The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-02-21
Correspondents Of the Pac. Com, Advertiser.)

u believe it VIII be found that all attempts to amend the
morality of any nation by legislative enactments, and govern
on tie System n Legislation, SC.
MIR. EDITOR The ghost is not laid, and " En-
quirer" is up again. In fact nearly everybody is
"up, and every code, theory, or system, of hui
man belief, is up for Investigation, criticism, adop.
ton, or reprobation, as the case may be. And yet
few discussions are exhaustive. For the time being,
important principles seem TO be settled. Then the
human race moves on u few years, or scores of years,
when the ground tackle Of these anchored opinions
gives way, and up again they come to the surface
to be readiusted to the advanced position of the HUI
man mind. 1t must be conceded that a catalogue
of mems really final ideas of truth, would, at the
present moment. be scarcely bigger than u mans
hand.
But first and foremost on this catalogue we had
supposed would stand n sentiment exactly opposite
to that which furnishes our caption in other words,
that the morality Of narions has been amended by
legislative enactments and go vernmental action. -
Law-human law-to - amend the morality that
Is, if necessary, to coerce the outward acts of men,
is essential to the very idea Of n government. The
c urrent history Of the civilized world, is tantamOunt
TO the adoption of this sentiment by reclamation.
In fact, we can scarcely think of as many rs three
men in contiguity, without a simultaneous suggestion
of the abstraction of law. 10 regulate their conduct
Man may not inaptly be defined as n lnw-making
and a law-breaking animal.
The first inquiry suggested by our caption is, what
did God " attempt when he legislatel for the He
brew people. amid the thunder and lightnings Of
Sinai /: If he attempted to " amend their morality
it was worse than useless according to the au-
thor Of " Thoughts Oh the system of Legislation
sc. If it was an attempt to enforce religion
upon them, that was worse still, for according to the
same writer, mo government can manufacture re-
ligion." Rewards and punishments are Of the
earth, earthly -; and no one can deny that Gods
system Of government embraces both.
Where then. and how, shall We classify this ON
nipoteut attempt at legislation: Was it a religious
stone. II was both.
In its first capacity, it stretches forth its all en-
bracing grasp, and lays hold on every son and
daughter Of Adam. Its . letter y" is simple, clear,
direct, weighty, and uncompromisng, and adapted
with infinite wisdom, TO the infancy, both Of races.
and individuals. Its spirit 3" is epitomized by
Christ, in the single word g Love- and this it is
which binds, not only man, but angel and archangel,
and draws them up high enough to touch God, who
IS himself q" Love"
In its civil function, its prohibitions and its pre-
cepts are also Of universal application. 1t Is the
foundation Of all legislation which IL not usurped
and illegitimate. II cocrceS outward obedience, by a
system Of pains and penalties, easily adjusted 10 the
progressive development Of the race. The system
prescribed in the Mosaic ritual, was specially adapt
ed to the infancy Of a race and 4 nation, but it
bears the unmistakable sign manual Of Deity, in
that its rigor relaxes and Iiminishes in an exact
ratio to the elevation and purity Of mans moral
sentiments. As the human propensity to blood shei,
thieving, and the like, becomes weakened, so the
penalties Of these crimes will likewise weaken If,
in mans direst degradation it could be said, where
there is no law, there is no transgression, - so it Is
true that the human race i tending TO a God
like point Of elevation, from which It viii be pro-
There is no law where there Is no trans
gression-uo law for emancipated man, but that
which Is fit for angels and for God.
But it is not apparent in the - Thoughts - Of the
author above referred To, whether he admits the ii
vine authority Of the D~ecaogue and Of the ola and
Testaments. so we will leave this part Of our
subject with this simple summing Up-That view Of
the Decalogue which shows il To be a religious code,
IS addressed to the heart, and Is designed to reach
reform II. Heart conformity TO it, constitutes
religion. rs a civil code, it directs the outward
coniuct-and An outward conformity 10 it constitutes
mans morality. The distinction between morality
religion should not be coufouuded. \ man
have n religion, without being moral, and vice
versa We will now take il for granted, that the au-
81 the g Thoughts - believes that human legis-