Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-02-27

ter 2nd we have these njunclions eSubmit vou,seye
10 every ordinance of man for the Lords sake whetbe
IL be TO the king, as supreme; or by governors al
unto them that are sent by him for the punishment
OF evi!-doers, and for the praise of them that do we'll
mere are some other passages of similar appearance
but these sufficient.
These declarations of Holy Writ have meanipp
and out of this meaning they cannot be oued By deis
tcai sarcasm It'll not to be supposed by tie writer
nat mat meaning is what IS commonly understood BY
the termJur divine claims. That is the writer does
not oeleve, that they imply, that the citizens or sub
ects, under all circumstances are to use towards
rulers 'passive obedience and non resistancen Auat
tenFe reading OF the history of the providence of God
toward the Jews in the Old Testament, of the 82nd
Psalm and of the end Chapter of LIST Peter will con
vince any candid mind, that such is not their import,
'od is not confined 10 any particular act of means
IN punishng wicked rulers. lie often Furnishes wick
cd people by wicked rulers, and wicked rulers by the
people consisting both of the righteous and ibe
wicked. Ii the rulers are unjust and criminal nm.
faithful TO laws which lie approves and TO the peope
he sometimes lays his own hand directly upon them
sometimes uses the people themselves, and sometimes
foreign nations TO chastise thcm But does not al
ways follow, when the people fall out with the RI
iers, and make them suffer, that in respect 10 the
people, The rulers have been to blame, or that the
people are innocent The rulers may have offended
God, though they may have done nothing, TO which
The people could, in reason, take violent executions
But God may subserve his purposes BY reuder
ing Just retrlbutIon TO the Individual and through
the peoples own choice, in that which they
tahe 10 be measure oil relief, bring about crcunl-
stances severely TO chaste them for their incuities
The history Of the Jews furnishes examples OF this gor,
France had reason to complain of her ereign she
furnishes at least example of dreadful mistake in
the choice OF her remedy The writer docs not itnag inc
! that Louis Capet more criminal than the
People of France. Such seems 10 have been the
Judgment of God. Through their own acts he
severely punished both is denied by this writer
at least tina; Chief Magistrate has SO erred as n
give the cation some reasons complain Except Tie
Immortal w ashingon, which of our presidents has not
1t may be, that God whose superntendance of lie gov
ernnents OF nations, is denied, may be ripennr ?
tram OF circumstances, which may suon be developed
| IN events, which may finally convince US as nation
that we are dependant upon him.
but these passages OF scripture have some meaning
ihey 90 not mean, that hereditary monarchy is tie
only government which God autlorscs They do in
deed, mean, that God authorizes this, but not cxcu
sively. They mean that God authorizes every form
oil government 1t is not the form, that peases or dis
pleases God. 1t is the manner of lis oueration The
correspondence want of CORES pondence of thai
operation with his moral law. Different phrascoc;ry j.
employed, if with the view to take IN every form
OF government. Fit is by the Sovereign OF the Universe
that l>iDgs reign and decree Justice, there can be no
thing immoral iii that form OF government in which :
!.Ing pesdes. Again, the powers that be are orLaia
ed OF God He that fesseth the power, resisteth The
ordnance OF God. These are general expressions
: winch take IN any political power whatcvgr and
IN whatever way il may emanate The mere
c!Fcums!ance Of the powers being elective anc
aud sprngIns, not Indirectly and remotely ii:
immediately from tie people, has Influence on this
matter. John Quincy Adams could as soon have beer
made President OF these states without the ope ay
providence of God, The same John Quincy Adam,
can reach forth his hand and pluck the from hi
sphere This does not imply that God approves Or tina
lac dSapproYes the character Of the man. There Is nc
ground to believe, that of blood, unitarian
or deIst stand well in the divine Estimation Blu
either may subscrve the Divine purposes, whatevc,
these purposes may be. and when these purposes shall
have been subseved, the sovereign Of the Universe
will lay then aside as lie did Napoleon
But the decision OF the scripture, is sufficient thai
The powers that be, ordained of God Gov Gi,es
may take tins to relate, either to the form of govern
meni. or TO the who administer il as he likes be ST.
IT will amount Ia the thing. The form of gov
eminent IS nothing without a,eD's. To suppose thai
GOD appoints and nspecs written or precedcDtal
s'utions, and overlooks the rulers and ruled who
uiate and are regulated by them, is notion which
deist may, but christian cannot adopt.
But iuither, rulers are lot only appointed OF God
nm' upon them by HIM peculiar honour is bestowed
iein'esis them with something, that makes their
III some way representative Of himself. In iusra.
Ton OF this proposition The writer will suppose case
not hkeiY to be verified indeed but it will ansrye
Just as wei as IT 1t were. The writer will suppose
That John Quincy Adams thrown out the Presiden-
cy, moves 80 reside in Virginia as a private man MIR
adams IS accused of murder. The court aud Iur,
under Inc influence of violent prejudice against The
man. Without any satisfactory evidence, condemn hin
10 be hanged Before the day of execution some be
neVoent individuals ascertain his innocence to Ger.
tam y. The evidence OF his innocence is drawn IL,
and petition for his repricYe, signed, and sent OF
10 Tie Governor Mr. Giles himself Mr.kiies is full,
convinced OF the innocence of Mr.. Adams but h
las the man, whose practical movements he has 81
much dIsiIked, now in lis power. Revenge is sweet
lie shuts out Justice and mercy lie refuses the re
prieve, and orders the execution. II is done. TIL,
"rIeT thinks power Of this sort, in some degree a
least, resembles that of the great Judge of all tlr
Earth, before whom the writer and Gov. Giles vii
one DAY have TO appear that they may learn whether
repTVc viii be extended 10 them from the Just SEN
tence Of eternal death which is already denounced OF
every nDPentent sinner IL said, yc arc GOIs.p
II IS not aFprehend6d that the term damuation re
laes 10 The eternal state of those that resist Sic power
but theTeis strong meaning in lie expression, tina
rulers arc The ministers of God, and that government
IS the ordnance OF God In so far as is uniustiiab
teaIsied That resistance certainly incus The Diyin
d'srIcasure And no rnan the wriler thinks, can en-
tcI ino Hca7eD unless this pleasure is removed
ine threats Of Divine vengeance on wicked rulers,
PROOF enough, that they ameuable TO God for villa
they 90 as fuIers The writer does not see how th
nu'iuuai standing in relation TO others. in respec
TO tie acts done, words