New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-11-24

70 thank God .or bis Public Mercies. 20 remind cit
zeus % their Duties and oi the dependence OF the
S.ate on toe Most High 81 James in his Eostle
undoubtedly addresses man in bis relations 70 God.
and in t1.s sense enioias on him 70 be not Only
Hearer bit a Deer, of the word BIT the rela-
tons 10 which ~ stand % God include al other.
they require MS 20 act our part well ia every de-
par.ment Of duty. rs ruii and evidence oi our re-.
iig.ous character.
" .thout dol ny violence then 20 the Holy text
We may consider S. James 10 exhort Us tbs day.
as members Of the State to look into tire Per-
fees Law Of Liberty. aad TO continue therein to be
not merely Hearers and spprovers, but Doors 81 the
civil truths which profess 20 carry out in our private
dealings 10 our behavior toward our ncighbors and
friends toward those dependent On US, and those On
whom dependent the principles Of justice, equal
dealing, humanity truth and freedom which labor
q promote az public measures To other words II be
oarstloss tia, rl,rt re desue he nation 20 BE-.
The subject 90 which ssk your attention IS THE
CHRISTIAN CITIZEN the Truth that Tn PUBLIC
WELFARE is BASED oN PEIvArE ViRruL
al that can do 10 single Discourse is to indicate
the principle 10 some Of ts many applications 70 Ma.
tions Morals
] II the tendency Of human associations 70 sink
the responsibility of the Man in the Mass not only
20 l0se sight OF the individual IN the oversight OF
the whole but u make each feel that be is only
unit 10 the aggregate that be transfers trust
from himself 10 the society to which he belongs that
to that extent he diminishcs his Accountability
Government 10 It's origin ia often spoken Of A. one
Of these human c0mpscts and men consider them.
selves 10 consequence, IS partners in company. in
which the night and wrong be adjusted according
sI.. 4.ff it.ao. al
pany grows up 70 be a nation and 10 include many nil
lions, the moral blame merit of zach as Cit
zen. according to THE theory becomes indefinitely
small and thus by this ingenious device of original
compact Of political league which nobody has ever
known. which has no existence except ~ the cams
of theorists. nation shaI oppress and deiraud rob
and murder and mems conscences be troubled bat liz
he about the matter
Now IA one respect Ne differ from most other PEG
pie that form OF government state and National
Is q matter Of compact We have the Constitution OF
the United States and Of the respective States They
are 60 many Charters Bills Of Right drawn up with
dob ration, and soemuy accepted by those, who held
the political franchise in their day
Your fathers who, ratified the Federal Constitution
dead You have never given your formal assent 10
the State the National Compact
Whence, then, your obligation to comply with them
What the grounds OF your obedience to the govern
mentf Why the state relation which Sod has Great
ed nnd YOU Government s condition under which
you were Your may change tie laws you may alter
the constitution OF country according 20 the modes
which the Constitution has provided But Law, Govern
Inont belong To the category with Family snd Re
leiOn. You were not consulted, who should be your
parents You were not asked whether you would be-
born IN land of the Gospel The state u not an asso
citation in the that Bible society, Bank, d
League Tor the promotion OF plans, moral on CONNER
cal association. II belongs 10 the divine ccOnO-
my. Il is part of the order OF things, which the VIII
OF God has into human affairs. Upon TINS as'
sumption tho ASTON ia republics rests, that naJDnncr
shall rule. Why should the minority yield t. superior
uumberst Numbers do not make wrong ught. You
aus yer necessity. True but what necessity The
final answer is The Necessity, to which neither my
formal consent has been given, nor my tsct consent
asked the Necessity which God not men, has laid
upon me. lle has ordained the state lie has pat the
sword into its hands not in vain He has placed me IN
the relation OF citizen.
Now YOU have other duties than obedience 10 perform
to the Government or state. You are clothed with a
trust 10 be- exercised your discretion You under
bgatons 10 that power be placed IN MT and pure
hands You are, aud above your general account
ability Free Agent specially accountable 70 God
for the laws You make, for the men you send 10 the
councils of the nation for the policy which you adopt
toward your own citizens and those OF foreign states
because civil government Is part OF that order OF
things In which you trace the Divine Original, "a much
in the constitution OF your bodies and the laws OF
Nature You are in Gods good Providence member
OF Institution which lie has Ordained for great and
good purposes which exists everywhere where men
live together la numbers ana without when tney could
not live together.
Hence the sentiment uttered by Louis NV. am the
State will in true and noble sense glow IN the bosom
OF the Christian Citizen You are the state That l.
God has made YOU vital member OF IT, No human
power can maze you unnterestcd or unmp0riaut IN
the system of Government, under which you live
Now this feeling of direct accountability to God a.
members of great civic community OF which lie l.
the head Is opposed 10 the feelings, which human assO
cation secets that your private resp )nbility dimin
shcd. by sharing II With numbers On the contrary
the Christian Citizen feels that the vrtuous use OF the
power committed to BIN however poor he may be, Il
as sacred the highest Office in the land that
honesty, fsthfulness and justice Ia his own person
are pillars Of the state that in doing night himself TO
that he nsures the virtue Of bis country uphOds
her honor and secures TO her the favor OF God.
H. But while the feeling Of individual Accountability
% God the foundation upon which we build the hopes
Of public vitle yet there are auxiliary CONSIDERATIONS
lsch man embodes in himself a given portion Of the
public sentiment HIS unit II is true enters once ana
hu, once. into the sum aggregate OF common opinion
Every GOOD measure has only more supporter and
every bad. only more opponent In the citizen VINO
does ght But II 10 this recokoning himself single
man in a multitude banded together by their own viii
which removes powerful motive from the disehsIge
ol duty 20 the State.
Now remember that God has gives force to truth
and he who goes forth 20 speak truth and 10 act truth
has 4 moral advantage. No man has night to say }
can effect but little Let him form his opinions on
state policy personally snd imparusiy let them oe
his own careful and deep convictions and they wii'
spread Ike light The reason that there - 90 mncn
profess discussion In the world arises from Tue laet
that men echo the words of others but not the con
illusions of their own minds. They forget the unccr
tain nature OF human testimony. Ihey iorset no" 10
trrest and prejudice color mcns opinions ih-N lVi.
,ct that truth lies at the bottom Of well They forget
ina, they who would have IT, must plunge to bring up
They forget that they thinking beings ana oouha
10 sitt ana weigh testimony and opinion
But when man has done this, under the sense OF
trust laid upon him by God, he then esPouses those
Great truths identical with the interests 81 the humSh
race with sincerity aud esrnestness that make deep
impression on the hearts OF others lie has the rsat
ana ne bears himself snd utiers himself Ike man "oo
fs.ls that he has the right Above all the great ia1hs
which he urges OF themselves strike chora III i"e
human breast They come with that force WIN "aou
God has sent them into the world to their once lhel
are ambassadors from Him. They bear his credentials
seen and read Of men
Never think that in the Of truth you are soue
OF that one man is but grain OF sand on the sea
shore God hiss gwen truth power over the soul Ins
world yclds 10 IL latter Not because OF e
night Of numbers OF OF names bu; because It's nSu'e
due ike the touch OF ihures spear, break the sPe"
of error.
-s 10 itsrhoos can endure
lca.hoi celestial per. bat returns
Oi crce o. rs osu lkeness
Believe yourself then. = citizen. 10 De OF eohse
ouence God has given you 10 every man. the hei'
tagc OF truth. Prize ii labor tor H. wresiie wltn
Or uiicc conquer It's weakness build up the truth III
YOUR hearts the downfall OF Aud then cher
worthy tust the truth have noble thoughts OF