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predominance of custom, that the law is seldom put in execution and this in fact will be always the case, while men of influence in elevated stations, lead the way, in the violation of the laws. Their example, like a torrent, sweeps away all before it; and the law seems to be silently repealed, by the rank, the character and the number of the offenders.

Let the pretensions of a person to virtue be what they may, if he conducts himself in any manner injurious to his country, and forbidden by the laws, he is at best but a pretender to the character of a good citizen. His actions speak louder than his words, and mark him the decided enemy of social order and public happiness. "By their fruit you shall know them"-is not less true, when applied to detect the pretender in patriotism, than the hypocrite in religion. The man who, by his immoral practices, is constantly infringing the laws of order, and spreading confusion through the moral world, contributes his utmost efforts to involve every thing in anarchy and ruin; and whatever may be the language of his lips, with his vices he is stabbing his country to the

heart.

I observed, Gentlemen, that some oaths are called' promissory; such are all oaths of office, and some others. This mode of exacting the performance of a trust, by the additional security of an oath, is universally practised by civilized nations; and though by our law the punishment of perjury cannot be inflicted for the violation of such engagement, yet it may be prosecuted as a misdemeanor; and in the sight of God the guilt is equal to the case of perjury, where facts are misrepresented or concealed. In the eye of reason there can be no difference, between a person's swearing to a fact that never existed, and swearing that he will perform a particular act, and willfully omitting it; or swearing that he will not perform a particular act, and afterwards deliberately doing it. There are doubtless different degrees of malignity attending the crime of perjury, as well as all other crimes. Yet I cannot avoid

remarking that perjury in the case of violated promises, may be, and frequently is, a more aggravated and detestable crime than even swearing to a direct falshood, because it is accompanied with a perfidious breach of trust. In the case of marriage, for example, which is generally understood to be a contract, fortified with the solemnities of an oath, scarcely any guilt can exceed the violation of it. It is a cruel breach of trust, coupled with perjury; and tends directly to destroy the peace of families, and to tear up the very foundation of society. Contracts and oaths must have some meaning. But if the inconvenience of executing them, or mere whim and pleasure, be admitted as an excuse for the breach of them, then farewell, Gentlemen, to all honour and honesty. If one of the parties be discharged, the other cannot remain bound. The consequence of both parties being released from obligations, whenever either party shall feel, or fancy he feels, an inconvenience from adhering to his contract, must be this-that every person will be at liberty to rescind his solemn compact whenever he pleases. A doctrine pregnant with the most horrid confusion, and the entire subversion of society.

The true criterion or standard of any action whatever is this-What would be the result to society if every other person did the same thing? In this scale a man may weigh his actions, with the utmost nicety-by this rule he may measure the innocence or criminality of every step he takes in life. Suppose, for example, all persons were to abandon themselves to adulterous courses; or suppose an universal and unrestrained intercourse to take place between the sexes: in either of these cases, such an universal depravity of morals would ensue, as must utterly destroy society.

Every single act therefore, comprized in either of these supposed cases, must be unlawful. If one man has a right to be his own avenger, every other person must have the same right. But if all men were to execute their own revenge, desolation, rapine and murder would quickly overspread the land. Every single act

of revenge, therefore, is utterly repugnant to social obligation.

From the consequences of any action being injurious to the public welfare, if universally practised, we infer, that every single action of the same kind or description, is criminal. The rule will hold good when applied to lying, stealing, drunkenness, and every other vice. For if one man has a right to steal, to tell a lye, to get drunk, or to violate his solemn promises as often as he pleases, so has every other man. But if all men were to give in to these practices, society must be annihilated; for it could not possibly exist, if it were entirely composed of such infamous wretches. In the one case there would be no such thing as property-in the other no truth, or dependence of one man upon the words of another; and in the third, viz. a society composed of drunkards, universal wretchedness must be the inevi-table consequence.

From these observations, Gentlemen, we cannot but perceive the destructive tendency of vice, in its very nature; and how utterly incompatible it is, with the interests of society. It is at the same time agreeable to remark, the coincidence, the perfect harmony, between the precepts of heaven, and the necessary consequences of human actions.

The laws of God forbid the indulgence of our passions only in such cases, where their gratification would be injurious to ourselves or our neighbours, and enjoin the performance of all those duties, that are calculated to improve the heart, or promote the welfare of others. The Christian religion is in fact the surest basis of morality, and consequently, of order and good govern

ment.

Of this heaven-born religion it is the peculiar characteristic, that while obedience to its commands constitutes the highest felicity of the individual, the practice of its benevolent precepts, is, at the same time, the firmest foundation of social happiness, and public prosperity. In the elegant language of holy writ," her ways

are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace," even in this world. Righteousness exalts a nation; (that is, makes it flourish) but sin is a reproach to a people ;" and by slow, but sure steps, under any form of government, inevitably leads to national misery and destruction.

No. III.

EXTRACTS FROM A CHARGE ON PATRIOTISM.

[DELIVERED BEFORE THE GRAND

JURY IN NOR

THAMPTON COUNTY, APRIL 1799.]

IT cannot then be denied, that the public prosperity of our land, depends upon the virtue of the people, and that the practice of vice, like a cancer in the natural body, will at last extend itself to the vitals of the country, and cut off our national existence. If this be the case, we may safely assert, that no man loves his country who lives in the habitual violation of any rule in her moral code; because by so doing he contributes › his aid to accomplish her destruction. He may call himself a federalist or an anti-federalist—a republican or a democrat-or whatever else he pleases; it is certain, he is but a pretender to the character of a patriot. It is impossible he can love his country, whose life and actions are hostile to her true interests. Party and personal prejudices he may possess in abundance, which, to the world, and perhaps to himself, he may cover with the mantle of zeal for the public good. But the love of his country is a stranger to his heart. Examine for a moment, Gentlemen, the force of this observation, by your own experience in private life. Suppose one of your neighbours, to profess a regard and affection for

you, and at the same time to make a practice of thwarting your views, and defeating the plans you had laid to promote your happiness or your interest. There is no doubt you would despise his professions, and call him a hypocrite. Nor can he be pronounced any thing better, who tells you he loves his country, and is at the same time habitually infringing those laws, on which her salvation and prosperity essentially depend. Away with such patriotism! It is "Hail Master!" with the lips, and at the same instant a stab to the heart. I call that man a disorganizer, let his political principles be what they may, who is spreading through the moral world, the seeds of disorder and vice, and thereby sapping the foundation of all government. Our country may well expostulate with the immoral man in language used of old time-" If you love me you will keep my commandments-Ye are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you." In short, Gentlemen, as in Christianity, so it is in patriotism-Obedience is the unerring criterion, the sole decisive mark of affection. If you really love your country you will observe her laws, and her statutes, which are framed to promote and to perpetuate her welfare. Believe, and forgive me—a gambling, lying, drunken or swearing patriot, is as great a contradiction as a whoring, swearing or drunken Christian; though in the practical estimation of the two characters, mankind have made a wide difference. The hypocritical pretensions of the patriot are too often successfully played off, while those of the pretended Christian are sure to exclude him from the character. When we urge the necessity of supporting government by means of religion, something more is expected than a cold assent to its principles and its doctrines.

Heu. Virtus laudatur et alget.*

If the public institutions, established for the purpose of impressing the precepts of religion, are deserted and neglected, it is the height of folly to expect government Probitas-Juvenal.