The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-15
For the Southern Press.
AhoIIft0n.


For the Southern Press.
Abolition:
IT'S NATURE, ORIGIN, AND CONSEQUENCES.
No. 3.
Every government not founded on force or
corruption, must depend for support on the at
tachment of the people--in other words, their
patriotsm--a sentiment that may be traced to
their devotion to the principles on which it is
based the happiness which their practical APP
plication confers on them; and to certain
feeling Of well-founded 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-
fcienty powerful to counteract all antagonist
principles, either the system must be dissolved,
or sustained by force or corruption, or both CON-
bned. In no other country is this sentiment of
patriotism SO Indispensable to the existence and
preservation Of the government, as 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 it it contin-
ues to exist, il is only as an empty shadow.
The great antagonist principle to patriotism
is universal philanthropy, which substitutes the
love of all mankind, lin 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 precept Of the author of our religion,
which enoins us to love our neighbor as ourscf.
No one but visionary enthusiast believes, or
has ever believed it possible to apply this pre-
with each other, and least of all to the inter.
course of nations II would be fatal TO all So
cial and domestic relations all feeling of patri-
otism; it would place those with whom we
neither have, or can ever have any intercourse,
on any footing with kindred, friends, and conn-
trymen and be in direct opposition to many
other precepts of the Saviour, of equal au.
thority, as coming directly from himself. Inap-
plying the great moral code propounded by Him
it should be taken as n 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. 1t is not mere farrego
of disjonted precepts or contradictory duties,
but a complete ard perfect system of moral obli-
cations, all harmonzing with each other, and all
tending TO one great end.
Now, all who have studied the New Tesla
ment with due attention, must remember that
great stress is laid on the social and domestic
relations. The relative duties of master and
servant, parent and child, husband and wife,
brother and sister, are equally enjoined upon us
as fundamental parts of the great system by
which his followers were to regulate their
conduct If all the human race were placed
on the same footing in regard TO their So
cial and domestic obligations to each other,
to what purpose was it necessary to dis
tinpuish between the different members, or
to enjoin duties on portion which were
equally obligatory on all mankind in their ag-
gregate capacity This precept of the Saviour,
like many others, is not to be practically ap.
piled, according to its literal Specification, be
cause il would then come in direct ompetition
with other duties he enjoined on his followers
Nor can it be nationally presumed, that such was
its intention, otherwise the word "Neighbor,"
would not have been substituted for general
term, ccmprehendihg the entire human race.
The word neighbor is everywhere applied to
those who live in close proximity with each
other, and within the reach of natures good Of
fees. 1t 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 out of the reach Of
all social intercourse. How is il possible VIC
should love them as we love ourselves, when
they exist but NJ shadows to us, and can neither
receive our good offices, or do us any in return
As practical precept, it cannot be thus applied
without neutralzing all the social and domestic
virtues. IL was intended, without doubt, TO
counteract the selfish principle not to supersede
our attachment to kindred friends, home aud
country to rcstrain IL within proper bounds,
and to ncucate general good feeling towards
all our fellow citizens II neither makes it OBJ
lipatory to sacrifice our domestic feelings and
duties to general love Of all mankind nor
does il call upon us to immediate our patriotism