Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-05-31

Is a system Ct bribery and corruption
To offer reward, as an inducement 10 do
what ought TO be done, or TO threaten PEN
atty to defer from doing what ought not 10
be done, is TO blind the eyes TO right, justice
and goodness. Such bargains as are in The
Old Testament represented 10 have been
made between the Lord and those who re-
present themselves 10 have been his favor
ites-a privileged class in the great family
10 whom he is asserted TO have been alto
j gelher parlial-tends TO corrupt and deprave
beyond all calculation & conception. One
of these for yalue-rec eived transactions will
be found recorded 10 the 28lh chapter of
Genesis, ooh, 2lst, 22d verses, where ia
cob says if The Lord will do thus and SO,
then he Jacob will do thus and so. Twill
not stop here 10 examine this bargain at
length, in its various aspects - TO speak of
the consideration in the contract, on the
part OF Jacob, viz: tenth TO be paid TO the
Lord-to inquire what was done with this
1.-THE and who was benefited BY it, &c. 1t
is only mentioned here as single instance
of the bribery and bargaining, which the
religion then and now popular is SO full OF.
A religion which, as have said before, goes
in proportion as the money is furnished or
is held oul in prospect. Ii is TO be under
stood that deny the identity of this relig
ion with the principles and practices al
trbuted 10 Jesus Christ. Money was not
the thing with him. He went about doing
good, without where TO lay his head. His
| life exhibits practical benevolence. He
asked for no reward, and inflicted no pun
ishmenr. He would have no revenge taken
on his enemies. Love and forgiveness are
the leading characteristics of his life, as ex-
( hibiIed 10 the practices recorded Of hin.
And whether he had exhibited them or not,
and whatever may be found in the record of
him Inconsistent with IEem, they are the
true philosophy Of human regeneration, sub
versive Of rewards and punishmenls, wher
ever, and by wlousoeYer the later may be
taught. forgiveness and punishment are
perfect anlagonisIns.
have pronounced The system of rewards
and punshments TO be practical bribery and
corruption. Whatever act is performed 10
obtain reward or 10 escape punishment is
performed without regard TO the act being
| right or wrong in itself. Hence evil may
be done that good may come. And which
is the same thing, the means are justified by
the ends. The streams that have gone forth
from this great, corrupt fountain, are innu-
merable and unfathomabe. The question
is, not what is right or what is wrong, but
what will keep the bears off, what will keep
The hang man off and what will keep the
devil off - what will procure happiness
what will save from hell and carry to heav-
en-. Not, what is honesty, humanity, fidel-
! iIy-but what are the consequences. Ii is
plain TO see that whoever is thus led is as
liable TO so wrong as right. II doing evil
will procure the good, that is The thing TO
] be done. If heaven is The reward for put
j ling on dislgured lace one day in seven,
saying synagogue prayers, and paying the
priest for performing rites and ceremonies;
! and if grinding the face of The poor and rob
bing neighbors during ihsolher six days is
necessary TO get the means 10 do il, then
this is the thing TO be done. La flight
| from the punishment Of an eternal hell
Of fire and birthstone, why should not
II
4 the bruised and wounded be left in The ditch,
humanity be run over rough shod, and truth
and equity be trampled down in the
streets2
1 The popular religion the world is now so
much filled with exhibits such results as
might be expected from a system based on
rewards and punishments. Its devolees are
the most mercenary beings under heaven
Money is everything with them. Human
life and the present good Of the human fam
lily are small things for them 10 sacrifice
Great Britain stands al the head in the pro-
fession Of this religion. And this same
Great Britain is The greatest Of all whole
sale pirates now preying upon the human
race. Profess what they may, those VINO
are governed oY rewards and punishments
can, in the nature of the case, have NO nigh
er standard of right and wrong, practically,
than TO know what means will accomplish
their ends. The system extends through
out church and state, and cerrupis both alike
Fire and birthstone, gulistines, gibbels,
prisons, cannons, swords and bayonets, are
all one thing. They do mol redeem The
world from sin. They only corrupt and de-
praye il. Like begels like. Violence be-
gets violence. Corruption begets corruption.
, | A. e,,ro nansn nrodncoS of H.. .o.,,.-I