Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-07-19

:. f:vestigsfisa % the Duties Of : Chr's'
~. f..tixeu. in regard to Voting.

4. Aiffcuit m atter 10 cxfricatc themselves
kru, the labyrinths Of mysticisms' ~nich
hs,e been Of late thrown around the SUD
Zee, of voting. Formerly they voted Tor
vhom.ocver they pleased, and their hon
..,v of motive was guarantee OF the just
nos. Of the act, and a security against the
charge Of corruption. But now Censors
ali in judgment over, who by new
code Of reasoning, impuic to them sin and
uoriohteousncss, for the commission Of :he
..nnosed .nhaIlowcd act ofvoting as they
Relieved right. The consequence is. that
.ome are withdrawing themselves from the
two great political parties, and organizing
into separate little factions under new po
Etical leaders whose ideas are right on
.se subject, that they may. as they ina
pine, give a consistent vote; being con-
scious at the same time Of the impossible
;fv of success. Others are Withholding
fheir votes altogether; and thus tying Their
hands from doing any good, for fear Of
doing some harm.
any kood bCouit W CcIut!
from such a course, ] would be the last
man 10 call in question its propriety: But
believing as do, that much evil has been,
and may be brought upon the country by
such mistaken policy. shall cndcavor
10 extricate the subject from the mists and
obscuri,y into which it has been thrown.
VVa hill s,,,,o q, Eo
!. That it is the duty of man to do ali
the good he can.
2. That he should do his duty and cavc
the CONSEQUENCES to God.
8. That it is wrong to omit an act
which is duty.
4. That it is wrong to commit an cct
which is rrong.
5. That to abstain from acts which are
sinful. is merely negative quality. and
any man may observe it and do nothing
s. That to do acts which are duty. is
apositivc quality, and requires industry
and perseverance 10 fulfill it.
=. Tha, if he can remove an existing
evil il is his duty TO do it,
= 9. That if lie can avert an impending
evil il is his duty 10 do il.
We believe these arc received as self
evident truths, by all who are not disposed
TO cavil about nothing; and consequently
il il can be shown by these tests that il is
our duty to vote. and to vote nationally
too, j. c. TO vote for the least Objectionable
Of the two candidates for particular Of
fee, one or the other Of whorl according
TO our honest convictions. will be elected.
1t follows that those persons are in error.
who willfIlly throw away or withhold thci:
votes in such cases.
We arc scntient. thinking. and reason
ing beings; and these faculties are given
Us. that we may exercise them, in con-
Junction with the ght within, in detcr.nin-
ing our duty in every instance: and he
who shuts his eyes to reason. when it
points him TO the consequences of the
commission, or omission of a particular
net. and does il. or onits it. regardless of
consequences, shuts his eyes TO common
sense, and deserves the pity and commits
scration Of his felow-benys.
The acts of lie great drama of life.
both good and evil. great and small. are
daily passing before US; and we should
be ever vigilant. ever wa,chful. ard when
ever an opportunity presents itself for us.
alone, or in connection with others, bv
voting or otherwise, to remove any evil.
whether il be the greatest. smallest, or any
Intcrincdiate one. we must instantly pro-
coed to do it; and not StnJborn1y and snl-
henly refuse 10 do any thing in ii. because
is not the particular erH we are aiming
TO remove. We are in duty bound to APP
ply ourselves diligently to the extinction
and prevention Of any and every evil tina,
may be within our power
When our reason and Judgment dis
tinguish to us the good or evil consequen.
ces OF any particular act, i, is our duty to
do the act which reason teaches will pro-
duce the good; and this is the only true
test Of what is right and duty i'm such ca.
SeS' ana we oeIieve that God requires us TO
exercise it. But when VIC do an act un-
der conviction Of duty. and cannot arrive
Ut any reasonable conclusion as TO the
consequences Of il. then we do j, from
Ya'sh alone. and must necessarily leave the
consequences to God. The oonseouen
ccs. however in all cases are left 10 God.
but He in His inscrutablc wisdom has
deigned to make known to us the conse.
quences Of large proportion Of the acts
which come within the sphere of man.
In this class. believe that God requires
vs. TO exercise our judgment and reason
J" determining our duty from the effects
or consequences of such acts. The act
OF voting is included in this class. We
are satisfied as to the consequences of our