The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1859-05-04
THE UNITY OF SOCIETY.


synopsis Of a Lecture delivered several week,
ago BY Robert NJ. Proud. Of Baltimore, "
fore the Church Brotherhood Of that city, 81
the constituent principles and s,smenh Z
political government, Not nEe for NJ,
philosophical interest Of the theme than iol
the able treatment il received at the hnd,
Of the eloques; lecturer we cite HE subjoin
ed resumed Of the principal to hes discussed
under this head.
MANY have been the theories upon che
unity Of society. One sf those. unfortunate
ly sanctioned BY names which suggest learn
ing and eminence. is that of an original wild
man. living in wsx has been enormously
called " state assSature." treally a mos
unnatural state, at least inc onsistent with all
we now know Of the natHre Of man. lmpell
oil by hunger, his first desire, he becomes
hunter, and preys on the but slightly inferior
animal races. His fellow (if the idea yoi
fellowship be admissible at all, J craving til,
same food, an agreement becomes necessar,
the frs: bond Of union. From that mo
msnt, after a low fashion, society exists
Desiring vegetable sustenance also, man till,
the ground ; and this induces new stipula
tons; a right Of ownership in the soil is re
eognised. Men then build houses, eongre
gate IN cities, and gradually develop all II,
complicated relations Of the present socia
state-ali growing out IT mans experience .
mis- convenience or necessities, and not spon
taneously arising from any innate germina
principle diyinely implanted in his con.titu.
ton and inner nature. The whole theory i,
scarcely better than that which develops Al,
seHtient, intellectual man from the condition
Of the tadpole.
Akin to this is the theory which re.s.I.
society as the result Of agreement bctweer
individual members, each consenting 10 sur
render portion Of his natural libenies foi
the sake 81 making other portions o. tha
liberty more secure. lie, according 10 thi,
theory. eurtails hrs natural rights. that is
the right 70 10 Just as Ne pleasesl for III,
sake of an equivalent. which he insists on a,
4 right. This view vas maintained by that
eminent writer, the late Br. Claiming.
Now, all such theories, however Ingenious
md plausible. sre met On the threshold Will
one insuperable difficulty, whish is, thai
they 10 not correspond with any thing that
we know either nf the history or nature 81
MAUI WI ealitett ftCoTfs etntUlt MN IN
condition ofsociety, less compiler indeed thar
now, but still with mutual relations. appeten
ces, and interdependence. II has been pun
gently asked, in reply TO Dr.. Ghanaing's view
when al this mutual bargaining Cor seeurit,
Of rights takes place. Man comes into III,
world helpless, and brings viii him all ihii
supposed multitude ofrights before he car
feed himself. Before be can contract with
society he receives is protection, and al /
time when he ran give no equivalent. Mus
society noUrisb aud protect him on sredl,
tiat, when be grows strong. he can tall
blusterinsly 81 Ms natural rights: "ls he
then. after having received 20 large portion
III the benefits he would expect Gsm society
I 10 say hos much he would give IN eonpsn
sstiun how much resirainJse would submi
I to Z"
I But the truth i, mas cannot sris, sther
Z vice than IN organized sDeiety. rks unl,
e state Of nature" is for man, the sosiai stats
seruestrate from bis Kind, his stass !. who'll,
gHnatural. lis "nstursl rights" are ssel
rights a. Ne can tHiuy in tliIs sosisl staten,
other God has 80 placed him, 4~d - \,
must remain, a social being, unless hi
whole nature changes.
The unity u society, then. /. not A unio,
81 consent, By tghEat' IS asCide NJ. by az
creation, - an heap VI sand Jst al q - ~