Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-04-01
THE GAZETTE.
FRIDAY MORNING. APRIL |. 1859.
DEFAMATION.

DEF AMA1loN.
1t is commonly said that law il the security
for peace. and the guerd don OF individual
rights If this berestricted to mean statute
law or common precedent, practice, or any
other formal and legal proceeding, theniS law
far from being the egis that 1t is clalmed 10
he. The law of social justice, the golden
rule that we are to do to others only what
we should be satisfied to receive from them,
is the only assurance of justice, of henevo-
lence, or of common courtesy. The canOns
ofciviized intercourse demand this, and the
sanctions of religion enforce the Obligation
We can imagine no worse pests to society
than those social Shylocks who are always
ready to do any evil to which no legal con-
sequences are attached, and even to crafty
their malice in defiance of law, when the
penalties are indefinite or capable OF being
evaded.
Sheer malice is not, however, so common or
so mischievous IS the careless abetting OF
evil, the persecution or injury without malici-
Gus intent. or, indeed, any object except the
needless joining in common defamation
Trace ISLANDERS to their origin and it is not
difficult, usually, to detect their motive
There may be palliating circumstances at
tending the first utterance. Imagined Or real
injury, anger. or other intirmity may tip the
arrow with venom, but there is not even this
excuse for uninterested parties %ho furnish
feathers for the darts, and speed them on
their errand of mischief. 1t would be ridi-
culous, if it were not painful to notice how
the mere love of talk and the fondness for
gossip make halfa community the emissaries
of one social faction, while the other half are
as firmly bound to the other.
1t is said that every citizen owes debt to
the community in which he lives, for the po-
sition he holds in it. We submit that the OBJ
legation is mutual No man who has pursued
the even tenor of his way till he has reached
point where he is an object of envy to his
less successful contemporaries, and OF exam
pie to his juniors, can have done good for him
self without benefting the circle i'll which he
moves. He has established his character
1t is not unfrequently the case that he has
lived down SANDER and overcome enmity.-
To say that there are no scars of these COLI
hicts, would be to pronounce him invulnera-
BILE; and that we fancy, can be said Of few
But when long years have handed the early
events ola life to oblivion, to rake open the
wounds of the past, and to parade things be-
fore the public which, if true, have been
cancelled by amendment, and, if false, can
not, after SO long an interval, be disproved,
is most unmanly and unjust. Whenever a
disparaging report gains circulation, 1t new
tably reaches quarters where the vindication
can never follow. The stain ofdetractlon, to
certain extent, is ineifaceable. Hence, We
should hesitate even to circulate true charge
against neighbor; for, as is well remarked
BY Dr. Moore in that old time novel Leleuco,
"a malicious falsehood ceases to do harm
when the truth comes to be known; but the
mischief attending malicious truth is much
more durable"
Ordinarily there is little truth in malicious
"reminiscences; often none whatever. And
ALWAYS, whatever be the actual intrinsic cha
racter of a revived rumor or charge, 1t takes
its present hue from the motive and intention
of the parties who reproduce it. We have
more than once witnessed injustice and per-
secution of this sort. and our first, aud gene
rally correct, impression is, to stamp rs false
whatever anger, emnity or opposition may
allege from the forgotten past. 1t Is not
what any man was, but what he is, with
which we have to do. And he who can be
assailed only by reviving the alleged sins OF
his youth, must in his heart despise, as he
may defy, his calumniators.
Common defamation is what the written
law cannot prevent any more than 1t can es,
tablish common fame. The conservative and
honorable principles of social intercourse are
the only protection which citizen really has
for the honor and respect which are dearcr
to a sensitive man than his wealth or, we had
almost said, his life We should say, with
out reserve, that honor is dearer than life,
were it not that we keep in mind the differ
ence between character and reputation. One
is intrinsic, the other is external. One Is
what is, the other what people think or say
of it. He who knows the falsehood of an evil
report against himself, is supported by ms
Consciousness, and though he would sacrifice
much to make his external position good,
will never despair, though he do not Succeed.
A friend of Socrates wept that he was to be
executed in innocence ofthe charges brought
against him. Would it console you or me II
/ were guilty." asked the sage.
Every community and every man IN 1t owes
to truth and decency, to candor and honesty
the discouras cement of Islander and de'ania-
ton. Printed or spoken, it is monstrous
evil; and it lies ut the root of all unhapplness
and Injustice. 1t impedes all pleasant inter
course, and is a most dangerous Instrument
in controversy, whether legal or other. It's
more likely to plague the inventor than u
produce the effect for which it is Intended
The tongue cuts like sword and they who
play it in malice, may perish with their own
weapon.-Piladelphia Gazette.