Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-07-17
A Little Preaching, by Request.

WE have received from "Down East" a
note from which we make an extract.
The writer says that there is but little
" preaching" in his neighborhood, and that
what there is relates rather to the meta
physical quality of sin than the actual
forms which it usually takes. He there
fore sends for little bit Of preaching the
following:
"My neighbor will not make his part of
his fence sufficiently strong, and his STOCK
will therefore break over and damage
my crops. He heedlessly sets fire so that
the fire spreads and burns up my part OF
the fence He does not build the fence SO
DESTROYED, as he is in duty bound to do !;
vet let's his stock run in the opposite field,
and they are every now and then Tres
passing on my fields. Now the laws pro
vide for a remedy by compelling him, II L
bring suit, to make legal fence and re-
build the part he so carelessly burnt. Now
if compel him, by suit at law, to do his
duty, make an enemy. My property is
not safe, and in the end would probably
be the sufferer considers dollar S worth
of peace and good feeling with my neigh
Dor worth dollar, and dollars worth OF
justice obtained by compulsion, by and
through the law, is generally dearly OBJ
tanned, costing two and often ten to get
one, besides bad feelings, lasting sometimes
through life Is it my duty to bring suit
for right when it will perhaps beget ma
licious retaliation? What course does the
Scripture indicate ?"
Oh, sir, you could not have touched a
topic that would thrill more hearts than
this of fences! How simple the topic
stranger, riding through rural district,
imagine fences are instruments of inius-
tice, engines of oppression, causes of quar-
rel! Fences not only separate estates, but
divide families; they keep out cattle, but
introduce feuds, they protect land, but
squander money in bitter litigations To
fill up the whole subject of fences with
appropriate preaching, would require a
tan discourse. In this particular case, we
do not see that much is left for u.s. The
writer has argued his case, and decided it
rightly. Peace is more precious than gold
among neighbors. Don't go to Eaao, If you
can help 1t.
Some men take medicine for every pinch
and qualm, and are never well. Some
men take law for every little spite or
right, and they never have any comfort
of their lives.
What! Shall man give up his rights
In free country, native-born Ameri-
can, and be afraid to stand up for his
rights?
clearly what are their rights and that
they should see to it that, in the main,
they are respected But even this relates
rot RI tnht re 70
moral and civil standing. Gases may
arise in which one should sacrifice his whole
property, and his very life, rather than
yield a just and important right But in
every such case there must be clear and
unquestionable reason for such outlay.
On the other hand, many of our rights
are not to be selishly maintained-they
are to be waived, yielded, given away, for
the benefit of others. A man who keeps
all his rights for his own use is selfish and
unlovely.
Define and authenticate your rights and
then, if you can make men happier, use
them generously, and even forego them
A mothers whole life is made up of a
series of giving up her rights for the ben
eft of her children. Is any other name
more noble among men than that of
mother?
Yet, there may be cases in which little
Law will be useful to neighborhood.
If some strong and arrogant man domi-
neers until, by yielding to him, he has
come to think that he can have every
thing his own way, it will be good for
him and for the whole neighborhood if
some smart, stiff-necked farmer will teach
him lesson at law.
If there be a mean and selfish nature in
a neighoorhood, who makes it rule to go
just as far aspeople will allow, and to fitch
and grasp whatever he can, it may be a
duty to put up fence of the law around
him.
But, if man is only careless and slow,
and negligent, and yet really does not in
tend any harm, I think that should mend
the fence myself before going to law.
Coax him, talk to him as plainly as you
write to me. 1t is difficult to manage a
man who has the right on his side; but
where all the right is on your side, you
ought to be able to manage any man.
Keep out of law! 1t will squander
more money than it will save. 1t breaks
down more fences than it puts in order.
No better citizens live than lawyers. But,
going to gaaO is next to going to grog-shop.
When man begins, you never know
when he will end.-H ". Beecher, ~ Y.
TnSno3.