The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-06-02
Truth, Error, Pride, etc.

we will throw out few hints lipoii matters
in general, and upon some things in partic.
ular.
ltisa common but very dangerous error, to
predicate correctness of the opinions of
men from their honesty, or long taccdncss.
The difference between opinions, and mere
statement of facts is material difference.
and should be kept constantly in view by all
inquirers after 7futh In the latter, a good
character warrants our belief; but not 80
i'll the forn.cr--whcn a man of good charac-
ter tells me thing Is so l am justified by
his character i'll believing it; but yet wien
this same man gives me his opinion of Ger.
tain matters founded upon certain data
equally accessible to me, his character can
be no warrant for the correctness Ct his
opinion, and I'd take his opinion for gra,.tcd
without examining into the data myself,
makes me ITS sl@cc; or his dupe. 1t is not in
tended, by this, to lessen the ;-oitfdGnce that
ought to be placed in the opinions of scica.
t!fc or professional men, upon scientific or
professional subjects. The opinions of
such men upon such subjects arc, in certain
cases, obliged to be. taken upon credit
But yet when these m,n are interested in
the opinions they givc-and their opinions
epondcratc,-as is often the case, as their
interest iiclines them, they stand as other
MEN i'll this regard, and i'll such t;ises, the
difference between such men, strips even
their opinions Of that respect and confidence
to which, otherwise, and very properly, tAey
would be entitled.
We conclude, therefore, from all thisthat
it is safe general rule, to take the opinions
of no man, or set Of lnen, for granted.
This rule applies, with peculiar force, to
meil iii office. With such men, "To tho
law and to the testimony" should be the
watchward; for, whatsoever cometh of
more than these comcth Of evil" But in-
taliibility, in either men or measures, will
hardly be contended for, at this day, how
ever much the conduct of some men would
lead us to suppose, that they believe certain
men neCcr err
Nor, is this rule inapplic0bls to men ofcvc-
ry condition in life. The truth i'll every
thing, is, or at least should be, the aim of
us all. And in order that we may search
out the truth ourselves, each man of US is
endowed with certain capacities which can
only be fully ydevclopcd by efforts ofthis char
acter. So that-cvcn if we could find the
truth second. .handedly, it would be low and
grovclling in us-it would not be giving full
scope to our powers, to do so.
Of this same error, that is, taking things
as they appear, and not as they really are,
or tacking on to the individual the consc-
quencc of circumstances, is ths: put on SUI
periority, or pharisaical high-headedness,
which we sometimes sec in people Of quite
humble ori gin, and whose natural endow-
ments arc often inferior to those of the per- :,
sons in regard to whom this o6eusice char
acter. is assumed. There is great truth
that seems to be entirely overlooked by
large part of mankind-and that truth is
this:--That Virtue, in the broad sense of
the word, is the only true distinction be-.
tween mon. and the only true founaaaiu
upon which any distinction =
Hence it is, that agssi
ding-it hqsdls ..,,.x ~
never detraas5sss Il1 lIa = :
any reason m g. ssg IS g'leo,
that a largeIsS u my possess
ion, entirely Tic industry Of ethe.s,,, ..,,,,,,,
or that | have been more highly fayo ~
nature than my neighbor9 Certainlj
The only proper feeling that can,sar
this state ofthings, is, a feeling Of
ibilit9t---any ttina but a feeling of
elation. We conclude, therefore.t
in whom this unreasonable and out
pretension nanifests itselG, are oh : =