The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-06-23

1
to find any interdict of the Savior against
slavery, but relies entirely Oh the Colder
Rule, let us investigate that Golven Rule
and find what interp, citations it will admit
Of In applying the Golden Rule, it becomes
necessary for us to enquire into the condi
tions and natural circumstances of ,he indi
viduals to whom it is applied; and whether
or not, we are required by that rule to Dc
equal and alike unto all persons, under al
circumstances, irrespective of the inequal
ties in their circumstances. 1t strikes us
very forcibly that in applying this rule We
should weigh all the inequalities existing be-
tween the various individuals to whom il
may be applied, and then act accordingly
Give to each individual exact justice in his
own peculiar circumstances in life.
Mr.. Taunton, in his "On the Fence Yet
letters. in speaking of some of our illustra.
tons of this theory, uses the following inapt
illustration, at reminds me of an infidel
who once said to me: sir, your Golden Rule
is golden humbug, will show you it is,
Thus, l desire that every man meet for the
next three months should give me one hun.
dred dollars, tnen must l give to every man
/ meet for the same length of time, like
sum-" He then adds, in further speaking
of us, "My proslavery friend. It's true, took
rather different views of The Golden Rule
but both arrived at conclusions equally sub
versive of the spirit of the Gospel" Yes,
we took very different views to those of the
infidel; and Of the correctness of these views
we are willing to trust the impartial reader
to judge, when they are investigated; and
whether or not they are subversive of the
spirit of the Gospel. But Mr.. Taunton's
views correspnd so very nearly with those OF
the infidel, we are almost led to believe that
the infidel, there spoken of, is no more nor
less than Mr.. Taunton, in the real Mr..
Taun.on's self-and that the me" to whom
the ''infidel once said,' is transformation
into the parsonage of ''On the Fence Yet"
for they Gift be lawful to use the plural
number) both adhere so strongly to the gen.
eral meaning of the phrase, whatsoever We
would that men should do unto you, do We
even so unto them," and not to its special
meaning as used in the Bible, that we can
not well come to any other conclusion. We
viewed the Golden Rule in the light, that do
ing unto others as we would that they should
| do unto us, we must suit ourselves to their
circumstances in life. And illustrated by a
criminal put upon trial for his life, for the
preparation Of some high crime-naking
here two distinct conditions in life-one the,
| accused for the crime, the othe.., the court
and the jury, whose business it was to try,
and either convict or acquit. But if Mr. T's
position be correct-that as every man in
his sane mind, preferred life to death, as nat,
ural consequences, the court and jury would
be bound to acquit the culprit. As a dem
onstration we change the scene; let the
criminal occupy the position of the court and
jury, and some one else fill the criminal
condition, and he would therefore, as a court
and jury, have to acquit the criminal, upon
the principles of Mr.. Taunton's Golden Rule
because he would, when in the criminals
place, that the court acquit him; consequent
ly, he should acquit the criminal. But
STOP" says Mr.. t., "the court and the jury
are sworn to try the case according to law
and testimony" Very well. sir, then the
law and the testimony are against your
Golden Rule. So, to obviate that objection
and make things more clear to him, we pro.
posed to take the Governor of State, or the
President, who has by virtue of his office,
the pardoning power, and from the court
carry the case up there; and as every ra
tional criminal convicted by the court, pre-
fers life to death, as natural consequence
would that the executive pardon him
Therefore, if he were in the executive chair,
should, according to Mr. T.'s Golden Rule,
pardon the convict. Such appears to be the
absolute necessity; and universal abolition
of all punishment for crime, under Mr.. T.'s
N'o'uSh Asu'0' A'us, W euO Cofttdiy ohtiiC tiuS
meaning and principles of the Golden Rule,
as specially applied by the Savior in his day
the apostles following him; by the Patriarchs
in their day; by the general practice of the
civilized, enlightened world in all ages. Dc
unto every man as he should be done by ir
his circumstances and conditions in life
Ifhe is freeman we should do as we would
be done by, being freeman, let him remain
free. If he is slave, or bondman, or 8
convict by any of the ways which God has
pointed out, that persons may be, in accord.
ance with divine law, placed in that situation
treat him as such. five fill, by any casu
atty in life, peculiar situation in society
we should, by the Golden Rule, receive thu
treatment that that situation demands.
We should have one course of treatment
for the wise man, and another for the fool
they cannot appreciate the same course Of
treatment, "answcr fool according to his
folly says Solomon.
This appears to be the only rational ant
intelligent Interpretation of the Golden Rule
Sanctioned by all experience, by the practic'
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