Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-10-16
CHARACTER oENioSFs

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Professor WINES delivered his second lee.
ture on the HcbrciD Commonwealth. at Cliuton
Hall, last evening.
Alter glancing at the main topics OF his pre-
ceding lecture, he remarked. that the cons,itu
ton and laws OF Moses could not be fully APP
preclated without reference To the wur-layrs
and usages OF the ancicnts. Noone. at all ac-
qualnted with history could have failed To OBJ
serve how the spirit ot military conquest en-.
tered into oil the civil institutions OF a0cient
times; and the use couquerors made of their
victories, was sufficient To awaken the deepest
horror at the want OF human sympatbics i'm the
then masters OF the world, as we'll as the Gen
eral spirit OF barbarity and cruslty WI ich uni
versally reigned.
The lecturer drew most vivid picture of
the indlgnities and cruelties Inflicted ON coz
quercd kings, queens and princes. delicate f.
males and helpless infancy, and upon some of
the noblest spirits that have adorned The world.
Ambition and revenge, he showed were The
retSHhng principles 10 which, in ancient dv-
naSiies, were sacrificed. not only all the claims
OF humanity, but the more sacred ties of friend.
ship; but these great evils were arrested. or
greatly mltigatcdin the regulations OF the Mo
sale Code
lie gave Just and glowing portrait Of the
great Hebrew Law giver,--especiallv his char
acter as Historian and Chief Magistrate. and
plainly showed that Jehovah raised his chosen
people TO the highest rank among ma tons. not
by miraculous power, as he might have done,
but by the consummate wisdom. bcnevolcnce.
patience and eloquence, of the leader whom
he ordained TO instruct and govern them
Without a miracle TO have attempted at once
TO Introduce in tull, the modern. mild code of
war, would inevitably have defeated the
whole Mosaic policy. The Israelites would
ON Nsrrn ~.t d.
universal and immcmorial usage They would
have found means Ia put their leader out of
the way, despite all his great qualities, and
under the conduct of second golden calf
make their way back 10 Egypt; the nation
would have been swallowed up in the iusi,i-
late gulf of polytheism, the march of civiliza-
ton would have been arrested. and the hopes
OF the race lost in the darkness of night.
III a knowledge OF the war-laws and war
usoges OF antiquity, said the lecturer, be nee
essary TO a just appreciation of the Mosaic In
stitutes. il is certainly not less necessary that
we understand the comparative conditions of
StaDcry among the Jewish people, and in 9TH
cr COntCm pOrdneOus nations. The relation of
master and slave has existed in almost all ma
tions. One half the human family. i'm every
age of the world, have been in bondage, i'm
some form or other.
In forming laws for the II brew Common
wealth, Moses was too wise to ATTEMPT the
i,amcdidie abolition of slavery; but, by modi-
fiCations, restrictions and guarantees Ia so
fenced it about, that ii was disarmcd of most
OF lis evils; while, at blow, he cut up the
slave trade by the rOo;s-making stealing or
selling How bsnga capital offence. From
the laws found in the Jewish polily, on this
subject, IL is abundantly evident, that slavery
among the Jews was very different thing
j from what it is with us, or ever has been i'm
any other nation; aud without the least fear
{ OF contradiction, he did no, hesitate to assert
7 that III no nation, either ancient or modern,
has slavery existed in so mild form. or the
rights and persons OF the slave been guarded
/ with snch jealous care.
ltappears, sail h, fundamental rule in
/ the Divine administration, never to do in am
extraordinary way, that which can BE- equally
/ well effected in AN ordinary; but the bound
less heavens above do not more exceed in
height the low earth ON which we tread, than
do the methods OF the Supreme wisdom tran
scend the utmost Sire tch of human policy
The Almighty Sovereign ovcr-rUlcs even the
cruelty and srliishness of mankind to the fur
f. thcrdnce OF his benevolent dcsi gns. There is
an unseen hand behind all human events that
/ brings them forward, adjusts OF removes them
at pleasure Aud the Professor most elo-
quently showed that the mysterious agency
so arranged the circumstances OF the birth OF
/ Moses-his exposure TO death on the banks of
the Nile--hs adoption into the royal family
his education in the most learned court OF
the age,--thlt he might b, qualified for the
important mission OF leading his chosen peo-
pie from the bondage OF Egypt to the bri .ht
inheritance promised TO their fathers
inspiration apart Moses possess d all the
elements Of a COHSummltc Chicf magistrate;
an intellect OF the highest order. It pcrlec,
mastery OF the civil wis ION Of the age: a iudp.
memt comprehensive in its researches and va
gacious IN is combinations; patriotism that
nothing could cool; a commanding clOqucncu:
q most hearty love of truth; freedom from
selfish ambition; patience of toll and fear
less al danger: u greatness OF soul entirely mn
surpassed As historian he had the con.
stmmatrart OF urifiAg iiHis and srvine much
His poetic talent also was oil The Lith II order
Read lor example the noble l,rico,le in which
he celebrates the passage Of the Rcd $ a. and
the still more powerful one in which be- bless
! Is his countrymen, and bids them lust fare.
well. In reference 10 lis cloqucnce. the mar.
tyr Stephen says, he was mighty in word,
and deeds
Equally certain is it that Mos had con
summate skill 10 plan, and mighty hear, tS
! bar him through. an cnicrpriz tn. most dit
, 1cult perhaps ever under aiken los a man. i
was not IN single act of ll-d.nial. such a.
r'nouHlaS his brilliant prospects of wealth
, and power IN Egypt. that lis greatness Of sou
shona forth. twas the living. moulding rnn
ciPlr Of his liGn. Aud though h. guiding. mr
with much Observation-Disclosures boz heuW mo-
one word OF thauhulucss lp "a million of com
: plaintS-yct his spirit of s.ll-sacriica cniur
: ed to the last nor ablted particle Of So VIC
: or And though lis commanding quaiiii,
. secured for him unoouulrl influence in lh
State yet Hcrer. IN single instance. di o.,
use II for his individual profit OF that oil i
- i8milr.
f Such was Moses the illusrous agent o.
,. Providence for leading Che cics ID tribes IRON
e slavery IN Egypt to t!e enjoyment of AN indie
b. pend MT and constitutional gov rnm.nt IN do,
, lhnd OF Promise. With uunioruly nJbl
K barring hc faced anl conquered every dim
4 cu.ty, and, dying. bsIcathcd to his country
- men body OF laws embracing AN tha gr.a
nr-nLinl-. nI Qualification = n--. D. - - ~.