Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1841-06-19

acu0ns 10 respect 20 aW, - called morality The
eminent professor of natural 4 civil aW al Geneva
says" That The action 10 be m1rsi ought 10 be
IN itseL exactly conforms be to aH: for a. \ ught
line Is that whose points correspond 10 the rule With.
Out the east deviation. 10 ike manner an action
rigOroHIly spsaklag, cannot be Just good or right
uVless agrees etaetiy and IN erery respect lrllh
the lar.' Was The sale Of these Bonds IN conior-
mi'y to The fundamental law Of our Slater Surely
not. Then would not we be participants IN the
fraudulent transaction, should We acknowledge the
debt, and raise a tax 10 redeem them: | think we
would; and further, We would be giving our Legs
atufe chart blanc to mortgage rur properly With
out regard TO the Constitution. Can our State DO
this without violating the most sacred principles Of
morality Then, 10 suppose that she will do A. -
as degrading as 1t IS ridiculous.
A STATE Ike ours, with a written Constitution, il
not only termed a moral person or body, because
has lis Affairs and interests, deberates and takes re-
solutions 10 common, understands and is susceptible
oil Obligations aud laws but also, because il lives
aud moves, IN SAID Constitution, and IS Incapable Of
violating the will OF the peopl: thus expressed for
the preservation of their liberty and interests.
=. We've II otherwise, she would be capobe Of vio-
latng the very compact by which she was created,
the very rule prescribed for her conduct. Her or
blt IS prescribed by the society who created her; be
y0nd Il she cannot move, and in this, chiefly con-
slsls her morality. IT, however, her agents march
beyond the precincts prescribed by her organic
law, neither she nor The society that created her,
are responsible Tor their acts because their powers
ale specified, and all are supposed to know them-
| Should you hold them responsible IN one instance,
! you set precedent BY which the atiludnarian op'
pressors will subyert the liberties of our country
make our Constitution rope of sand, and their
mercenary harpes, the Banks and Brokers' will
Iced upon the substance OF our people, and obtain
Tor themselves mortgage upon The Just inheritance
| fposterly.
The morality of which have been speaking, may
be termed political morality, and is the true stan
| dard by which this question should be tested. As
many, however, desire to try ii by another will
admit that there IS another kind oil moraIhy-ndl'
viduaI morality or piety, Our peculiar dependence
upon God indicates that we should make his will
the rule OF our conduct and to this end he has pa
ced monitor within our bosoms, gwen US instinct
and reason, by which we are enabled TO form Just
conclusions as 10 his will towards US. The primer
pie Is handsomely alluded TO by Pope:
! "What conscience dictates TO be done, or warns
| me not TO do
This, teach me more than hell to shun that more
| than heaven pursue.
The popular Bard of AYRSHIRE makes the same
aluSlon IN one Io his drges IN view OF death. He
| says:
AT have wandered in the paths, Of life | ought
to Sllun,
As something oudly in my breast demonstrates |
| have done
This principle, however, is pertinent only TO nd.
vlduas, and cannot apply To us as a community, or
| STATE. Gentlemen who have these tender Bddle
| Bond consCences should by all means pay Their
part, but should be careful to do nothing to bind u.s.
who diltr with them, and are equally conscientious
sir, question the sincerity Of many Of those gentle
men who spout so much about moral obigatlon,-
They may teach II in the streets" and at the "cor'
ners, and II may appear very "cumely' YET at last
they may be as the whilened sepuchers They
have learned that we should not have something
Tor ,nothng yet cannot understand why il is, that
| we should moi give something for nothing lis
eerialny bad rule that don't work both ways.
What think you sir, Of those gentlemen; who are
always pratng Of honor and morality aud still,
make 30 preentuns 10 either: linen who are clam.
or0uS 10 pay security debt for The Union Bank
made IN fraud OF their rights and in violation of
their Constitution, and yet, are having executions
held up-gylng deeds IN trust aud mortgages up,n
their property, evidently Tor no other reason than
10 delraud their just credtor,' They may be IL
kened 10 female OF a noble family, who has ost
her brightest Jewel. They care not for themselves
but will sickle Tor the character other lamy--or
State, hoping that IT'S brllancy will I'll the void
| created by their own lmprudeuce or dShonor
admit, that IN the absence OF legal an ludvdu'
al may be under moral obligations For instance.
Should meet you IN the streets Of Columbus where
It would not be convenient TO draw. note, and hor'
row fifty dollars, promising To return il in n few
days aud IN the mean time you should die without
others being informed IN relation to the elton,
OF course should be under no Iega vet a very
strong moral obligation 10 pay the money. This
however IS case that could not possibly apply to
a State-her debts must all be contracted M the
most pubic manner, which goes 10 prove my pre-
vous poslIlon that principles must be varied in
their application according To The particular persons
TO whom they are applied, Baron dc Wofus SAYS.
"Ihe nature .and essence OF these moral persHns,
(Smtes) necessarily differ in many respects from the
nature and essence of physical individuals or the
men Of whom they are composed; their rights and
duties must necessarily suffer in The app.ica ton. a
change suitable 10 the subjects TO which they are
applied"
lcel under no obligation 10 aid in redeemlnn
those Bonds either as citizen Of the State, or
private individual. The State has received no ben
eht nor is she under legal obligations, neither have
|, nor am under moral obligation. Our Legisla
lure Tor that purpose, may lay tax and collect 1t
hut ITS certain tendency viii be 10 lnnovate upon
the sacred principles Of our organic law, aud IN
justly cypress our people. In fact II would pot be
a law, though it might have the form. 1t would be
inconsistent with tic principles OF the Consultation,
and UNJUST in its bearings; and a law, says Bnra'
naqul To be morally binding, should not only be
practicable aud useful, but $50 Just.
There are some who acknowledge this debt as
l,,hli ~.
is not able 10 pay il. differ from tins inion II
is true the State is embarrassed, YET ii it were Just
demand she could and would pay IT,
Tins sir, is dangerous doctrine. 1t is the very
ever by which an attempt wild be made TO move
Congress 10 an assumpuon of the State DebtS.--
Should this be done, we will then have to pay, ac
eording To the ration OF exports, forty millions IN
stead OF seven.
There are too many nearer obligations pressing