The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-08-08
ron rss viaeIsIAs--No. 4.
:. Ecce iierum crispinus in--'JprsHnl.
a 6t,o last toord, ph Rutiedge.

How lust and eloquent the remark, that
the evil which men do in their lisesremsiiI
s,ehind them a perpetual lhemesof detrse-
ton, whist the good which they perform IS
of Inferred with their bones y al thu Jus
.ziee of this bitter reflection oa "poor iu-
man q sture," no Individual case, am per.
.suaded, in the" tide Of tines presents, to
the contemplation of the generous mind, n
suorP striking and mo,rnful exempliieation
than the cruel aud undislnguisfing fate ol
Tnm Paine. tnmindful of The precious
and disiniercsied services rendered 10 A
snerica ia "kcr hour Of utmost need" by
this much injured name, regardless of his
noble philanihropic efforts 10 snhscrye the
political interests Of man, in every cline,
many OF my cuuntrs men, and say il with
shame aud sorrow, whilst they make but
feint, ifany, Acknowledgements OF bis signal
merit N these respects, continue, ever and
anon, with unabaiing sirlllence, TO fulmi-
nate fhei anaitemas against his entire cha
ractcr, because OF the unfortunate religious
Opinions which, in an hour Of the strangest
,nfatnaton, he most inprudently and inglo.
fiously promulged 10 the world. No man
more heartily denonnces, than | do, the
impious, anii-christian speculations con.
tanned in the +" Age Of Reason"--no man is
more sensible Of the pernieious fepdencies
with which ali such disquisitionsare fraught,
and is more ready 10 admit their just ex-
posure to the spiritual censures of christen-
dom, yet cannot comprehend the justice
orpoliey OF confounding, in an indiscrimi-
nate censrre, the evil and meritorious acts
ofindiyiduals with all my reverence for
our holy religion, cannot perceive where
10 consists the Woprety Of withholding
from the +" Rights OF Manu. purely politi-
cal treatise, whose every page IS fraught
with treasures more precious than those ef
Ophir, the need OF praise to which il is
clearly entitled, because of the iheoretic
examinations of the +" Age of Rcason.n---
Render unto Caesar, the things that are
C9sar's !" is the divine precept Of the Mes
siah and the dictate Of justice Did this
unjust treatment OF Painc's memory pro-
coed alone from the genuine disciples Of
Christ, should find no difficulty in placing
II TO the credit Of an honest, though unrc-
neciIng, indignation but when | behold
the pariizans OF arbitrary government, AS
well occult as aPowed, destitute, in all pro-
liability, ofany red concern for the interests
OF christianity, attempting to undermine
blythe most egregious hypercrtical cant,
The well-earned political reputation of the
most desout and Intrepid apostle Of human
liberty that ever enlisted under the holy
oanners of political emancipation, to adj
vance their own sinister views, and cast
ciscredlt on the nohlest principles, my
gratitude 10 the author Of "Common
Sehse"---rny love oflustice and fair dealing,
and ahliorrence OF deceit, in whatsoever
shape, and by whomsoeyer practised,
prompt me TO pour out my excavations in
strong and bitter tide. | can make allow,
anees Tor the astonishing results ofreligious
enthusiasm, but can give no quarter To the
drceitful aud insidinus Vaccinations OF
crafty, Jesuitical politicians. Mr.. John Q.
Adanls, with that unfeeling diplomatic
adroiiness Of which his parizans delight to
boast, aware olthe great and deserved un-
popularity of Paine's religious writings
most unwortllily attempts, ~ his reply Ia
General Smyih, 10 render that circumstance
tributary to his own Justification for having
assaulted the Rights Of Man" Calculating
on the force Unpopular religious prejudices
ne dared to vent his political spleen against
Paine, by denounciug, as "ioorse than
ieorihtess, work which is known to hav,
received the sanction of a Franklin and ;
Jefferson which the democratic party O
ihis country nave ever recognised as oriho
dox and which America, with csmmen.
dahlc pride, gave 10 Europe, at the mos
interesting and decisive luncture in III,
worlds history, AS some return for tn,
Transatlantic literary treasures which hav,
heen 80 iayishinsly poured into our l,p.--
But censurable and insidous as hi,
course Is, admit il discovers refined 10
hey aud profound acquaintance with III,
human heart" II grieves me to see Rut
ledge, whom, notwithstanding the yer,
Questionable shape in which he is disp,ay,
ing himself before the public, | suspect /,
De, al notion, man of liberal principles
apparently conntcnancing the hypercriilca
ceoud@t OF Mr.. Adams, by declaring hi
own Impression, that the irreigious ans
anarchicai excesses of the French revolu
Ton furnish tho hest commentary on the DO
hueai principles incudcated ia the "Right,
OF Man" Nothing can be more unfoundec
and unjust than such suggestion. Rut
ledge might, with equal prepr;ety. h,y,
Senonnced the reforming energy Of Martin
Luther aud his coadjutors, because of III,
prosecuting Intolerance aud civil broils
which stained the annals, of the reformed
reigion, through long tract of ages. afte,
,he emancipation Of Europe from the gal
LOG spiritual bondage Of The Roman HE
farehy. He might with equal justice hav,
sxeerated the memofy and martyidom o
Emmett, the failure of whose devote,
endeaysrs to ameliorate the condition o
Ireland, served only, as is well known. Il
eexasperate her wretchrdness By impariin:
increased virmence to the prosecuting hat,
81 her resnorseiess oppressors. The fac
-, At the era Of the revolution, rrenchmer
1aa become SO entirely debased by ages O.