The southern press., 1851-12-16
For the Southern Press.
AbOIitiOn:
ITS NATURE, ORIGIN, AND CONSEQUENCES.
No. 8


ITS NATURE, ORIGIN, AND CONSEQUENCES.
No. 8. ..
Every government not founded on, force or
corruption, must depend for support on the at
tachment of the peope--in other words, their
patriotism-a sentiment that may be traced to
their devotion to the principles on which it is
blsed; the happiness which their practical ap-
plication confers on them; and to a certain
feeling Of wellfounded pride, arising from the
possession of freedom. This sentiment forms
the great, may almost say the only, bond Of
union among free people; and unless it is suf
iciently powerful to counteract all antagonist
principles e ther the system must be dissolved,
or sustained by force or corruption, or both CON-
bined. In no other country is this sentiment Of
patriotism so Indispensable to the existence and
preservation Of the government, the United
States. The entire fabric rests on the people.
and the moment the popular support is with
drawn, it will crumble TO pieces; or if it contin-
ues to exist it is only as an empty shadow.
The great antagonist principle to patriotism
is universal philanthropy, which substitutes the
love of all mankind, in place of'the love of our
country and countrymen. The obligation 10
this universal love Of our fellow creatures, is Of
high authority, being presumed to arise out of
the great prece,t of the author of our religion,
which enjoins Us to love our neighbor as oursef.
No one but visionary enthusiast believes, or
has ever believed it possible to apply this pre-.
cept literally in the transactions of all mankind
With each other, and east Of all to the inter.
course OF nations. 1t would be fatal to all so.
cal and domestic relations, all feeling of patri.
otism; it would place those with whom VI,
neither have, or can ever have any intercourse.
on any footing with kindred, friends and coun
'rymen; and be in direct opposition to many
other precepts Of the Saviour, of equal au
thorty, as c. ming directly from himself lnap.
plying the great moral code propounded by Him.
il should be taken a, whole, and not in de.
tached parts; and on no occasion should any
one part be so applied as to be inconsistent with
any or all the others. II is not mere farrego
Of disjoinied precepts or contradictory dutie,,
but complete ard perfect system Of moral obi.
cations, all harmonzing with each other, and ali
tending to one great end.
Now, all who have studied the New Tesla
Deut with due attention, must remember thai
great stress is laid on the social and domestic
relations. The relative duties Of master and
servant, pare,t AID Guild, husband aud wife.
Il Ill,
- fundamc.ra arts Of the great system BY
Ahch his r'l era were to regulate their
conduct II a.n t!man race were placed
on the same too ,nI in regard 20 their so
cisl and domestic obligations to each other,
to what purpose was il necessary TO dis.
iinguish between the diff rent members, or
to enjoin du,ies on portion which were
equally Obligatory on all mankind, in their ag-
gregate capacityl This prec pit of the Saviour,
ike many Others, is not to be practically ap
piled, according to its literal Specification, be
cause il would then come in direct competition
with other duties he enjoined on his followers
Nor can il be nationally presumed, that snch was
Is intention, otherwise the word "Neighbor,'
would not have been substituted for n genera
term, ccmIrshending the entire human race.
The word neighbor, is everywhere applied to
those who live N close proximity with each
other, and within the reach Of natures good Of.
fees. IL implies intimate social intercourse
through which alone the duties enjoined by the
Saviour, can be practically exercised, and the
precept applied. Those who are situated in dis.
tant regions, with whom we have no intercourse
have never seen. and never will see, are not our
mel chbors, being entirely GU! Of the reach Of
all social intercourse How is it possible we
should love them as we love ourselves, when
they exist but as shadows tn rs, and can neither
receive our good Offices, or do us any in return
As practical precept, it cannot be thus applied
without neutralizing all the social and domestic
virtues. II was intended, without doubt, to
counieract the selfish principle, not TO supersede
our attachment TO kindred friends, home aid
country; TO restrain il within proper bounds,
and to inculcate general good feeling towards
all our fellow citizens. II neither makes It OBJ
ligstory to sacrifice our domestic feelings and
duties to a general love Of all mankind; nor
does il call upon us TO immediate our patriotism