The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-03-23
MISCELLANY.
FOR TIE INDEPENDENT PRESS.
Conscience.

probably, no subject l,as been so frequently
discussed to SO little advantage. Whether
or not it is an innate principle, has been a
mooted question; aud what it really is,
cannut be easily dcdured from all the results
Of philosophical enquiry. A particular pas
sage of Scripture is by some deemed suffi-
cient Of itself to establish the truth that it
is inherent. "For when the Gen:iles, which
have not the law, do 10y nature the things
contained in the law, are law unto them
selves, which show the work of the law
written in their hearts, their const:icnccs also
bearing witness, and their thoughts mean
while accusing or cxcusing one another"
But waving this reliable and positive cvi-
dence, reason alone may be resortcd to. which
tends likewise to the perfect confirmation of
the same truth. It's an al'sur,lity to sup
pose that man was created destitute Of this
moral faculty, when the frequency and i'm
portance Of its Use is so manifest After his
fall he evidently retained all of his original
elements save his happiness. which was for
feited by his transgrcssion. Hence if he has
a conscience now, he was created with one
but if he was not, there never can be a ncccs-
sity for one, as he can not he held response
bic for not exercising faculty which was
never given to him. But if the theory, which
denies the existence of the moral sense he
correct, it follows as Il r.5iima!c consequence
that until an artificial means was generated
by circumstances there could not, at least,
for considerable length of time, have been
any guide in determining what would be the
rcctitude of an act, nor of knowing whether
or not it WAS wrong when committed, unless
reason performed the functions of conscience
and the regret of a mistaken judgement serv
cd as its rcmorsc. The fact that conscience is
liable to be greatly Influenced by circum:
stances, is not an argument which will
prove it not to be innate. It would not bc
less reasonable to say that the human mind
is not innate, because it would not be the
same if it could be trained in two separate
motions differing widely in their character
istics. For example, there is marked differ
ence between the opinions, prejudiccs, and
mental developemcnt Of Americans and
Englislmen, and even Of persons living in
adjacent communities. Nor would it be
more prcpostcrous to assert, that the human
body dose not exist, because it would be
differently developed in different climates
No system Of education nor any attending
circumstances could ever make IN individ-
ual feel guilty when having done wrong, un-
less he had conscience, any more than they
could make him think without an organ to
serve as medium Of thought,
As the mind is superior to the body, so
are its faculties, and the various relations
which they sustain to each other more com
plex or difficult to be understood. Conse-
quently an accurate knowledge Of the ma
ture of conscience can not be obtained
without understanding the science Of mind,
as conscience, if it exist at all, must b. por-
tion Of the mental organization, and like the
other parts of it capable of development
Thu sit is seen, that it is an independent facul-
y,though closely allied TO reason; and may
pe abused by labitually disregareling its die
ates, and improved by oteying them The
flee Of this natural monitor is. to direct its
assessor in discriminating between right
d wrong, and TO infict the ,nerited cl,as-
nent if lie does not act accordingly.
.authority Of conscience is undoubtedly
It, and if SO, it is very essential that all
ul means be employed in its cultivation.
as all the faculties Of the mind sympa-
with and exert an influence upon each
:, it is highly important in, the first
that they should be expanded, strength
and enlightened. Then%by diligent
of the Scriptures. the. only true stan
fmorals, and an earnest and uDceas,
sire to comply with their require.
the conscience may alse he educated
prepared to perform its respective func.
ANEeHo KILtED.--As negro woman be.
ging to Ms, Avery, living in $the upper
of this district, was Killed by the son
Mrs ond NJ Raidw;r nm Er;dov Loaf