The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-03-15
Highest Style Of the Art.

what We desire to inquired if Mr.. Bowen
was bisamist. why should we desire to
be a member of Congress also? If he
had led life that would reudcr his old
age liable to suits by various women for
the possession OF his temporal frame,
what the world recognizes as the out
ward, and visible Bowen, why should he
get in to such conspicuous place for the
exhibition of his penitence as the House
of Representatives: Did he imagine that
it is kind of pillar ofSt Simon? We
should, however, be disposed to leave
Bowen, B. G., to the law and Bowen, N.
c., to legislation; but he appears now in
new character, to which our attention
is called. The present Mrs. Bowen writes
to The newspapers in depreciation Of the
persecution of her bu baud, who is des-
cribed as thoroughly repeutant of the
past, and, let us hope, anxious about the
future. "IIe had been an orphan boy
without relations or friends, had drifted
into the company OF gamblers and pros
titutes, and had lived their life until it
pleased the good God to lift him from
the mire, and stir within him the spirit
of reformation aud publication" 1t is
no discrcdit to person - be au orphan,
unless it is BY his own fault, like the an
fortunate Frenchman who murdered his
father and mother, and then pleaded
orphanage in mitigation Of his sentence;
but there is nothing iu the constitution
Of our country encouraging Que to be an
orphan, bigamist. and a member of
Congress at the same time. We arc iu-
formed, also, that when he last married,
it was with firm resolve to lead tenn
perate, studious aud honorable life. For
months he has adhered to this resolution,
we also read, anG yet he continues to be
prosecuted BY prosecutions, just as if he
had not repented. We exceedingly
regret that Mr.. Bowen had bad start
in the world, and that he has until lately
led a disgraceful life and we rejoice that
he is resolved upon rcformation-even
if, We we're about to say, it costs him
half his wives. But We remember that
it is the plurality Of wives that is the
very thing in question We sincerely
deprecate persecution Of one repeutant.
10 all kindness, we should say, Go,
Bowen, aud sia no more. But don't
90 to Congress. Sit down in some iu-
conspicuous place for while, and grow
in grace and in the knowledge Of mono
gamy, before you appear upon a large
stage of action and 6auut your peui.
tence. 1t is credit to you that you
have left the company Of gamblers and
prostitutes" but it is no recommenda-
tiou to Congress that you were in that
company so recently. Really, Con-
gress is not house Of refuge, nor
reform school, nor Magdalen asylum
for men-however much it may have
that appearance at times.
Let us no: get confused. 1t is still,
] even in this world Of complex relations
and natural selections, better had mar
ried enc woman at time, than to have
married four Simultaneously, and to
have repented of three Of the marriages.
An outraged law will exact Its penalty
one way or another. aud no peniteuec
can altogether stay it. This is an era
of rather soft sympathy for criminals,
and we never feel Ike rebuking it
when the criminal is modest aud is anx-
ious to make neither his sins nor his
,ecantatiou too conspicuous. We must
try, however, to preserve place in the
House of Representatives, for those Of
uuassuming virtues. All cannot have
the advantages of Bowen for making
record so bad that penitence over will
be a recommendation to Congress
Bowen may say, and he doubtless does,
and has right to console himself with
it, that there is more JOY in Heaven
over one re2entart sinner than over
ninety and nine that never went astray.
But Congress is not Heaven. And We
can say to Mr. Bowen, in the present
complication ofhis affairs, as Sergeant
Buzfuz said 70 Mr. Pickwick, "it would
have been more decent in him, more
becsming, in better judgement, and in