The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1867-04-19

finding themselves lawfully mothers, pre-
fer to devastate with poison or with stee
their womhs rather than bear the discom
forts attached to the privilege of materni
ty, rather than forego the gaities of &
winters balls, parties and plays, or the
pleasure of summers trips and amuse.
ment." To all this l say do mdmus.
1t is the testimony, too, of those who
know, that in proportion aspeople become
indolent or fashionable, the temptation to
produce abortion is increased that in
many circles it is absolutely matter Of
boasting and vanity, to tell the number OF
times they and their friends have been
guilty Of the deed.
The causes of this child-murder are to
be found, often, in ignorance of its guilt,
the ease with which it is done and con-
cealed, the unwillingness to criminate
ones self, the loss of character, the reign
of extravaganza and fashion, and the fear
of child-bed.
As to guilt, | want all to know that in
the sight Of God, it is willful murder.
" The willful killing of human being at
any stage of its exiStance, is murder" 1t
is quenching immortal existence, is de-
stroying what, in few months or weeks.
would bear Gods image, and if any one
thinks she can do it without the guilt of
murder, she is greatly mistaken. The
very remembrance of this guilt has often
upset the reason, and by remorse, turned
the doer into madness.
Very false notions prevail on this sub
ject. 1t is thought and said to he safe to
the mother. Anything but that The
shattered constitutions, the pale faces, the
feebleness of future life, not unfrequentlv
tumors and internal diseases, prostration
OF the vital powers, remorse, shame, and
sometimes madness, tell the fearful re-
suits. ''God requireth that which is past
and never more surely than in this case.
1t Is pleaded that the health of the
mother requires this Nonsense. If she
be too feeble TO be a mother, let her not
marry but let her not dishonor and pro-
fame the the holy name of wife by Sinking
her responsibilities. But, as matter OF
fact, the ftirest, healthiest, happiest. most
respected and most useful women that have
ever lived, have been the mothers of large
families. Ii is the law of nature. Let
my reader look around Oh the families of
his acquaintance and see if it be not 50.
The bible everywhere holds up the thought
that Il great family is a special blessing.
And if there be a beautiful sight III the
world, it is the true mother surrounded bv
4 large family of children
1t is thought that the parents who have
a small family, have healthier children.
more than doubt it. have no belief in
:. AL e :.
delicate organizations that the writers. the
poets, the inventors, the gcniuseS of the
generation often comes. We cannot at
ford to lose them. The woman who, at
this day, feels that to be the mother of
living children lis the first. highest. and
in earlier times, almost universal lot. -" is
worthy OF all admiration and praise and
the woman who, to save herself from in
convenience or pam, or to be able to keep
along with the giddy fashionable one, will
deliberately destroy the child, which in a
few months would be be dearcr than her
own life, deserves exec:ation. How can
1t be that she will murder unborn, what if
born, and taken from her 10y death, she
would mourn with the sorrow of Rachel !
As TO danger-Tandieu reports that '.in
thirty-tour cases of criminal abortion.
where their history was known, twenty
two were followed, as a consequence, by
death, and twelve were not. In fifteen
cases necessarily induced by physicians.
not one was fatal.
Is 1t not Il shame to womanhood that
physicians have to testify that they are
appealed to almost constantly by married
women, to aid them to abortionate, anG
that III proportion to numbers who thu.
appeal, and whose circumstances are
alike, married women vastly predominant
over the unmarried
The practice is a direct war against hu
man society, the best good of country
against the family order, against tn,
health, the peace, the conscience, and TIN
moral well-being of the mother, an,
against a child which would otherwis
have an immortal existence.
Since anastheSla Is able to carry through
childbirth, divesting it of most of lis hor
rors, and every way safe, and which
would earnestly recommend to be used
there is hardly an excuse left.
appeal to our New England women
the daughters of an ancestry who wer
never spotted 10y the blood of innocents
who never stihed the natural longings of
mothers heart, and never quenched lif
immortal for the sake of ease or fashion
and ask them if it is so that they are $
degenerated that they cannot meet the ho
liest positson and duties ever imposed OIL
woman
If it be said that have in any measur
exaggerated the evil and the fashion of th
day, reply, would not advise any on
to challenge further disclosures W
can show that France, with all her athe
ism, that Paris, with all her license, is nc
so guilty in this respect, as is staid Ne,
England, at the present hour. Facts ca
be adduced that will make the ears tinglt
But we don't want to divulge them bl
we do want the womanhood of our day I
nderstand that the thing can be no longC
concealed, that commOnness or tashio
cannot do away with its awful guilt.
is deliberate, cold murder, and if anythin