Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-08-16

-G-We copy the following true and sensi-
bic remarks from the Revie,0, published at
Edinburgh, in johnson county, and commend
them especially to the consideration of the
moral retormers of our city:
CoMPULUsoRY MoRALrTY-We regard,
with some alarm, the strong tendency of this
age to a practical distrust Of the superior eff
cacy of moral influence America has intro
duced into the field Of philanthropy, elements
which inspired wisdom has characterized as
.begcarly,' and IS insensibly dragging us back
to notions of virtue, that we can Ouly de-
scribe as essentially barbarous 70 do things
BY force, to break down Individual indepen-
dence, whether Of judgement or Of choice; to
frown men into self-deIial; to use custom,
opinion, law, in fact, felt 90 be stronger and
more direct than conviction or persuasion, in
determining moral conduct: to Jam the reluc-
tan. between a noisy public sentiment on the
one hand, a statJary enactment on the other;
and to drive them thus guarded, in the line oil
Temperance and discretion IS more fashiOna-
bic, we think, than is beneficial 1t is a lazy
way of seeking human progress. 1t is the
substitution Of mechanism for soul, command
for invitation, law, for gospel. 1t is fit only
for society in Its rude and barbarous chilli
hood Necessity may sometimes COMPEL the
! adoption of it; but nothing but ignorance, i'm.
| potence. or mistrust, viii think OF returning
10 it, after the discovery ol' more excelleni
way.
We fear the abettors Of this compulsory
method of making nations virtu0us, have new
or fairly studied the philosophy Of their owl
principles. and that they ars little disposed t
consult the law Of their own nature Wha
progress IS ever made IN the way Of social re-
FORMATION, says, when every step of it !;
brought about by the successful appeals t.
the understanding and the will? Who doe.
not know that what is seemingly gained BY
rude agencies operate, and is invariably fol
lowed By lamentable reaction? Is II not with
nations as with individuals? Where re.
suaint IS more constantly resorted TO as ,
means TO deter from vice, will not human mas
sion revenge itself by creeping into other chan
neis or bursting all barriers BY inupdafipo re-
gions through which it would otherwise hay,
gently flowed!
The descendants Of the Pilgrim and Puri
tan fathers have read the story OF their ances
tors to little purpose, if they have missed tb
connection between the legal spirit of puritan
: ism and the licentious age which followed
between the soldierIy quality of Cromwell
times and the cavalier profiigaey of succeed
ing reigDs. You cannot drill the heart b
word or command, nor extinguish vicior
propensities by statuaTy enactment; and ever
step to do so VIII produce a. a less or gre;
ter interval Of time, terrible revulsion.
Nor do we believe that individual abst'
nance from evil if brougt about by social con
pulsion is, al things considered, in realit
good. We look for lighter results than thes
results fas more in keeping with the dignit
.of man. All Oar faculties, we observe, mel
tai and moral, are cast in shape to requi
freedom Of choice and agency as the very b
rs ofmoral improvement and enjoyment: an
everything within revolts against and resen
the idea Of virtue by coercion,