THE REPORTER.
"'TIS PLEASANT, THROUGH THE LOOP-HOLES OF RETREAT, TO PEEP AT SUCH A WORLD-- TO SEE THE STIR OF THE GREAT BABEL, AND NOT FEEL THE CROWD."
VOL. I. NO. 47.	WASHINGTON, (PA.) MONDAY, APRIL 17th, 1820.	WHOLE NO. 47.

      MR. EDITOR,

            SIR--It appears that the state of society in West-Middletown and its vicinity is awfully corrupt. The civil officers are either totally incapable of their duty, or shamefully lax in the performance of it. Insomuch that it has become necessary to re-establish the moral society, or inquisitorial club, to suppress the dreadful contagion of vice and immorality that rages in that region. The Examiner of your enlightened town lately issued eight pages of well digested matter, as the first fruits of the lucubrations of this moral tribunal; the whole of which is predicated on the moral turpitude of the place, and the rottenness of the squires and the other gentry who have the good keeping of the morals. I sympathize to the utmost of the nature of the case, with those pure and devout men of this moral fraternity, whose moral souls are daily grieved with the immoralities of the place. Sodom in her day, had but one Sol, but West Middletown has a club of them; may they keep the place from putrefaction.

      As there are few gentlemen of your avocations of life, that have so much leisure as to peruse, much less, to enter into the discussion of so lengthy a document as the frontispiece of this association I shall do myself the honor of presenting you a few remarks on the outline of it, reserving a more minute investigation of its prominent features to another opportunity.

      The communicative organ of this association in the above speech first addresses what he calls "the mere community or non-commissioned citizens of West Middletown and its vicinity, with the words of an apostle, which were spoken to a people of quite another cast, than the state of society which he characterizes. He then devotes two whole columns to the rigid covenanters who do not seem to favor his designs. I did not know that the "mere community of W. M. and its vicinity contained so many of those refractory people, who are supposed to be so inimical to the government and laws of the country--It appears no small grievance, to our worthy friend, that so many of those honest Cameronians should continue firm to the solemn league and covenant, from which his brethren have apostatized. When he takes his final leave of them, at a further period of his address "he leaves them to glory in their shame, and eventually to perish in their satanic opposition to the powers that be."

      He next impeaches the whole community with the crime of moral perjury. This is a serious charge; but on what is it predicated? He maintains that every man is under an obligation either by his own act, or that of his father to promote the execution of his country's laws. And charges to the account of "disloyalty ignorance and impiety" to assert that he is at liberty to neglect the adoption of any consistent measures for the purpose of securing the execution of our wise and salutary laws--That is plainly this, that every man is bound to join the moral society as a consistent measure to carry the laws into execution. That every man who does not become a spy & an informer on the conduct of his neighbour is guilty of moral perjury!! To be innocent then, we must study the laws of the land, and report every man or bring to some tribunal every man who is not living according to the law of the land. As none are exempted but aliens from this moral perjury, you and I ought to take heed that the laws be executed and that all offenders be brought to justice. I have heard it said that there are laws in this country against actual perjury. Now, sir I know a good many of my neighbours and perhaps some of them belonging to the moral society, who solemnly swore to keep up family worship morning and evening, Sabbath day and week day, all their lives, as often as they got their children baptized--and they do not according to their oath; consequently, are guilty of perjury--shall I to ease my conscience report them, to the moral society? I am also informed that some of the members of the moral society gamble a little now and then--that is play a game of backgammon for a few gills of whiskey, or for a fat turkey and that one of them actually supplied his own apprentice with money for the express purpose of gambling for a turkey not very long since even at the elbow of a squire not 100 miles from W. Middletown--That another one won by his gun at a shooting match a very fine turkey on which he dined with double gratitude giving thanks for so good a dinner, and at so cheap a rate. Since reading the above description of moral perjury, I am not altogether satisfied how I should act in these things. I have hitherto observed these things and many similar actions without any other emotions than regret and aversion; I was not in my conscience chargeable with guilt, because I did not report them to the moral society. But if moral perjury consists, in whole, or in part, in not acting the spy and the informer; and if I shall be constrained from conviction to adopt that sentiment, I advise the moral society fraternity to take good heed to their ways; for I can assure them that I will not conceal their immoralities much longer, "with whatsoever measure you meet it shall be measured to you again."

      But I must request you, sir, to advert to the means proposed to be continued in this moral association, for the reformation of morals--they are all comprised in one sentence viz: make the immoral wretches pay well for their immoralities and when in these hard times it costs them more to live immorally than morally, they will become moral as a cheaper way of living. When they pay dear for their sins they will from principles of avarice become morally correct!! And what becomes of the fines? Oh! they are all to be given to some pious clergyman in safe keeping and to be appropriated to the education of young men for the ministry--go on ye profane, the more you sin, the more preachers we shall have. The remedy and the disease will be proportioned--It is true a moiety must go to the informer to reward him for his integrity. But still W. M. can afford so many profane swearers, gamblers and Sabbath-breakers as will afford one gospel minister in the course of a few years, this is divine economy to bring good out of evil--if all the clergyman were like one of whom I lately heard, I think the prospects would not be so very flattering for the education of young men. When the civil officers took him a few fines which he had collected from some sabbath breakers and profane swearers, he requested the officer to deduct his taxes from the amount and pay him the balance of the wages of unrighteousness--but perhaps the good man replaced it again when he got his stipends.

      But sir I have made too large a demand on your patience at one time, I shall conclude this first number by observing, that, much as I admire and endeavor to practice true morality and much as I desire to see it prevail, I cordially disapprove of every thing connected with the moral society plan, believing them to be founded in a mistaken view of the subject and to be subversive of the principles of true religion and civil liberty--I regret that some valuable citizens have been led into them by cunning and designing men. In the sequel I hope to be able to shew that they are a moral evil, at least I am willing to debate the subject with any man and to take it up and discuss it with argument moderation and candour.

CANDIDUS.      

      [We this day publish Candidus No. 1. If any of the members of the Moral Society or others wish to write against Candidus, they are informed that our paper is free for all. We must not be considered as taking part on either side.--EDITOR.]

[The Reporter, 17 April 1820, p. 1.]