The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-04-28
FIR ths 0sslkSrm Pres.
Relics OF acfaps and Musings. mo. 50
EUROPEAN MORALITY.

In the years lo45s according 10 0mcial Reports
IS ,24l children, born in London, 10 1860 were bast
ards. 1t is pretty much the same if not worse
in Paris, Vienna, and other great capitals of Eu
rope No wonder we make such rapid advances
in morals, when we borrow our precepts and ex
amples from that quarter.
MARCH MIHD.
The wisdom of yesterday is the folly of today
and the march of mind is very often only from
one error to another. Had every change been an
Improvement, the world would have been perfect
at this time.
Much of our knowledge is uncertain; much de-
| ceptive not u little useless, and considerable
portion peruicious. II is certain that knowledge
neither necessarily makes us either wiser or bet
ter. The notion that universal education will pro-
duce Universal regeneration is dangerous fallacy
Domestic example is the best schoolmaster.
CIVILIZATION AND REFINEMENT.
These consist, in great measure, in substitut-
ing manners for morals, and the creation Of rev
wants for the qualification of which perpetual labor
and exertion necessary; and thus we become
slaves, not only to others, but ourselves. The
| IL
happiness to labor through life for the attainment
of these enjoyments, to learn to be happy with
out them; in other words. to remain in ignorance
of their existence. The greatest slave is the slave
of his own desires; and sometimes incline to the
opinion of Father CharIerox,i that the Nortl
American Indians, before they became infected
with the wants and vices ofthe white man, were
the happiest people in the world.
''vARIErY FAIR"
| This is device Of England to make the world
tributary to her national vanity. 1t will be an
amusing spectacle to see the representatives of so
many nations gathered together, to offer incense
at the shrine ofthe ssick lion"
| EXAMPLE.
Bad examples are not alwayspernicious. While
they are apt mislead fools, they teach sensible
people what to avoid. One ofIhe best andotes to q
propensity to drinking is seeing fellow creature
transformed into beast, and wallowing in the
i mud like swine. The most dangerous ofall ex
,mpIes is not that of the man who exhibits his
vices in oil their deformy, but that of the SLY hypo-
e,ite, who while living in the daily violation OF
The commandments his God, by strictTegard
| O appearances, manages TO make dupes OF his fell
Iow creatures, and profit by their credulty. H.
IS much more dangerous enemy to the happiness
| Of mankind than drunkard One is only his
,wn enemy, the other the enemy Of all his race.
Hypocricy is said to be 'the homage which vic.
pays to virtue" IF So it is homage paid at p
shrine which it is perpetually employed in under
mining.
CIVIL GOVERNMENT.
| That cannot be called civil government which
is incapable of enforcing its authority, except by
the agency Of a standing army. When that ia ne
cessary, it is proof either that the people hav'
become so ignorant or depraved 10 he unworthy
Of protection, or the government despotic as to
be no longer deserving of obedience. Where, a.
in the United States, the laws emanate drectl,
from the people, and can be abrogated by the same
authority, there is TO legitimate excuse for moi
opeying them, so long as they do not violate the
laws of nature, or Je provisions Of the Constitu-
Z ton. By the fornier mean the will Of Ged i'm
planted in the heart of man when he was made Q
free agent, and by which he is governed by certain
mmutabIe principles, through which that free will
is restrained and regulated by the exercise of the
faculty Of reason, SO far is necessary to the
conduct Of human action. Such, among others,
are the obligations that should live honestly,
hurt nobody. and render to every one their due.
No human laws are of any authority when com
ing in direct opposition to these, because they
implanted in the heart Of man, sanctioned by the
will of God declared in his express command
ments, and enforced by the precepts and example
of the Savior of mankind. Thus, should Law
be passed authorizing every man to cheat his
neghbor by superior cunning, impose on his
weakness by superior strength, or rob him of his
due by the exercise of one or both, it would b,
utterly null and void, and there would be no cbi
CATION TO obedience. But at the same time thes,
laws must be open, palpable violations ofthe Law
If nsture-in other words-implanted in the hear
Of man, by the will of his maker--bNfore they car
Justify forcble resistance. This violation mus
not be such as can only be implied by circuitous
inference or engendered in the brain of fanaticsm
il must be such appeals TO the reason, and
forces the conviction of every man capable Of feel
ING and reasoning on the subject OF his,own rights
or those OF others. When this conviction become,
universal, it may be called law Of nature, for
none other is capable ofproducing such unanm-
~. and it is useless to offer any opposition. L.
this sense the voice OF the people may I've said to
he the voice Of God, speaking the universal
language of nature. 1t Is the "higher law" Blu
for a small fraction Of one-ideaed fanatics to
themselves up as the exclusive expounders Of the
law of God and nature, is degree Of presumption
savoripg much more of madness than inspiration
~ We learn by telegraph that there j,
great excitement in Philadelphia relative to tn,
retention of Collector Lewis. Governor John.
son had arrived and was endeavoring to pacif
matters. Memorials, numerously signed, wer
circulating, requesting his removal.
THE UnIoS PLATFORM IN ALABAMA.-Tl,
| following is the platform Of the Union party in
] .ha.,,a Il will Lc tl,at I.