Rhode Island American And Providence Gazette

IT IS MORE BLESSED to GIVE than to CENSURE.

—The editor of the National Gazette, appears to be more precise than benevolent, in his estimate of charitable acts. Thus he doubts whether Jos. Lancaster ought to be relieved from his distress, because Joseph expressed himself too warmly against those he conceived had injured his family. The appropriation of five hundred dollars to the same individual by the city Council, he considers a misapplication of the public money, though public instruction is indebted to no man more than to Mr Lancaster. Again he regards the subscription got up for the orphan children of Mrs Newman, who was killed by Johnson, as wholly improper, because the deceased had lived on improper terms with her murderer. Here it strikes us, he makes haste to condemn. The act of the improper connexion is only supported by the testimony of the murderer himself, who, of course, would desire to wreath himself as far as possible from public indignation, and it cannot be supposed he would feel any more compunction at stabbing Mrs Newman's character than he did at shooting her person. The family of Mrs N. is said to be respectable, Is it not enough that they suffer the misfortune that has fallen on them, without the press adding a pang by taking for granted the story of Johnson, which after all may be foul calumny. It appears that Mrs N. denied to the last that the child was hers.
The Editor of the Gazette will doubtless disregard this rebuke, though it is well meant on our part, and in many instances we have had occasion to admire the independence with which he has exposed false sensibilities and misdirected acts of charity. But will not a too indiscriminate condemnation of acts, even of mistaken benevolence, tend to chill the kindly feelings of our natures, and give to the selfish the apology they so greedily seize upon to avoid bestowing any thing, lest perchance they should give it to an undeserving object ? Excess of charity is the last evil to which society will be subjected.