemes for improving and enforcing the
morality of men and society, is Massachusetts.
If we did not feel disgust, we should smile at
this parade Of virtue from a quarter where the
rights of their feow-citizens in other States are
SO constantly invaded by Iaiu and MODS Massa-
chusetts, whose anchorage TO the Constitution
seems sadly enough TO have been party, when
the great Webster was withdrawn from her coun-
ellis, is the very last State to lecture upon o, at
tempt to enforce such rigorous laws for the pro-
motion of morality. Since Daniel Webster S
death, she seems TO riot in her abandonment as
an escaped convict from the restraints of his
prison-house She has become the banner State
of mobs, the draggler of the ermine of justice in
the mud-the revolving nquisitor of female in
stitutions-the canting hypocrite of religion and
temperance, that must make the souls, which it
should be their mission to save, both sick and
drunk. And yet she perches herself upon the
most conspicuous summit Of morality One of
her isns, to which she welded, is the
prohibition Liquor Law" In Ia,r, il is true
that drunkenness aggravates an offence and
forms no excuse for the offender, but we have
never seen jury who could altogether take
| this very technical view in the forming of its
verdict. Certain it is, we wish we had even
such excuse for Massachusetts for her late dis.
honest treacheries and revolving conduct We
had rather believe her as drunk as Bacchus, than
believe that she has had in her black heart the
deliberate and sober design Of either severing the
Union, or, what to us is far worse, degrading it
| Suppose her virtuous people get up an anil per
jury soeisty-'may be" that might help; and i
they would stick TO their oatlIs to maintain ia
obligations as they have heretofore broken then
TO their God and their country, we might lSp,
something from them yet. We commend an anti
perjury society We are opposed to all these
moral ragaries. We believe public opinion anc
good fellowship, and true heartedness, TO be tho
only true directors Of private morality. The
rgor Of the law would fail in its attempt TO throw
around the conduct of men any such guards
What man eats, drinks, or wears, is not within
its province, unless in doing either he violate,
some express provision Of her law
/ But if we did not oppose such system, We
should not be induced to accord with il, whor
il emanates from such quarter az Massachusetts
| We know full well that the motive Of her people
is vile and wicked motive, being simply Il
swell her lists of outlaws and Abolitionists; and
we say il is Dissertation 10 religion, morality
and virtue for her to raise her voice in defense Of
either.