Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-07-04

upon the altar of expediency!-- thing in itself
apart from the circumstances of the case. must
doubtless be lamented as an evil One of two
evils clearly, they must choose;--they must con-
sent to the murder Of Jesus, or the Obstruction
OF the nation. Now if the death of one man
would be the salvation Of thousands, could they
bound as they were to prevent all the evils and
do all the goods in their power-hesitate to strike
the blow!-And thus, violate the fundamental law
OF their existence! And all from a regard to the
abstract rights of the Man of Nazareth! Thus
reproved and instructed, they were delivered from
all their scruples. They could hesitate no longer.
They were ready now for any deed of darkness,
which, according to their calculations, might be
less evil than what it was designed to ward off,
They were eager now to dip their hands in the
Saviour's heart s-blood-"Then from that day
forth they took counsel together to put Him to
death. Thus the greatest crime which ever
stained the page Of history-which involved
depth of malignity-a prominence in guilt be-
yond the boast ofcommon sinners, was the result
of sacrificing rectitude to expediency-of choo-
sing what was rekconed the less of two evils, for
the sake of promoting what was rekoned the gen.
eral welfare!
In addressing those who had hand in the
Savlour's crucifiXlon the apostle Peter tried To-
awaken in them a sense of guilt by reminding
them that in that transaction they had given
their sutfrages to a murderer, in preference to
one who was altogether distinguished for His in
trinslc excellence. Superior in integrity and
wisdom--every way eminently holy and just
He was qualified, and therefore entitled, to be-
their ruler. AS such what else could he be
than the Prince of Life-the source ofunspeak-
able, imperishabe benefits? What guilt had
they not incurred in preferng Folly to Wisdom
-Meanness to Magnanimity- slave Of Pass
ion to the soul ofReason---a Murderer 10 Ga
vior But in camoring for the blood of Jesus.
what after ALL had these men done? They had
yielded to the persuasions of their own eccesi-
astcs who to promote the welfare of their
country, had resolved on this murder as the best
eXpedlent they could employ. That was all. And
If In choosing the chief ruler of this republic,
they who recently preferred duelst and an
oppressor to candidate greatly distinguished
for wisdom, integrity and philanthropy, can be
IJ"''iNN' IhCL surely tIG Ilcll whom refer al
dressed ought not to have been blamed for act
ing on the same principles with view to SINH
lar result, Both the one class and the other were
intent on opening the way by the doing of evil
for the coming of good
But why should ecclesiastics thus Join the
Jesults? Whyput themselves under the conduct
of Caiaphas, the High Priest? Any such posi-
ton they must have taken with reuctance---they
occupy it with manifest difficulty and embarrass-
ment. 1t is most unenvable task to attempt
on any ground to defend the practice of evil---the
commission of iniquity For the evils of which
they urge us 10 choose the least, are what are
called moral evils that is sins---volations of the
Law of Rectitude, These they try to persuade
us, loose their intrinsic blame-worthness by be-
ing perpetraed for the benefit of our country
so that very devil, as candidate for the chair
of State, might as opposed to some bigger devil,
be worthy OF our admiration and our suffrages
As he assumes the guise and claims the honors
g of an "angcl of light" why not treat him, not
according to his character, but according to his
profession; and raising him to the place he as
pires after, get all the good we can out of 'the
evil treasures ofhis heart" In this way, "good
, fruit" can be plucked from " corrupt tree "
The deadliest poisons may thus become health
full aliment, and the army of the Messiah may
be greatly strengthened by raw recruits from the
depths fHell. The bare attempt to defend a
ny such positions implies most humatng con-
lession. One must be reduced to great straits
before finding it necessary to summon evil, es.
pecially in devils form, to his assistance. If
] in Gods world he calls for such auxiliaries,
what must we think of the business he is in ?
Men apt to adjust their doctrines to their de-
signs They first become Jesuits in practice
and then learn to defend the doctrines of the
Jesuits