The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1862-08-30

But if We let them go-he dreams wild
dreams who supposes the millennium a:
hand, or the age Of sinful and destructive
human nature. at an end. 4.f
From the Catholic Mirror.
THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WIT.
NESS AGAINST THY NEIGHB0R.
We observed in New York paper a few
days ago proposition, to our mind, fraught
with mischief 1t was plainly asserted
that, in these days, it was the business of
every man to turn informer. Heaven
help us when it comes to this! The
worst condition Of civilization is just that
where every man is spy upon his neigh
Dor. Mutual distrust, mutual animosity,
mutual dislike, spring up on every hand.
We have seen this thing in operation
abroad. We have seen people living
under perpetual espionage, and we assert
plainly that such life is not worth having.
No man knows what he may dare do or
say, with safety to life, liberty Or proper
ty. -,
Who rises by this system of espionage
Who is the better for it? Is patriotism,
or fidelity to country, secured thereby p
Does 1t protect the good man, and subdue
the malignant and violent?
We say plainly that only the bad ele-
ment rises thereby that the best citizens
derive from it no benefit, and no advan-
tage; that patriotism succumbs under it /;
that it does not protect the good citizen,
and that it does not subdue the bad.
1t is necessary for governments to en-
ploy official agents to protect the common
interests of the State or the community,
and when these officials do their duty fair
ly and justly, we commend their zeal and
appreciate their good offices. 1t is theirs
to watch for lawbreakers and to bring
them to the tribunals of justice. They
are conservators of the peace, the lawful
and necessary ministers of justice. But
how different is their dutiful occupation
from that of idle and misunderstanding
people, who spy into the actions Of their
neighbors for the purpose of bringing
them into trouble IT'S said that history
is philosophy teaching by example. They
have read history TO little advantage who
commend this system Of espionage. How
do they know that some enemy will not
SOW cookie in their own fields? What
good was it to France, or to the honest
people of France, that, during the Revo-
luton, every man was an informer against
his neighbor !? Did it not lead straight
way to informations and denunciations for
the mere purpose of gratifying personal
hatred and malice? It has not escaped
the observation Of wise men of all ages,
that, in times of turmoil and public dis
turbance, malicious men make use of an
affected zeal for the State to punish their
rivals, or their personal enemies.
When this work begins, there is no set
ting limit to it. Personal animosities
multiply in such times and with human
passions as they are, they soon outstrip par
ty strife, and political hostilities. Hate
comes to rule the day and the hour. The
foolish men who inaugurate the policy of
setting every man as spy upon his neigh
Dor, are no safer than those whom they
would entrap. Nay, perhaps they are not
quite SO safe; for their very course be-
gets them enemies.
The true patriot, now, is the man who
tries to allay the passions of his neighbors
and fellow-citizens who encourages no
violence who rejoices not in blood-shed.
The worst friend to his country is the man
who sets neighbor against neighbor; citi-
zen against citizen; brother against broth
or; aud divides the house against itself.
Benevolence requires prompting, ma
lice thrives without any. Already peace
full men have been arrested merely to graft
fy the personal spite Of their enemies, who
pretend, Id their malice, zeal for the State.
We believe that In this city, the veteran
officer who holds military authority over
us, will rerress such contemptible designs,
as far as he can, for he is true soldier
and gentleman; but it is impossible for
any man to penetrate the DISCUSSES which
combined malice and art can assume.
The spirit Of rectitude must be encoura-
ged to dwell among us of forbearance, Of
fraternal good will. We must not try to
entangle each other, whatever our differ
ences Of opinion The fever Of civil war
is high enough, without any additional
stirnulants. Its sufficiently consuming,
without our adding fuel to the flames.
We offer our sentiments without any
feeling Of personal hostility to any Of our
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