Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-06-08
From the Dublin University M,gazlue
THE SELF-ACCUSING NATURE M
CRIMI L.

We are so constituted that although exter-
nal circumstances may conspire TO conceal
our crime, yet retribulion commences imme-
diaiely after its commission. No sooner has
the murderer accomplished his fell purpose
than the agenies OF an aroused, accusing
conscience begin to torment him. Sleep for
sakes his cycids; the darkness of the night
Is peoplcd with horrible phantdns. They
crowd around his pillow, and shrek the
maine OF his dark crime into his ear. Dny-
| light brings no relief, for though he aocs
forth into tile busy world and mingles with
the busting crowds of his fellow men;
though he try to lose himself in the distrac.
tion Of guilt; yet in all its scenes the pban.
tom is at his elbow gazing at him with its
hollow eyes, appalling him with its speech.
less accusations, and high above the noise of
! many voices, the strains of music, the roar
Of cannon or the peal of thunder, the death
| shrek of his victim rings through his soul.
for the powers of nature as well as the hand
of man are alike directed against him as
against one common enemy.
What ialacy is crime, seeing that ii
makes brave man fear life more than
DEATH And not only is this selfi-niiicting
retributiOn attendant upon murder, the ligli.
| gree it accompanies every infringement of
the moral law, We may commit crime with.
out detection, but we can no more commit
crime without punishment than we can in
fuse poison into the blood without injury. =
| 1t is one of the most subtle workings of our
internal constitution, and is in strict keeping
with the analogies Of nature We expose
our physical constitutions to the action oil
forces inimical to it, whether of damp, cold
OF. heat, and we suffer accordingly; and il
we expose our moral constitutions TO the ac.
| tion of crime, we must entail upon ourselves
as an inevitable consequence, the punish.
ment OF an ayenging conscience-a moral
| palsy, n wounded salf respect, loss of that
conscious rectitude which can alone make a
man decisive in action, bold in danger. and
generous and good in all things.
Take case in point. There is a man who
has broken the laws OF his country. has
stolen, pcrjurcd or forged; the vengeance oi
social justice overtakes him; he is deprived
Of the rights of citizenship, and confined in
prison, whence, ailer an assigned period he
comes out, and we say his punishment il
over. II ia lot soi his punlshment is going
on within, and will probably go on as long
l.as he lives. He has lost caste-has stabbed
his self-respect. llcncefOrtl he will never
feel the proud integrity among his fellow
men; there is foul brand on his forehead. a
ielon-feeling in his heart, which will make
his lips ialter when he pronounces the
words ''probity and honor, - for they will
fall from him like lies. Society may wei.
come him back-may honor him with her
most distinguished giit, but in vain; he will
drag the fetid carcase OF his moral life
through all the worlds lairesl scenes, and
though men may bow before him, yet the
applause of honesty will be his most bitter
reproof; forto himself hewill always bea lost,
ruined man,
Such is the terrible price of the departure
from rectitIde. Human law may assign
punishment but cannot atone for the loss Of
that feeling of spotless honor that conscious.
ness of innocence, which, once gone, can
never be regained; and that whispering Of
] the accusing self which will blight the fairest
life and blast the happest hour.