The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-12

on them the necessity OF self dsfen<s. They
were destined to be surrounded by idolators, and
it was indispensable that they should not become
bgoted and insoIerant. They were the chosen
people Of God, and were. il possible. to be pre-
vented from mingIiug with the surrounding pa
gans and barbarians. Hence originated that sys-
tenn of laws which to this day has preserved a
people, without political organization, and without
a home, ms a distinct nation, separated by impss-
sable barriers from all the rest of mankind.
In the condition to which have reverted, and
with these objects in view, it was necessary that
every act, almost every thought, should be regu-
lated by special precep,, and enforced by spe-
cihc reward or specific penalty, such as the prom
ised blessing or threatened punishment of the Su-
preme Being; that manners. as well as moral and
religion should be the objects Of the strictest su
pervision; and that the rebelous race which
Moses had to deal with, should be chained, in or
der to reduce it to obedience In a word, il was
necessary to prescribe and regulate every act and
every duty, for every thing was in confusion, aud
deduce order from chaos required all the wisdom
of man, aided by the inspiration Of God Nothing
is more evident than that the Mosaic law was in
intended solely for peculiar people, peculiarly
situated, in peculiar state Of Reorganization, and
according TO the ideas of the present day, com.
paratvely ignorant of the first principles Of civil
and religious liberty.
Among people so situated. no system Of laws
like that Of Moses could have been enforced under
any sanction less imposing and awful than that of
the Divine will. In all ages and nations we inva-
riably find that the first laws have come forth with
this sanction, which alone can restrain the ungov-
ernable will OF ignorant barbarians The priests
are always the first law-givers, and where there
is no civil or military authority to enforce obedi-
ence' the only substitute 10 superstition. The
law OF Moses was accordingly sanctioned by a
series of miracles, which demonstrated his mis-
sion, and gave to his commands the authority of
the Divine will. But such direct sanction in moi
necessary among mankind when enlightened by
new acquisitions Of knowledge, by the progress Of
science and philosophy, and especially by an ex-
perienee of the salutary effects of wise and ra-
tioual restraint on human action. Society then
assumes new aspect; it is not to be created, but
maintained or reformed Mankind become sen.
sbie of the benefits derived from the restraints
they have voluntarily placed on themselves,
the necessity of obedience to the laws as safe
guard against their violation by others; Of their
obligation to obey them by experiencing their
protection; and it is no longer necessary to plead
the divine sanction in order to enforce obedience
to human laws.
| Such conceive, is the condition Of the people
of the United States at this moment They live
not under the laws of Noses but the christian dis.
pensation, by which all those laws, except the ten
commandments, are modified or superseded by
doctrines and principles more consonant with the
duties of man in more advanced state of society
as well as with the benign precepts of more en-
lightened humanity, and more rational freedom
Though the Saviour of mankind abstained from
all interference with civil institutions, surely h,
toresaw that christianity must eventually produc,
revolution both in churches and States; that i
would bring about changes greater than ever a con
quest ever achieved, and modify the civil institu
tons, domestic relations, modes and manners O
every country over which its benign influence ex
tended
Christianity involves all the great principles o
civil and religious liberty, and il any man want
the Divine sanction in favor of despotism, he mus
look to the law Of Moses, and not to that of tn
Saviour, which produces the equality Of all man
kind in the sight Of God. While recognizing tn
ten commandments comprehending the grea
outlines Of our duties to man and his Maker, h,
asserted and inculcated principles which are in
compatible with great portion of the law o
Moses, which is no longer obligatory in chris
ton * 4
but new system of laws, intended to remed,
the corruptions and abuses Of the old, as well al
to adapt themselves to the progress Of the human
intellect, and the state of society, both which hat
undergone great changes during the long perot
which elapsed between the advent of Moses ant
that Of our Saviour.
These preliminary observations have a speca
reference to the proceedings of certain denomna
lions of christians, and the doctrines Of certain
abolition preachers, who are endeavorng to plac
the laws of Moses in direct opposition to the Law
of the land. As an example, | shall select one o
the accounts Of a meeting in Green county, Ohio
which saw some days ego in the paper. ant
which only echo those announced in various othe
quarters. The chairman Of the committee which
presented tHem was the rev. Mr. smart, by WhOn
they were, presume, written. " Resolved, tina
the late law for the reclamation of Fugitive slaye
is in direct conflict with the law Of God Deuter
onomy 18th and 18th, Thou shalt not deliver un
to his master the servant who has escaped from
his master unto thee. Therefore, we are bount
to obey the latter and not the former"
Now, presume, the reverend gentleman ant
his disciples are bound TO obey one law of Moses
they are equally bound to obey all, for all com,
down with the same sanction, and therefore all arr
equally obligatory In the sane book of Deuter
onomy are the following commands, together with
many others equally at war with our social sys
tenn:
Thou shalt not plough with an OK and an as.
together"
Thou shalt not wear garment Of divers sorts
as Of the woollen and linen together
And in various portions Of this same book,
find these njunctions:
"When man hath taken wife and married
her, and II come to pass that she find no favor il