Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1852-01-15

I
| Manlius. who related TO me that the words
OF the philosophers we're nothing compar-
4 ed to the maxims of Jesus. One of the
rebellious Jews, so numerous in Jerusa-
J lem, having asked him if it was lawful 10
give tribute to Cesar or not, Jesus re-
plied Render u7sto Cesar the th5rgS
( 1okich are Ccesdr's. and unto God the
things achich are Gcas
It was on account of the wisdom of his
sayings that | granted so much liberty to
the \ Nalarene for ii was in my power to
have him arrested and exiled to Poutus 4:
+ but this would have been contrary to that
justice whrsh has always characterized
the Romans. This man was neither Sc
dltlous nor rehellicts. [ extended to him
my protection, enknQwn, perhaps, to him
self He was at liberty to act, to speak.
/ to assemble and address the people, TO
I choose disciples, untestrained by any pre-
( tOrian mandate
Should 1t ever happen-may the gods
avert the omen should it ever happen.
say, that the religion of our forefathers
be supplanted by the religion of Jesus. it
will be to his noble toleratIon that Rome
shall owe her premature obsequies-whilst
[, miserable wretch / shall have been
the instrument of what the Christians
call Providence, and we-Destiny
But this unlimited freedom granted to
Jesus, revolted the Jews-not the poor,
but the rich and powerful. 1t is true,
jesus was severe on the latter and this
was q political reason. in my opinion. not
to control the liberty of the Nazarene.
Scribes and Pharisees would be say to
them, you are race of vipers you re-
semble painted sepulchres At other
times he would sneer at the proud aims
of the publican, telling him that the mite
Of the widow was more precious in the
sight of God
New complaints were daily made at
the pretorium against the insolence of Je-
sus. l was even informed that some mis-
fortune would befaI him-that it would
not be the first time that Jerusalem had
stoned those who called themselves proph
ets-and that, if the pretorium refused
justice, an appeal would be made to Ce
sar.
This I had prevented, by informing
Cesar all that happened My conduct
was approved of by the Senate. and was
/ promised a reinforcement of troops after
/ the termination of the Parinthian war
Being too weak to suppress a sediiion,
| resolved upon adopting a measure that
/ promised to re-establish tranquility in the
+ city, without subjecting the pretorium to
humiliating concessions. l wrote to Je-
sus, requesting an interview with him at
/ the pretOrium He came.
/ On, Albinus now that my blood runs
cold in my veins. and that my body is
+ bent down under the load of years, it Is not
surprising that Plate should sometimes
tremble; but then l was young-in my
veins flowed the Spanish, mixed with the
Roman blood, as incapable of fear as it
was of puerile emotions.
When the Nazarene made his appear
ance, [ was waiting in my basilic, and my
+ feet seemed fastened, with an iron band.
TO the marble pavement He was calm,
T the Nazarene-calm as innocence. When
he came up to me, he stopped and, by a
simple gesture, seemed to say to me-here
/ / am
For some time I contemplated With ad-
miration and with awe, this extraordinary
/ type of mana type unknown to our
numerous culptors, who have given form
and figure to all the gods, and ell the he
roes
Jesus, said I to him at last-and my
tongue faltered-' Jesus of Nazareth, |
have granted you, for these last three
years ample freedom of speech nor do l
/ regret 1t. Your words are those of a
/ sage [ know not whether YOU have read
/ Socrates and Plato; but this know, that
there is in your discourses, a majestic
simplicity that elerates you far above
those great philosophers. Yhe emperor
Is informed of it and l, his humble rep
resentatlve IN this country, am glad of
+ having allowed you that liberty OF which
F you are so worthy. However, | must not
conceal from you, that your discourses
have raised up against you powerful and
Inveterate enemies. Neither is this sur
! prising Socrates bad his enemies. and
he fell . victim to their hatred Yours
are doubly incensed, against you, on ac-
count OF your sayings; against me, on ac-
count Of the liberty extended towards
you. They even accuse me, indirectly
OF being leagued with you, for the purpose
OF depriving the Hebrews of the little
civil power Rome has left to them. Mv
request-I do not say my orders-is, that
you be more cireumspect for the future,
and more tender in rousing the pride of
your enemies, lest they rouse up against
you the stupid populace, and compel me
to employ the instruments Of justice
The Nazarene calmly replied
Prince Of the earth, your words pro-
ceed not from true wisdom Say to the
torrent TO stop in the midst Of the noun
tain, because it viii uproot the trees of
the valley; the torrent viii answer you,
that it obeys the laws of the Creator -
God alone knows whittier flows the waters
Of the torrent Verify. say unto you,
before the rose of Sharon blossoms, the
blood Of the Just will be split.
Your blood shall not be split replied
l, with emotion Youare more precious
IN my estimation, on account Of your wis
dom, than all these turbulent aud proud
Pharisees. who abuse the freedom granted
them By the Romans. conspire against
Cesar and construe orr bountv into fear