New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-03-06
yirtue-Duty-Happiueas.

Ela.eood, Nov. 20 ls45.
acknowledgement.
10 he Editor of The Tribune:
The question concerning the nature Of Virtue
and the fundamental principle Of the Mo.el Govern
nent of God is Of The greatest interest 10 every
human being Our doctrines of virtue must depend
ultimately upon our doctrines Of God. Considered
in every point Of view, we are dependent on Him,
and no system OF action possibly, under His ad
ministrstion, result In happiness on the whole TO
ourselves and others, which He does not approve.
There H. therefore, no chance for happiness but In
systcu of action comfortable 20 the will Of the
Creator
If q system Of happiness is possible either abso
lutely or conditionally, God can establish and ad
minister such system il He pleases. The Happ
ness Theory of Virtue assumes that system Of
universal endless and perfect happiness is possible,
not absolutely independent of all conditions but
condionally and that the essential and absolute
condition of this happiness is virtue. Ii also
sumes that God has adopted this system OF happi-
ness based ON its own essential conditions and on
no Others and made il the system of His govern
ment According to these assumptions virtue in
the aggregate is the essential condition Of private
social, present perfect and eternal happiness
making virtue the cause and happiness the effect
or virtue the means, and happiness the end.
Whether these assumptions are true or not is 10
Scriptures.
l. IL happiness matter OF fact, conditional
or unconditional? And If il is conditional on what
is It conditioned The answer 10 these questions is
ensy and obvious All the happiness that comes
within the sphere of our knowledge ia conditional |
none Of ii Is absolute and independent and in It's
ultimate dependence il is all conditioned on virtue.
Blot out virtue. and you blot out The happiness OF
rational beings Destroy and overturn the sys:cm
Of virtue, and you prostrae IN the dust the whole
L. A.
is not an absolute thing but is conditional and O
matter of fact is conditioned on virtue, and is |
therefore an effect Of which virtue is the cause,
and an end, OF which virtue is the means.
9. Ia God friendly to happiness or not Has He
any preference OF happiness to misery? Or does
He prefer misery 10 happiness? Or is He indif
ferent to bolhl The voice Of Nature cries aloud
that God is not Indifferent to happiness and misery
and that He does not prefer the latter to The for
mer it also procaims God IN trumpe; tones as
preferrpg happiness to misery, by an infinite,
eternal and Interchangeable preference. But let us
remove this question from the court Of Reason 10
Scriptures, aud ask their verdict. How do the
Scriptures represent God az affected toward hap
piness and misery. Have | any pleasure at all
that the wicked should die saith The Lord God
And not that he should return and liye} have
pleasure in the death of him that deth saith the
Lord God wherefore turn and live. Eek. xix
%, 80. Again " Beloved, let us love one another,
for love is of God. and every one that ioveth Is
not knoweth not God, for Cop Is Low lst
John iv:3. 8. Similar passages nigh; be nlulii-
piled definitely. What do they meant And
what do they prove 7 They prove that God in.
terestn himself in the happiness OF His creatures;
that He subordinates his moral government to the
promotion Of that happiness az an end, aud that He
urges obedience 10 his Laws, another name for the
practice of the whole system OF virtue, the indis
pensabie means Of happiness There cannot he
greater libel on God Than 20 represent Hin as IN
tn -
not preferring their happiness. and deprecatiag
their misery.
We have, then, the fundamental assumptions of
the Happiness Theory of Virtue given us not rs
mere hypothesis desirable, indeed, but uncertain;
bat as valid truths, sustained 10 the fullest extent
both by the court OF Reason and the verdict Of the
Scriptures
Il Ia not hypothesis, therefore, that virtue is
means and happiness end; it is a fact, happi-
ness is loved and pursued by men both for lhem.
eelyes on its own account; il is loved and pursued
by God or its own account, and Is object Of His
choice and preference. Virtue is its essential con
dillon, and the indispensable means of producing
It; therefore, virtue Ia the means O! happiness
Vice is incompatible with IL and results inevitably
both 10 the destruction Of happiness md in the pro
duotion Of misery: therefore. vice is the essential
condition OF misery. Virtue is good because it
subseryes happiness on the whole. and renders
eternal and perfect happiness possible and cer,sn
to one and oil who practice IL; and vice is evil be'
ceaso " destroys napplness ootn ,nat VI lhose VINO
pysc,ice it. and that Of Others as tar as they are
affected by it.
Tho Happiness Theory of Virtue is no System of
semporizing expediency, bu; is system Of eternal
order and happiness. /, ia not system of selfish
ness; but IS system Of the most enlarged benevo-
hence. Identifying man with his fellow, and the
ture with the Creator; and assigning 10 all one
common indvisibe, harmonious and infinite interest
both In common happiness, and ia system Ut
virtue which subordinsies every right moral action
10 The promotion Of thar common happiness, rs its
end and purpose.
commanding the causs OF virtue and its depend
en- happiness to your Editorial favor and 10 the
nenoly consideration of your readers,
am very respectfully Yours L A SAWYER
SoLuaBus, OHIO, Feb, 26.-A disgraceful attack
OF tse AonAs from uich,snd f,o.,s.. ~. 49, p -,