The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-02-11

Revelation known as the Old Testament.
There is Traditional reverence for the
Old Dispensation, handed down from
the founders of New England, which
still fingers in the bosom of the present
generation. But for the heretical views
Of Slavery expressed in the book, it
would now be second to no other work
in popular estimation, except the philo-
sophical productions of Ralph Waldo
Emerson, which, being devoid of all
mystery, and comprehensive by every
understanding, must always have prece-
dence of the Pentateuch and the Pro-
phets. With all it's drawbacks, how
ever, the Old Testament is stifi the text
book of New England theology, and the
sole source which the religion of that
land claims as it's fountain head. The
New Testament is book never much in
vogue with Puritans or Pharisees. 1t has
in it too much mercy, forbearance and
charity. 1t is intolerant to nothing
but sip. 1t permits and hallows all
enjoyment not inconsistent with pu-
rity of heart. 1t especially requires
forgiveness of enemies. Hence it's
unpcpularity with the Puritan race
Hence it is that the people of New Eng
land are mostly Unitarians, not recog-
nizing the Divinity of the Founder Of
Christianity. Hewing Agag to pieces
and exterminating nations arc congenial
to their tastes. 1t is true that these
races had provoked the vengeance of
Heaven by abominable crimes, and that
the children of Israel were hurled upon
these criminals as the God Of Nature
sometimes overwhelms even innocent
nations with earthquakes, tornadoes and
floods. But all enemies Of the Puritan
are abominable criminals; he and his
are the elect, the peculiar people, and
Christianity interferes with their recog-
nized patent of vengeance and annihila-
ton. Hence the preference of the Old
Testament to the New, and the universal
custom of naming all children after the
principal characters of the Old Dispen-
sation. Those patriarchs and prophets
had many cruel trials and prosecutions
to endure, but, among them all, none
more CALLING than the wholesale appro-
priation of their names by the Sons of
the Pilgrims. What had they done that
they should not only be prosecuted in
life. but caricatured in death? Instead
Of entering upon their rest, they must
all be in purgatory if they know what is
going on on earth. Should the Yankees
succeed in overrunning the South, we
may expect to see the patriarchs and
prophets, the warriors and sages, of the
Old Dispensation still further compli-
mented. The heather names of our
States, counties, hills and rivers, would
be made to correspond to the Old Dis
pensation. Richmond would be new
Jerusalem, and the James, which has
proved such hard road to travel, the
Jordan. Jonathan, Ebenezer, Ephraim,
Joshua, &C., might furnish designations
for other rivers. The Blue Ridge, whose
color remains loyal, would be the only
object of inanimate nature that would
preserve its ancient name.
The New England theologians have
discovered resemblance between the
Constitution of the American Union and
that of the twelve tribes of Israel. We
are unable to perceive the analogy. 1t
is true that. in some respects, the sons
of New England are the genuine chill
dren Of Israel The envy which led ten
of them to conspire the death Of the
most yirtuous Of their number is fea-
ture common to both and the general
characteristics Of the family, IS de-
scribcd by Jacob, their father, on hls
death bed, are not unlike the Sons OF the
Pilgrims. The worship Of tho Golden
Calf the Dartyrdom Of the best aud
wisest men. the whiteness Of the Sc
pulchres, and the corruption within, are
the same in both. But the twelve tribes
were independent Of eaclf other, God
being their only governor; and when,