Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-05-26
Family Discipline.

Ils not for those, whose posi-
tion requires them to speak out against the II
common evils which exist among mankind. q
and which so effectually dam up the stream =
OF true progress, to account for their preva- o
lence, by advertingt to one or more vices which |
more generally prevail than others. as the /,
cause or causes ofthe innumerable ills which :
lnffict ruin upon our race. The nuln;t and 9
the press are trumpet-tonged, in portray:ag
the devastation caused by these hydra-mon- t
sters, which too often takes off the popular Q
mind from a candid investigation into the r
true and real causes which produce such t
baneful results. Hence the outcry against 7
intemperance and other widespread wees, j
which we have from every quarter. Few evils
are greater than intemperance-none more t
general and disastrous. But is not intemuer- I
ance the effect rather than the cause? It is {
doubtless a cause of more ruin to man than '
any other, but what causes It? What, more {
than any thing else produces it? I
Men are universally bad. All are shapen {
in iniquity" and conceived in sim" The t
first buildings of mental and moral exercise.
are sinful. The mind of man is i" enmity a.
gainst God" His" heart is deceitful above
all thingsSand desperately wicked" Here
ssRuisthSrsue souses Of all eva But in
the order of Divine Providence, man, unlike
the brute, is wisely placed under tuition or
pupilage, during one-third, in most cases, one
half the term of his earthly existence. Po-
tent remedial agencies are furnished him for
the arrest and correction of his wicked and
devilish propensities, and those under pro-
per management, by the Divine blessing, will
effectually cure his bad nature and reinstamp
the image of God upon his soul.
So far then as human agency can promote
the cure and restoration of man, the institu-
ton of the family relation, is by far the most
effective, because it is the earliest and most
authoritative restraint thrown around the
human mind and heart, at a period, wher
: both are more easily impressed and e~ffectual
ly bent to correct principle and action.
> If this view be correct, may not the preva
, lence of crime at this day, be attributed mor'
: readily, admitting as the chief and first cause
! the universal corruption of our race, to tn
I, general neglect of wholesome family disci
u pIine, than any other? What man who cast
S his eye abroad and looks into the internal OF
{, e~rations of the families of our land, does nc
IL perceive in this, the most potent cause for a
{ the vices which are so prevalent? Who {
le this day, that occupies the responsible pos
n ton of head of a family, discharges this d.
q, ty, faithfully, promptly and scripturally ?
ry 1t not a universal complaint that the childre
an of the land, run, as the wild ass colt, wit
ce out bit and bride Look at the spirit
ed INSTRUMENTATION and disobedience which pr
en- walls. Look at the impatient restlessnes
~ evinced by the youth of the land to throw
the restraints of parental authority. Didy
say, parental authority ? What parent seer
es. to feel that he has authority, and what chi
seems to be aware that he is bound TO Obey
No legitimate monarch is clothed with
no. more potent power than the head of a famil
a He is by Divine right, king and governor
mt his household. God has clothed him wi
th- this solemn and sacred authority as his VII
cir SNANAJ NV NSoAOJf OUN ~ save LOb
mo ruin but to promote the well-being of
&c creatures. And woe to that man who n
lects this imperious duty or who badly p
forms it. Nor is the obligation ON the pi
Aa of children to obey less imperious, than
obligation of the parent to goUern. H
+bo long? AS long as children are under az
bic and this obligation extends even during |
los to all reasonable and righteous commands
IN. Nor are parents bound simply to lem
md obedience from children in their rightful cc
mands, so far as relates to parents, their
ona ~lations, fellows, interiors and superiors,
also as relates to the commands of God
=. Nay, they not only have a right to dem
~ but to force obedience, and it is their m.
fest duty. Obedience to parents, strict reg
Jul to truth, the proper observance ofM4he Oh
tan Sabbath, and chastity, eschewing Il
of every grade, and covetousness, are law
mp God, which parents must enforce, or ruiz
them and their offspring will ensue. !
hor the authority and obligation of heads of
lilies, in all these respects, extend to serv,
ad- as we'll as to children.
snb- What would be our condition as a PEG
as a nation, if a wholesome family discip
Pl" prevailed! Would the land be filled '
nifty mourning as now? No. Would riot
nan drunkenness, fornication and u~ncleann
rtor swearing and fraud, murder and bloodsl
prevail as now among our youth and
ef as wants No! mol! Heads of families g
work in good earnest to redeem the land
THE News FROM ~UTAH.-There is no lo
reason to question the general CORRECTIVE,
- the late Geographic news from Fort Lea
'N" worth, in relation to Brigham Young
his myrmidons. It is true that Cove
80 Cummings entered Salt Lake city by SD
invitation from the Mormon high priest,
that numbers of the saints had taken
Lssest departure for more congenial quarters.
- tba ham himself is reported to have decam
AZ and the place exhibited every Indicate
contemplated desertion. The intelligen
roon everywhere regarded as favorable to the SD
rS S o. settlement of the Utah difficulty. The
mons have evidently become impressed
- &c a proper sense Of the folly of attempti
49, oO -