over its natural barriers, and counteracts many of its naturally good effects by its destruction of surrounding objects. Thus is it with the philanthropy of many of the present age. They have a zeal without knowledge. Prompted by the impulse of feeling, without the exercise of reason, they often resort to means which are altogether incompatible with the ends which they desire to accomplish. We find, therefore, among the many systems of reformation which have been devised in this our day and generation, many to admire and sanction; others, again, which we cannot consistently give assent to, because we conceive them not to be in harmony with reason, truth, and justice.
And first among these, is that species of philanthropy or fanaticism which would take from a man that which, of right, belongs to him, and appropriate it to other purposes, without remunerating him therefor, gaining his consent, or even consulting his wishes. It is to be presumed, that there are but few of the enlightened citizens of our common country, who, if they fully comprehended its ultimate tendency, would subscribe to a species of fanaticism of this nature. Yet do we find a considerable party in the United States, one that is not wanting either in respect of numbers or of talent, that is organized upon this very principle. In all probability, the ground upon which it is based, and the principles involved in its organization, are not fully comprehended by many, perhaps the larger number of those who have identified themselves with this party; but we have reason to believe that this is
