Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-10-21
@S 8.
DR.. Hooper's Address.

we are indebted to Prof 0wEN, for a copy
OF DR.. Hooper's Address, delivered at the last
Commencement of Wake Forest College
We have perused it with deep interest. Il
treats OF subjects directly affecting the rela-
tons and peace of society, in this country.
noso. 1t touches the fostering sores of the
present time, and probes them with the skill
and honesty of a. scientific and candid sur
geon, viz: "Thesacredness of Human Life, and
American Indifference to its Destruction"
As our friend of the Warrenton News has
remarked, the topic chosen by the venerable
speaker is one of the very utmost Importance
to our character as a Christian people If a
respect for human life was to be taken as the
sole test of civilization, We fear the statistics
OF crime would prove that the people of Anne
RIGA stand lower in the scale than their Euro
pean brethren of the same race. This ought
not to be; the daring disregard to danger
which distinguishes the American in the bat
tle-field, and which has carried the national
flag triumphant against fearful odds, is mis-
placed in the walks of private life. The act
which is barely justifiable in a soldier defen-
!; ding his country, when exercised on the per-
son of a fellow ~citizen, becomes a highshanded
outrage upon the laws Of God and man.
Any member of a civilized community who
refuses to abide by the laws made for the pro-
S ection of the just rights of all, and ayenges
his real or fancied wrongs by an assault on
the life of another, becomes criminal and de-
l. serves the Reproduction of every well disposed
t, citizen. Sympathy for such an offender is
s. an insult to the majesty of the law and a crime
Id against society.
ID Againstthis misplaced sympathy DIR. Hoop
he er makes a frank and fearless protest. The
he sympathizers in the jury-box, as well as the
10 paid defender at the bar, are told some start
IN ling truths in the plain but nervous diction
ad- of one who feels that the criminal on trial al
nd the bar of justice, is not the only offender
against the peace of society-his guilt is
ex- shared by the juryman that ~acquits, and tn
nu- lawyer that defends, the shedder of blood.
eek, We regret our limits will not permit us t.
follow DIR. H. in his earnest and impressiv
appeal to his youthful audience. May hi
a. wise counsel sink deep into their hearts, an
preserve them through life from the withel
ing remorse which ever attends the sheddin
:" of a fellow-being's blood. We have room BIT
for one extract relative to the cowardly pra
tice of carrying concealed weapons.
1.-THE wearing of arms in time of peace
an indication that a nation is in a semibarb
Iher rous state: and one of the first steps towar,
pom civilization is the banishing of deadly we
md pons from the persons of the citizens. Su
den passion ought never to have at hand T
means ofinstant vengeance and as no man C
No feel himself safe in the social circle, if he 81
poets his neighbor to be armed: the practi
ack- in some will lead to the practice in all, al
and society will, every now and then, be shock
/ be- by some bloody affray occurring in o
streets, or even on the domestic hearth.
WIN hope, young gentlemen, you will lay it doy
t be. as one of the principles of your future Ii
yidu- never to follow the example of those rowdi
leral- u our roh.iers. ACT III tne principle u
the rigbtneso wants no Sh;oId no 800 -. !
integrity:
"Integer vitae, scelerisque purus,
essee Non eget Mauris jaculis neque arcu,'
He Expose not yourselves to the awful calam
barge I In Mo m MI sii,a o VI sne'unng :
IOW-CIcdIuTeS DiOOu, III Suuuen anger
'ylum alarm. Better fall a victim to anothers y
t cars lence, than yourself bring death upon a bro
ID pa eT-mal. ne VINO carries arms, mas dehb
,'uoN er sudden passion or fear may impel mn
t him and must he not. then, be written down
were Gods book, as a murderer in purpose and
I and %tention, whether he ever carries his purp'
- into execution or not? And indeed it '
I'LL be we'll for him, if his violent dealings do
ortun- come down upon his own head, even in
the present world. The man who is known
arl;est carry arms is in greater danger than 9th
he has Orord s5an nor;sb Lr tho sH,ord :" III
order gets like. Dreading his desperate charae
lished others will be apt to be beforehand with |
radua- and shoot him before ne Is aware from