Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1847-10-13

Der, 3 to 1000 are the result 81 the superior
lily Of births over deaths. The balance Is
Ecomposed Of those persons who come to es-
tablish themselves In the capital.
| For the Miners Express.
| The mass Of mankind are disposed more
or less TO be skeptical with regard to any
thing which does not fully accord with their
preconceived notions and opiuions--it mat
ters not how compatible with reason or
sound philosophy it may be, they adhere to
their opinions with pertinacious teuacity
more Characteristic of those under Egyptian
darkness, than as literary and intelligent
beings of the nineteenth century, charuc.
.eristic unworthy Columbiu's free.born song.
Our prejudiccs aud contracted views. are
permitted to exercise Geepotic control over
our better Judgment, and heaven aspiring
truth and reason are ever and anon sacrti-
ced atthe shrine Of our secterian yau7yy.-
Whatever is truth and reason should be re.
garded as such, come from what source n
may; for it is sacred in the eyes of the Ou,-
npotent Ruler of this vast universe, and
should be SO regarded by us, his subo. dinate
beings.
But il some Of the great phenomena of
Nature be difficult to comprehend, we are
TOO much disposed to give too great scope
to our incrednlity, and demur their truth,
without hating to inquire into their nature,
and OF the evidences upon which they are
founded.
The fact is manifesty this: we previous
4 ~ determine not to DE convinced, however
startling may be the evidence adduced in
Its favor: and hence, we continue to be 60
vcrned by the ebulitons Of our blind zeal
and enphrenzied enthusiasm, till we are i'm
percepti5ly hurled into the rueiul pit of BIZ
gotry and superstition. there to breathe out
our moral and intellectual existence, amid
the fstor Of our wiifully blinded hallucna
tons. .
We, Us intelligent beings. should be more
liberal IN our sentiments and feelings, and
no. treat with contu niely and discourtesy
that which we are unable, Immediately, to
see or comprehend; for we must consider we
are very liable to be mistaken in our views
especially when formed rather immature
ly--and we ought, moreover, to consider
that those who maintain contrary opinions,
| are doubtless az honest and sincere in what
they pfentend to believe, as ourselves, and
perhaps, have oftentimcs far better evidence
to sustain their side of the proposition when
thoroughly scrutinizsd.
The wild and frantic alterations of poiti-
cal partizans and religious bigots, have con-
trIbuted much to annoy the peace and dis
tu:b the tranquility of society; for whatever
may be their preconceived opinions, either
rel'gious'y or politically, by those they are
governed, independent of the most powerful!
ana cogent reasoning to the contrary not
outstanding. Such are only fit to have |iv-
cd N the dark and sombre ages Of political
despotism and religious intolerance.
1t our frcDdstake the liberty to form opin-
ions and principles of their own. if opposite
! to ours, we Immediately pounce upon them,
and arrogantly inquire their right to main
tain doctrines averse to Us, either po'ti cal
or religious. We never stop 30 inquire in
our wild and ungoverIable fanaticism-are
ice rIghl!-are our opinions Justly founded!
We take for granted 4 thing which is only
assumed without pretending to offer titlG
f of evidence to substantiute tina: which ha:
been called in question by the opposite par
ty. Now, if the mere assumption of thing
is, its proof and osta blIshnent, then can any
thing, however contrlryto reason and sound
philosophy. be confirmed and established b,
the same evidence, which is only the rcucrss
Of evidence.
We may differ in our political and rel
: gious sentiments, and differ honestly, and /,
D believe contrary to our own convictions AM
senses, would be the blacklist Hypocrisy.
: and only worthy the Just retri buttons Of tn
Y Immaculate God, who detests and abhor
r deception.
i; 1t is not the mere abstract act Of subscri
t bing to Il particular creed that constitute
!. lis christians; for many OF Us who have sig
= nalized ourselves az members and disciple
J, Of particular and distinctive church orga,.i
]. cations, if weighed in the bl lance, would b.
o found most e*gregousiy wanting. I DO no
s wieh to he understood as censor Of Churc
" Creeds, for am not; only ceusure wron
IF acts and .feelings-come from professors q
y non-profaseors; for am far from attributn
G purity Of motive to q person, merely hG
r cause he or she may be Il professor OF tn
e Christian Religion--for they are not all {
1t Israel who are Israel. We find amid e
ir the great associations OF modern time:
y whether rel eious or political, there is a sp
1t rit at war with, and repugnantto TO, true chri
J. tian phinnthrophy-''they have the farm
$. godliness, but deny the j3o,ucr thereof"
Ifpersons profess to be christians and ph
lanthropists, they should manifest the
S. christian feelings and philanthropic EN-.
of tions by acts of charity and good Iii
:, rendering justicH to each o.her-giving Ill
~ orally to the needy, and upbraiding not, all
a. in reciprocating all the kind feelings on
sentiments that are pertinent to our NOR
and intellectual nature. To b. christian
and philanlh:opists, we must cultivate Il
=, social sentiments and feelings. and act tt
~ ward each other as sentient, perez ptvc. ar
" lintcllipaut hninuS--and not st a nd alnof fro
~ our brother or sister, by the great family
~ nature. and cry, in the sickening tones of tt
" despotic prince, waving his imperial sceptr
~ depar. from me, thou vile wretch, for a
w better than thou art. Such is not in unisc
- with the true spirit Of christian phlanthrop,
W W but is the essence ofhatred, anirnosity, ar
w malignity.
w Whilst we manifest toward each other,
w our brother, such spirit, we call forth,
w laundering tones, Gods wrath aud fiery i
w dim tNl,i r