The hydraulic press., 1861-04-06
THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

| We suggested that the reading of the Bible in
schools destroyed its sacred character, and that
1t would be better to discontinue its use, and SUBJ
stitute the Constitution of the United States
On this the Sacramento Union remarks:
:" If this argument be good, would not the case
| De the same with the reading of the Constitu-
ton, which has often been styled sacred in
| strument' and is regarded as such by every one
IN the United States except secessionists, or
TRAITORS, as they are more properly termed"
BY no means. The Bible teaches ethics, re-
iigion; the Constitution, law. The two are
sacred" in an entirely different sense. The
Interpretation of the former by different nations
and people, has given rise to thousand-it may
be ten thousand different creeds. The more it
is studied the less it seems to be understood If
received on trust, however, for what it purports
| to be, viz: system of instruction to regulate
morals and secure salvation, there are few per-
sons with sufficient temerity to gainsay or refute
its lessons. Your infdel, atheist, pantheist and
| skeptic are the men who can quote scripture on
their finger ends. In this'view of the case, it
may well be understood why members of the
Catholic Church are SO devout and punctual in
the discharge of their religious duties. They do
not read the Bibleto put their own construction
upon its language, but are content to have it ex-
| planned to them by their spiritual teachers.
| On the contrary, the Constitution must be
understood to be appreciated. The better it is
known, the more it is venerated, as a matchless
production of human wisdom-for it pretends to
be nothing more. By knowledge of its pro-
visions, States are prepared to yield willing
obedience to the mandates of the General Gov
ernment, and citizens allegiance to their respec-
tive States. A text of the Bible, if not thor:
oughly understood, may be taken, presumptively
as an injunction to refrain from evil and do
good. With the Constitution it is otherwise.
1t is denied to possess any doubtful or construc-
tive powers. A difference of Interpretation leads
to confusion, anarchy and disloyalty-as in the
present period of our countrys history-which
jeopardizes the existence of the very temple of
liberty. If the people who are lending their in
fuence to the existing state of affairs knew more
of the Constitution and the blessings which it
secures to them and their posterty, it is doubtful
whether they would ever have been guilty of
treason to the extent they now are. Ignorance
of their duty'to the Government as good citizens,
IuoIe 'ueSlIe IOT TeVOluClOH mas Deen the
means of goadng them on to folly and madness
Poison OAK.-In a late issue we copied 8
paragraph, which is still going the rounds of
! the papers, that tea made from manzanita
leaves, and applied as hot as it can be borne
to the parts affected, is a sure cure for the eff
fects of the poison oak Since thattime we
| have conversed with number of miners
| IN tbo Of
who assure us that they have tried it, since
reading the paragraph, with the most com
plete success. The discovery is certainly
most important one. Scarce an acre of mi
ming ground in all California can be found,
which is destitute of this beautiful, and now
valuable shrub.-Grass Valley National.
The National forgets to mention one
slight particular connected with the above
| item, to wit: that it was originally copied
! from this paper.