Vice Unmasked; An Essay Being a Consideration of the Influence of Law Upon the Moral Essence of Man, with Other Reflections (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1830 edition. Excerpt: ...compact, no matter what--were for this unconstitutional, in every way unauthorized, and should therefore be held void and of no effect Now, for one, I will make bold to assert that there was never a human mind, which was not of a wonderfully base and anomalous construction, nor wholly debauched of the shallow depths and technical mysteries of the law, that would not revolt at this decision for its gross absurdity and shocking inhumanity For how plainly does it omit to take any, the least, account of circumstances, the special hues and genuine essence of things? While it openly sacrifices human happiness, which is, at last, the sole object of all human institutions, with a pompous despotism and silly parade of insensible learning, on the cold altar of first principles and inflexible justice These first principles, I dare say, are found in a case something like this. Some knavish creature enters upon land which he knmcs is not his, and there wholly without the consent of the owner, perhaps against hia remonstrances, expends his labor in making improvements. These improvements, it may be, are the very reverse of any that might at all suit the views of the owner. Here, then, is open wilful injustice, which there is nothing, whatever, to mitigate. The occupant, in such case, deserves no sort of indulgence; for, with his eyes open, he has cut and carved for himself, If he incur loss, it is nobody's fault tut his own. The real owner of the land must certainly be allowed to be the last man in the world he should look to for anji indemnity or pay for labors which have been not onlj unasked for by him, but actually obtruded upon him. The principle of justice, which would deny to an outrageous usurper like this the least compensation for impertinent...