The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-12-09


to all communities, nor even to the same
community at all times, and under all eir-
camstances Of animal, Intellectual and NOR
al development.
Hence the sovereign of the universe has
wisely and benevolently left it to communi-
ties themselves TO decide for themselves
what lorm OF government is necessary, and
best adapted, in any given circumstances, to
secure the greatest good.
The foregoing reflections will readily
suggest the leading principles in accordance
with which, all governments should be con-
structed.
1. As bondage, in all its forms, is a curse
on man for the indulgence Of self-will. and
of lawless spirit, it is obvious, that it
should exist in any government in no great
er degree. than might be necessary to Sc
cure the general good.
2. As among the lawless and self-willed,
bondage is blessing. alike indispensable to
the existence OF society, and Of individual
happiness, even in this world, it is obvious,
that God wills its existence in every govern
raent, to such degree, be il more or less,
as may be necessary for the attainment Of
these ends.
Hence. although liberty is a priceless
Jewel, and Of incalculable value to those,
whose intelligence and virtue render them
capable Of selfgovernment-still the quail
ties Of mind, which impart this capacity.
are infinitely more valuable; and without
them, liberty could only serve as an insTu-
ment of selfdestruction. Among the ardent
and over-zealous admirers Of freedom, there
have unfortunately been found muldtudes
Of superficial thinkers, who vainly imagine,
that all men are capable Of enjoying the
inestimable boon Of freedom, and selEgov-
eminent. A wilder, and more mischievous
delusion has seldom, perhaps, occupied even
the madman's brain. "The Reign of Ter
ror," during the French Revolution, when
an attempt to carry out this principle, and
to give civil liberty 10 a licentious and i'm
moral people, the slaves Of mere animalism
and lust, baptised Paris in the best blood Of
her citizens. speaks volumes on this subject.
Who will deny-who can even doubt-that
the military despotism established by N,po-
leon. was infinitely preferable to the law
less mobocracy, which it succeeded. The
history OF the world furnishes no instance
Of more successful attempt in like circum-
stances to give liberty to a people enslaved
to ignorance, to sensual appetite, and vicious
indulgence. Had a voice of thunder, that
could penetrate to earth's remotest bounds,
| would say to the misguided, though anna
bic enthusiast, everywhere, who is toiling
for the universal extension OF freedom, re-
CARELESS Of the foregoing Principles-Be-
ware! You know not what you are doing.
You are fighting against God, in fighting
against his laws written, il may be. not
with pen and ink, but deduced from the
stern and unbending necessity of things,
and the paramount law Of selfpreservation.
You never can succeed. You might as we'll
expect to scale heaven, and dethrone the
Almighty, as to subvert his laws, which de-
. cree that the slaves OF Ignorance and vice
are incapable OF self-government. Miser'
: les, heart-rending and appalling you may
produce. Carnage and desolation you may
! spread over the fair face Of nature. tn,
bloody horrors Of the Reign Of Terror you
; may re-enact- Twill all be in vain. Il
{ is unchangeably decreed by the Almighty
and engraven in the very nature Of things
; that men shall be capable Of freedom nc
/ farther than they are intelligent and virtu
Gus. Hence, it is worse than folly, it i:
madness in the extreme. to attempt to eI
! pedite the progress of liberty. more rapidly
. than that Of intelligence and virtue. The
? attempt will be disastrous; and can only re
$ suit in the establishment Of more intense
: bondage. So all history decides; and SC
, must every man decide, who takes an en-
larged, philosophical, or even a scripture
I view of this subject. Freedom, as philoso
. ply decides it should do, has always KEEP
5 pace with capacity for its enjoyment. NJ
intelligent and virtuous people has eve
{ been long held in bondage; and no ignor
D ant and vicious community has long enjoyes
: even the appearance of freedom.
E DR.. Wayland, the Jealous and able ad
: vocate Of universal emancipation, in harmo
ny with the foregoing principles writes thus
r "The best form of government for AM
4 people, IS the best that its present mora
/ and social condition renders profitable
d A people may be 30 entirely surrendered Il
the influence of passioE, and 50 feebly In
; fuenced by moral restraint. that a govern
ment which relied upon moral restraint
I could not exist for a day. In this case, 9
/. subordinate and inferior principle yet re
T mains-the principle of fear-and the on
: ly resort is to government OF force, or ,
: military despotism. And such do We know
to be the fact. An anarchy always ends in
this form Of government.-Mor. Sc. p. $50
"For beings, who are willing to govern
themselves by moral principle, there can
? be no doubt. that government relying on
r moral principle, is the true form Of govern.
ment. There is no reason why man
' should be oppressed by taxation, and sub
: jected to fear, who is willing to govern him
self by the law Of reciprocity. Il is surely
better for an intelligent and moral being tC
! do right from his own will, than to pay
another to force him to do right. And yet
as it is better that he should do right thar
. wrong. even though he be forced to it, it il
well, that he should pay others to fore,
him, if there be no other way of insurint
}. his good conduct God has rendered thu
blessing Of freedom inseparable from mora
restraint in the individual; and hence it i
vain for people to expect to be free, un
less they are first willing to be virtuous.-
Nor. Sc. p. 357.