The banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1844-1847, 1846-10-28
FOR THE BANNER.)

paper, the falacy Of making "expedien-
cy' a permanent rule, or test of moral
action, where conscience is concerned.
AS in my former number on public OPT
nion, so in this l rely principly on ex-
tracts selected from respectable authori-
ties to sustain my views. The first
present is from the pen of Professor
THoRNwELL, e. himself hos,")
See Charleston Observer, June Sd,
ls43,-Reply to letters in the United
States Catholic Miscellany, addressed to
Rev. JAMES H. THoRNwELL, No. =
ANY system of philosophy or religion,
which sanctions 1uc,uating standard
OF duty, is fatal TO the highest interests of
man. Truth and virtue. the most i'm.
portant objects of sublunary pursuits,
are alike Interchangeable and eternal
Whatever system legitimates error, to
the same extent legitimates crime
whatever blinds the understanding, cor
rupts the heart. The moral nature is
always involved in the same ruin with
the intellectual constitution. The
Priesthood Of Rome, in their mortal op-
position TO the natural measures of
truth and certainty, have virtually
claimed to be the arbiters of truth, it
was not unreasonable to expect that
they should likewise claim 10 be the
Lords of the conscience and the arbiters
OF duty. That is right according to the
philosophy of Rome, which enlarges the
dominion ofthe Priests, or increases the
revenues of the Pope. Power and mo-
ney are the grand and decisive tests of
truth and righteousness, and every prin-
ciple is estimated by Rome according to
It's weight in tho scales Of ambition and
avaricc. 'Expediency,' in its most en-
larged acceptation, is a dangerous test of
moral obligation, (mark this) but when
restricted to the contemplate ends which
the papacy contempla,es; when all the
duties of mankind are measured by the
interest Of wicked corporation, we
may rest assured that the most detesta.
BILE vices will past unrebuked, mon
sters of iniquity be canonized as saints,
and the laws which hold the universe
in order, be revoked in subserviency to
the paltry purposes Of sacerdotal intoIe-
rance. Rome claims the power of
binding the conscience. She processes
to WELD the authority of God, and her
injunctions, audacious as they are, she
has the moral affrontery to proclaim in
the name Of the Most High" 1 regret
that cannot claim space for the letter
entire.
The next / shall present is taken
from the Charleston Observer, of the 9th
December l845; headed "Infdelity."
The editor introduces and indorses it as
being brief and spirited sketch of In
fdel authors" awe take it," says he,
from the Christian Intelligencer. 1t
grew out OF the controversy In regard to
the appointment Of in6del Professors in
a College at the South.
aThe fundamental and almost uni.
versal doctrine Of Infdels is, that the
end sanstj6es the nse0ms,-called some
times the doctrine of expediency; some-
times principally since it was dressed
in the Jargop Of Bentham) Utility. A
more demoralizing doctrine never has
been propagated. No man who holdsthis
doctrine can be safely trusted, wherever
feeling or interest presents strong tempta'
sions and detection appears difficult. In
all such cases, men who hold this doc