The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1867-03-29

ton In life 30 highly exalted, no age SO help
less and enfeebled, no youth so lovely and at
~tractive in its purity and Innocence, and no
character SO ERaullled and exemplary as TO
warrant lmmlniiy from their arts Of calum-
nv and detrAction. They commit moral and
social perjury every day Of their wicked and
pernicioas existence. The moral law and
the obligations of each individual TO the
whole community, command us, with all the
force of a God-SPoken sdict, to regard and
respect each others rights, the chiefo which
is social reputation. But this natural senti-
ment Of love and regard for his fellow beings
completely Cradicated from his heart. the
slADdercr does not hesitate to disavow the
duties ard obligations created and enforced
by any voluntary oath he may take, ~plsdging
his cooperation to enhance the interests Of
mankind, and hasten the golden era, when
all striGes shall cease and peace and good
will exist among all nen.
Lost to every sense and impulse Of honor,
and sunk to the lowest depths Of human
bsseness, he no more regards a sworn Obliga-
ton to love his neighbor as himself, and re-
spect his rights and interests as his own,
than a Christian would an oath Atjuring the
religion Of the Bible.
II a fellow man possess an unblemiShed
character, and the malicious ingenuity Of
the slsnderer cannot fab ricats a falsOhood to
his injury, like a hyena tearing a corpse from
its p~epulchre, be rakeS up from the scoria Of
the dead past some unworthy act of his
ancestors, and brands his name with the in
fanny Of others. The debased nature of the
professional slanderer never even feels the in
spiration Of that noble and heaVsn-like senti-
ment, M De mOrtms RiHi bOnum"-"h you
cannot speak well Of the dead, say nothing
Scandal is the feast Of his vile, polluted ma
ture. Deceit and treachery are his constant
practice. PalsehoOt is the air he breathes,
the food he eats and the water he drinks.
The wreck Of character is his occupation.
He ia a murderer, for he destroys the peace
and happiness of families and neigbbor-
hoods. He is a robber, for be hlches the
good name of others. He is in full cOmmun-
ion With Hell, and g%rinning devils dance with
rapturOus glee when Hn innocent mortal is
his calumnies. He is libel upon humanity,
a disgrace to civilization and a ~self-mRde,
blasphemouS mockery Of Gods handiwork.
A friend to no one, be is worthy only Of the
CompaniOnship Of the master he faithfully
serves, the ruler Of the realms of torment.
By the intelligent, refined, noble aud pure
hearted he is stunned and sIecrated as a
moral psstilence, whose breath rseks with
the poison Of guile, perjury and f'lsehood.
Mark where the good man, unsuspoeting, troads,
No evil m~editatcs, nor evil breads,
The base assassins from their covert start,
And sheath the dagger in his defenecless heart,
Or shoot their arrows strung by hate unSack
With deadly aim at the deisnceiess backi
So smites the slAndersr, with poisoned tongue,
The man, his n~sighbor, who has done no wrong,
Thisf.liks, he stsals what gold eAnno, replace,
And, like a coward, dAres not Show his fss,;
A british cur, that sneakS along the track,
Awaits his time then springs upon his back"
This article is intended for a general ap-
plication, but ain the course Of human
events It may become necessary for US to
inform the public that it applies, With great
force, to one or two Of the aeeurs,d wretches