Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-04-29
Quoting Scripture.
We find the following communication in
The Alexandria Gazette:

We find the following communication in
the Alexandria Gazette:
'.QrorIyG ScHrprrGr.-In his letter 10 the Hon.
David Hubbard. Governor Wise says: Inc kc"-
bon. have tried to sell me into Egypt. for my
dreaming" We suppose the Governor means III
this passage 10 quote the part ot scripture wh.r;
il tells of Joseph being sold into Egypt by hl'
brethren. II 80, On examination, thr h"'elhoF
will find that Reuben seems I" he The only one
VIII" did not want 10 sell him. but that the itca ol
L sale originated with Judah, the l.rog"nitor oil
that part ofthc chosen people called Jews.
This ~ another. among many Instances. "i tAc
inarcuracy %; politicians. when they incddlc VITA
scripture"
Gov. Wise. as We understood the lilustra-
ton, was peculiarly happy. Joseph : hreth-
rem NAV he described. in three classes. FIRST,
those who wished to slay him. Second. Jul
dab. who wished To escape the CRIME "i muir
der and pockct the profit OT II sale. 1t was
To neither of these that the Governor referred,
in speaking of the Reuhcns.
Reuben. it will be remembered, really de-
sired to save Joseph alive aud restore Inn
tu his father. But Reuben attempted To
carry out his intentions by II seeming ac'Iui-
essence with the murdcrcr,. At his sugges-
ton, Joseph was placed i'll the PIT, IRON when
Reuben intended secretly 10 deliver hIm:--
But Reuben was weak and uniathful. lie
did not stay to watch and guard his brother,
but lett him in the hands OF his enemies,
who sold him. And after the sale was com
pleted, Reuben became an accessory after
the fact" and united with his brethren III
practising Il cruel deceit on the patriarch
Jacob. And long afterwards when The
/ - -, ,,,4 - % t.n "a La
seph's being yet alive, were awakened by
disaster to IL sense Of gulit-whrn they az
knuwlcdred 1--WE are verify guilty concern
ing our brother" Reuben felt himself a par
~ticipator in the guilt, answering only win
the well known plea Of culpahIe weak
ness, II ioM y"n So"
''Spake | not unto YOU saying, ID" not SIN
against the child; and We would not hear
! therefore. behold, alSn his blood Is required.
Now, Governor Wise evidently did not III
tend to refer To those of his enemies who
were melted bv personal vindictiycneSs to
slay him. nor yet to those Judahs WHO were
rooIly DESTROYS Of selling him for thirty
( pieces" Of political capital. lie referred 10
the Reubcns." who were really DESTROYS To
save him. yet were too tlmld TO protect HIM;
and he meant t. indicate the fact that these
.'Reubens." worse, than the Reuben Of old,
kner beforehand that the intention Of the
.Iudahs w:,s TO render the pit of political dis
appreciation into which he was 10 be east.
not u temporary shelter to facilitate his com
plete vindica,ion by the sympathizing atec-
ton Of the Democracy, but - dungeon from
which he was to be handed over, bound and
gagged. to be sold into Egypt" The
| Reubens" knew thi, ut first. and get they
proposed 10 east HIM INTO this pit"
We submit that this view of the matter.
shows a deeper sense in the Governors
meaning, more philosophy in the i~llustra-
| ton employed. and II better reading OF the
Scriptures, than the correspondent "f the
Gazette was aware Of, when he pennel the
above critiuue.-Rirh. Enquirer.