Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-07-30

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unwesy. Do this. and You will coon dissoveswhe.
.aer the simplicity Of the Raltinorssn creed 10 no,
| csst adapted 10 promote the cause, aud indeed
snether it, uni'y aud diseonnectedrsss with al
'n'nes else, aud moro especially 9TH ION, IL not
me grea, and prominent cause of is woaie sf,i
success with tho People These gentlemen wcala
no' oo'y ur've me eaekto my former habit. which
'ney src :" loni OF txagsera,ng into utter beasti
ness, tntay God iorsive hem. for never c,r; be-
cause, ta'sooih, prefer death 20 what according TO
my eecns OF thought, Is d,shonor,) but they woaiJ
"sr al Others ICON abandoning tha wine cup
1'e>s thcy adopt then notions in morls generally
hey are not eonent With having men duclI.ts but
.ney muM compel them To be dsunkarJs tor. -
ihsy VIII not be s,ts6 d 9TH -hs abandonment of
o"s VICE. me prolific parent Of many Others. but
Cs. .a,e' me rigd Observance Of the Ten
commandments, or drive YOU from tho pa'e Of
s'oriey. Not 80 W genuine wash,n,,oni,ni.r
It's object u s'ngle, simple, defined /, 1o,l, ,o,,,
70 ms consists rsb.au'y and is wisdom. am
[ an not in the hnbt Of deov;c, m. co... n,
malienins the other. No one tina, knox oc
least Of all AZ, stupid enough In tbink nj ,phl
stitu,ioy the Washingtonian pledge in Ibe pl,c.
OF The Gospels. IL was part OF nay earlier eiu.
cation, and iavorte study OF nv first IN ,nh,oJ IN
compare the genius OF Christianity rs tsusht bv
IT'S founder with the systems not only Of popul,r
superstiuon, but Of tho enlightened phiiosanhv
thusht by the wise, with which il iafo n q
and which 1t overthro~p and to trace its influence
ners, when compared With the ferocious AMI un-
sps',ng spirit of natural anipathy and conqrs Z,
which constitutes the history OF anciant Futopr
Its mule and peaceful spirit has struggled ions ih
the innate violence OF human passions IL has throvn
over domestic and social life the "Ius,re and p,r.
tune" OF a thousand charities unknoyo To tho rn n.
Gent schools IL has changed the character of war
tseli by binding the Christian nations ms 4, v,r.
'n'o one great family, recognising common filth
and hope, and governed by n common pubic law
whose authority is ncknow dged by nil ard whose
naN'ms and printpes Of information iuS,ice a,e
derived from that fountain which teaches thar nil
MN are o'ohcrs, and that we SHOULD do unto al.
CTS as we would have others to do unto ours.iye,
u Is noble pursuit TO trace the operation and his
tory OF Christianity, and there ore strange anom6-
iesln bo'h. IL Is not hule singular that the
duel Itself was, IA its original, a religious ia
sutuuon, and that chivalry, now sncered NJ,
dscried, and rdiculed, was cnec the aty tn.
instrument, and the prop Of Christianity itss.C
These are matters, however. foreign to this lat
ter. mean not here to discuss what is called
the code Of honor. do not desire to establish any
rue OF m'ne rs 4 standard FOE others. | have ,x>
pressed my belief in the Christian religion and NV
admiration oil It's Object genius and shirt ip1e
pendent oil my belief IN its truth | niean not In
attempt TO reconcile that belief with nv obedience
to rule OF conduct which is thought TO be Of war
with it's phinest precep,s. Were ali men u,d.r rs
inhuenee and governed 10y its precepts there would
be no wrongs to redress. no insults to resent no
Injuries 10 nvcnge; universal peace and love wound
cover the earth. Were the iaee of wild beasts and
bad men extinct, the trade of hunting and the pric
tiee OF war would cease. | do no, mean 10 involve
myself IN questions of c,sus,ry, or to provoke dis
cu'sion. lmay, however. be permitted to remark,
nat III Christianity becomes universal, the right OF
self defence may compel and will Justify, both ma
ions and individuals. TO resort to force against
those who know no other law, and respect no other
ruie.
am no enemy to religion or its ministers, but
never came under any pledges to them of any Sort
Va the entire subject Of religious belief and WORSHIP
tne avs OF my country leave me entirely Free
when have determined to unite with any church.
shall hold myself bound to renounce whatever IL
iofb'ds. I'LL then, the question OF religion i,
question between me and my Maker. HIS
ofacIes are op-n TO me; all that he is revealed 10
acee,s'b TO the humbtsI and the most unlearned
anu MS ear, thsnks to his mercy, is not closed a
ganst the meanest or the worst of his creatures In
the face of these facts have never felt tho slight
eat inclination 10 choose or to submit to a mortal
mediator, interpreter, inereessor, or judge, where
religion IN concerned. No human hand can wiel
aseinsi me The thunders OF Omnpotencr; TO no lei
'o~ worm IS delegated the power ;otry, or condemn
or punish me for errors Of belief. | have said re
peatediY that meant discuss the code OF hon.
or. There persons out of the church who con.
denim the duel as remnant OF barbatiSm, as at war
alike with positive laws aud rational mOfalty as
the wickedest and least excuslhle mode OF homicide
Tor II always implies deliberaton, malice and re
vense- There are others .ho believe IN. when
..'~''tJg tNhtE Nv Ns INSTITUTIONS or It's manners,
tells or Is unable 10 protect individuals in their
personal rights, tina, they have the right to pro
tect themselves. There are men 10 whom in
suiis and indisnes are more CALLING than bodily
wounds-to whom fame, and feeling, and honor,
are OF infinitely mO,a importance than personal SC
curty-to whom the blow is intoleTable not from
me bodily pain winch accompanies IL, but the hor
Tih'e sense OF insult indignny, aud degradation.
Such men look back TO the chvalric ageJ and in
tt'uuons with that admirins regret which drew
IN A IN M
as that oil MIR Burke, the proud lameut over the 81
ot that system, from whence has sprung the point
OF honor and devotion 10 the sex, the politeness
and galantry OF modern times: "rhe cheap defence
OF nations, the unbought grace of life, TO which
honor was as chastity, and insult like a wound. -
A system under which a1urished such men as SIR
Philip Sydney and the Cnevsler Bayard, a system
ioonded IN loyalty honor, religion and love, whose
light SUI fingers after its is set, gliding yet
tic tales' points ia society with the dying charms
OF ehivaf,c manners, inspiring poetry, and attract
log, even in its ruins the admiration aud the sorrow
oil the young, the generous, and the brave"