Thad. Stevens's Conscience [pp. 466-470]

THIAD. STEVENS'S CONSCIENCE.
ART. IV.-THAD. STEVENS'S CONSCIENCE-THE RUMP PARLIA MENT.
CONSCIENCES, in the general, are vague, indeterminate, ilusory, half-developed, capricious and undefinable things. To
catch, cage, and analyze a conscience, would be as difficult a
task as to arrest, confine, and analyze the electric spark. We
have observed, however, that the most ordinary phenomenon
of a good, sound, healthy conscience, is, that it begets a feeling
of elation, self-approval, self-appreciation and happiness when
we have succeeded in our undertakings, and on the other hand
depresses our spirits, destroys our self-respect, makes us look
mean and sheepish, and feel penitent and remorseful, when we
have failed in those undertakings, without the slightest regard,
in either case, to the objects or ends in view. Much has b)een
said, and with some truth, of a clean shirt and sound stomach,
as promiotives of cheerful spirits and a clear conscience. A
dyspeptic usually looks and feels mean and melancholy; and
his conscience is reproachful in consequence of the infirmity
of his stomach. So a man in a dirty shirt, with a long beard,
uncombed hair, and unbrushed clothes, hat and boots, is uneasy, uncomfortable, and a little conscience-smitten-unless lihe
has just returned a large winner from a faro bank. In that
case, no matter what the condition of his stomach, or his clothing, he is gay as a lark, self-appreciative, and self-approving,
and has a clear, clean conscience, that will cheer him up through
life-or at least until he spends or loses his winnings. Until
that time, too, he will be (seemingly at least) respected and
admired by his associates; and few men care for public opin ion outside of their ordinary associations. The man who has
lost his money last night, and half ruined himself, in vain
moves his toilet, has his boots blacked, his hat and clothes
brushed, washes his face, changes his linen, shaves, and combs
his head. Not "all the means and appliances to boot," not
brandy, not "Hock and soda water," will soothe the upbraid ings of his guilty conscience. He is self-reproachful, miserable,
penitent, cowed, despises himself, and is despised by his ac qaintances; not because he gambled, but because he was un lucky. Oh conscience, what a miserable jade thou art I You
follow and fawn on, approve and flatter the rich, powerful and
fortunate, and apply the scorpion's lash of remorse and misery
to the weak, the poor, and unfortunate. Some men have con tinually unquiet consciences merely because they are afflicted
with bilious temperaments; others are always cheerful, happy,
and elate, for no other reason that we can discern, except that
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