Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from A Lecture Delivered Before the Mercantile Library Company of Philadelphia, November 1, 1839
Fact. Nay, it is of such authoritative and universal power, that human laws and human conventions could not, if they would, avoid its application. It is an essen tial, inseparable part of justice itself, especially in its vindictive exercise, so that the reproach and other penalties of guilt, never fail to reach, visibly, beyond the offender, and fall in some measure upon his off spring. But the principle just stated extends much far ther than the 'mere terms employed would seem to im port; and this more extended in?uence it is that we have chie?y had in View, in the stress which has been laid upon the title and character of the institution in question, for, happily too, it has a compensatory opera tion.' To make this more distinct and intelligible, let us suppose that we have amongst us an eminent and a successful merchant, standing at the very head of his class, his counting-house filled with youth preparing themselves to pursue the same occupation. Their first ambition is to be like him. His precepts are their law; his example their model and guide; his authority su preme'. What he countenances, they deem to be good; what he frowns upon, they hold to be bad. Nor does this in?uence here cease, though here it is undoubtedly greatest. The beginners of a class or occupation look Up to those who are distinguished 'in the same line of life: the young look up to their elders; inferiors to their superiors; and habitually, incessantly, are deriving from them lessons, for good or for evil. The attraction, then.
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