The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1867-07-13
For The Cecil Wing.

L OF Inc tecll WING
would not unnecessariI4 prolong the dis
cussion growing out OF the recent strawberry
festival, but the positions laid down in the
editorial in last weeks Wing, are so at vari.
ance with the principles that govern in such
cases the consistent members of the religious
society to which the writer belongs. that he
should like the liberty of few lines in ex-
PLANTATION.
1t is stated that " whatever it is morally
right for man to raise, it is morally right
for him TO sell, and he is in no wise respon-
slble for the improper use of it ailerward.
Or to put it as applicable to the case under
consideration, whatever a man raises for le-
climate purposes, ii is morally right for him
to sell for any purpose whatever, however
Legitimate he may know that purpose to be !;
and that he who refuses to do this for con
science sake must, to he consistent, refuse
to sell anything, in good faith for proper
uses, if there is any possibility of the goods
sold ever being used in n way he could not
approve.
Now it is perfectly Legitimate for drug.
gist to sell medicines, but it would hardly
be considered so to sell "A bottle of strych
nine, if by some means he knew the pur
chaser intented to poison Il family with the
contents. 1t is altogether proper to sell ra
zors Tor people to shave themselves with, bnt
it would be hardly allowable to sell one to
\ man knowing that he was buying it TO use
in putting an end to his own existence. In
such a case, though the seller might argue
to lms IL that he was merely pursuing his
lawful calling, he would probably be unable
to escape the consciousness OF having con.
trbntcd to some extent to the pcrpetralion
Of these crimes, and of having failed to do
his part to prevent them.
The millions OF our citizens engaged in
trading and mechanical pursuits, need all
the grain, fruit, Ne, that we farmers are
able to produce, and to the writer it is one
OF the pleasant reflections connected with n
farmer 8 life, that his energies are directed
to producing that which supplies the sub
stantial needs of the community. When
our crops are produced. we Friends, as we'll
as other people, must sell them to the deal
erS IN such articles, and place them in the
usual channels to reach the general classes
OF consumers.
But, believing rs we do, that " a man who
is member Of society can do, properly,
only that which advances the welfare and
adds to the good Of his fellow man." we
would not knowingly sell them for a purpose
we believed to be destructive of these ends.
believing war to be inconsistent with the
prccepts Of the christian religion, we would
not sell orr grain to n dealer we knew to be
bnying for army purposes. TO do so would
be virtually saying to the soldiers, - GU 90
and do the lighting, and we will furnish the
supplies y and would bring us in direct con
tact with, and countenance and support OF,
that which we believed to be wrong. But
even in time Of war, the great majority of
consumers are still engaged in peaceful pur.
suits, and therefore ust AS we would not
withhold letter from the mails, for fear il
might furnish occasion for some thieling
clerk to steal it, so we would not except as
Just stated, Withhold our produce from the
usual channels by which it reaches the con.
sumers because some of it might be even.
tually purchased for army use.
1t is Il matter for regret that so many neo
pie can so easily reconcile many OF their
business transactions, with whatever feelings
they may have Of responsibility towards the
community in which they live, and seem TO
invent for themselves a code of business
morality to drown the voice of conscience
and to thrust aside every obstacle that just
regard for its dictates would sometimes in.
terpose in the way Of an easy and rapid ac.
culnu.ation OF wealth. Men can find argu.
ments to justify themselves in standing be.
hlnd bar and dealing out, day and night,
that which they cannot but know is reducing
o.beggary the families and destroying the
health and happiness OF the bodies and souls
OF n.any OF their customers: Others even.
who would hardly be seen in one of these
shops, and are well aware and free to talk
of the evils produced by them, will yet for
an extra penny, haul their grain to q dis.
iilery which keeps mp its business by sup
plying them. A merchant will listen with
approva! to sermon having for its text.
;, DO unto others ms ye would that the.
>honid do unto van L.. '-,:,,;;,,, o,o o,,I
back TO his counting room, he will not
scruple to use every duplcity which his code
of business morality allows, to - go beyond
and deiraud his brother.'
If on the other hand, men would only
make the secret convictions of their better
moments, the ruling principles OF their ac.
tive life, much that is now tending to retard
and disorganlze society, would give place to
that which would help to build it mp.
A Friend.