Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-04-26

avs have boon prescribed By God himself:
he merely human laws o! oIhor cotetnpO-
rnry nations cannot bear any compa rson
with m."-ou, my motive in forming
tho cornprIlso Is TO present 10 your re-
Elections Is Il proof-ani to ny mind n
worry strong proot-of tho reality Of their
divine origin: tor how IS il TIM, tho whole
system of government and ndmlnistra. ion.
Tho municipal, political, ecclesiastical.
military and moral laws and Institutions
which bound in society the numbcrless
myriads OF human beings who formed for
many successive ages the stupcnIons mon
arciiics Of Africa and 4 sin. should have
persisted entirely and been obiitcratcd from
the memory Of mankind, while the la Tvs
of paltry tribe of shepherds. characteriz-
ed by Taciius, ard tho snoring inilcli.v
Of Gibboa, rs "the most despisad portion
Of their slaves" should not only havo sur
vve3 the wreck of these empires, hut re-
main to this day rules Of faith and practice
70 every enlightened milton of tic world,
and pcrisha bic only with it. Tho reason
- obvious: it is their intrinsic excellence
which his preserved them from tho dcs,ruc-
ton which beta lis all tho works e mortal
man. Tho precepts Of tho ecaioouo lone
(savs Gorget) disclose more snbirna
truths. more ,nnxims essentially suited to
the happiness Of man. thnn al the writ
inos Of antiquity put together cnn furnish.
The more YOU mediate on tho lave q
VI SOS. tho moro striking md brighter does
tlnir wisdom appear. ], would be n
horizons but not an unprOtit1blo invest "a
lion, 10 reduce into regular Classification
firot nT In. CT r
tho Commentaries of blackstone, tho hoio
Colo Of Moses. which embraces not only
all tho ordinary subject Of Legislation to-
a"thcr with the principles Of religion md
morality, but laws Of eccicsiastical dircc-
tons concerning tho minutes, actions and
dress Of individuals. This. however.
would lead me too far from my prcsen,
purpose. which is merely 70 consider the
Bibio rs n system Of morality; | shall
therefore notice those parts of tho II "
which many be referred particularly tc
Tint cln,s. md q. prcsen, mus. conGne my
4nit 10 a fow remarks upon the dccologue
itsef, which, having been spoken by The
vo.cc. and twice written upon tho stone
tables by The finger Of God, may be consl.
dorod as tho foundation Of tho whole
svstern-of tho ten commandments. en-
pha:icaIly so called, for the extraordinary
and miraculous distinction by which they
wcro promulgated. The first four arc re-
lteiou4 laws the fifth and tenth arc proper.
" and peculiarly moral and domestic rules
t ;ho other four nrc Of the criminal depart
mont Of municipal laws: the unity of lhe
CDiaead. tho prohibition Ct making gra
ven images 10 worship; that Of taking
iigh.ly ior in vain rs tho En&!ish lrans!n
hon Expresses it) tho name Of tho Deity
aui The Injunction 10 observe the Sabhati
rs Il nay sanc,it;ad and st apart for ili>
worship, were all intended TO iGcucato the
reverence for the one only and true God
tim, profound md penetrating sentiment q
pic,y vhj:l, in former letter, urged a
the grost and only immo, abe foundation
If oil human virtue. Next 10 tho duties
, towards the Creator, that Of IGNORING the
earthly parent Is cujolnod: j! IS 10 then
that every Individual owes tho greatest
oblls atoms. and to them that no is conse.
Guently bound by tho frs, and strongest OF
nj! earthly ties.-The following commands
, apply ing 10 tho relations between man and
, his fellow mortals, arc all negative, n:
their application was universal. to every
, human being: IL was not required that any
: positive acts Of bcncficcnco toward them
, from wronging them, either; l5t-in their
persons; 2i--in their property; 3D. in their
conlugai rights; 1th-in their good name:
utter which, all tho essential en- oymon's
Of life being thus guarded from voluntary
! injury. the tenth aud closing commandment
goes to the worry source of all human &C
,ions-the heart-and positively forbids al
those desires which frs, prompt and lead &c
every transgrcsson upon the property and
right Of our fellow creatures. VAIN in
, Iced would DO tho search among the writ
, ings Of; profnno antiquity, mot merely Of
remote Antiquity. but even in the most re-
iincd and philosophical ages of Greece and
, Romeo 10 find SO broad, so complete and
so solid basis for morality as this deca-
losue laws down. Yc, have said it was
impertect-i.s sanctions, its rewards, It's
, punishment. had reference only 10 present
life, and is had no in functions Of positive
b-ncicenco towards our ncighbors. Oh
these tho law was no. entirely destitute in
3, its other parts; bu, both in this respect and
iii the other. il was TO be perfected b7 Him
who brougis; life and immortality 10 ligh!
IN the Gospcl.-Upon which subject YOU
, shall hear moro.
, From year atfac:ionate Father.
! JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
D Terrible Storm.