Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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[Continued from third page.) 11 found to exist within the limits of this northern ! continent, it will be owing to the consummation ' , of that policy which has been so unjustly assail. j ed. Only a very brief reference to facts* in con- } firm at ion of this aseor'icn can in this form be given, an I yon are, therefore, necessarily referred ! to the report of the Secretary of War'for further details. To the Cherokces, whose case has per- j haps excited the greatest share of attention and j sympathy. the United States have granted in fee. with a perpetual guaranty of exclusive and peaceable possession, 13,554, 135 acres of land j on tho west side of the Mississippi, eligibly sit uated, in a healthy climate, and in all respects j better suited to their condition than the country ; they have left, in excliango for only 9,491,160 ! acres on the east sido of the 6aine river. The j in ' 1'iiited States have, in adumon, nuj-u.-? ... . pay them ?.>,600,000 for their interest in, and ! improvements on, the lands thus relinquished, j ?1,160,000 for subsistence and other beneficial purposes ; thereby putting it in their power to become ono of the most wealthy and independent separate communitiics, of the same extent, in tho world. By the treaties made and ratified with the Mia. mies, the Chippewas, tho Sioux, the Sacs and Foxea, and the Winnebugocs, during tho la-t year, tho Indian title to eighteen million four hundred and fifty.eight thousand acres has been extinguished. These purchases have been much xnore extensive than those of any previous year, and have, with other Indian expenses, borne very heavily upon the Treasury. They leave, how. ever but a small quantity of unbought Indian lands within the States and Territories ; and tho legislature and Executive were equally sensible <4 tho proprioty of a final and more speedy ext n tion of Indian titles within those limits. 'I he treaties which were, with a single exception, j Wu'lt; in pursuance01 previous uppivpuawuno ,ut . defraying the expanses, have subsequently been ! ratified t>y the Senate, and received the sanction 1 of Congress by the appropriations necessary to! carry them into effect. Of the tennsupon which j i hesa important negotiations were concluded, I can ep?ak from direct knowledge ; and I feci no difficulty in affirming that the interest of the In. iJians in the extensive territory embraced by them is to be paid for at its fair value, and that no more favcr ible terms have been granted to to the United States than would have been reasonably expected in a negotiation with civilized mop, fully capable of appreciating, and protec- ; ting thiir o vn rights. For the Indian title to 110,319,697 acres acquired finco the 4th of Marcch, 1629, the United States have paid $72,f>6b,05G, in permanent annuities, lands, ro. servations for Indians, expense of removal and subsistence, merchandise, mechanical and agricultural establishments, and implements. When the heavy expenses in< urredby the United Slates, and the circumstance thai so large a portion of ! tho entire territory will bo forever unsaleable, are considered, and this price is compared with that for which the United States sell thciy own lands, no on ? can doubt that justico has been tA fUTn ihp^in these Durchases also. Cer UUUC H? HIV a ... t tain it is that the transactions of the Federal Government with the Indians ha\'e been uni. form 1 j characterized by a sincere and paramount desire to promote their welfare; and it must be ] source of the highest gratification to every i friend Injustice and humanity toloirn that. not. ! withstandingtlio obstructions from time to time 1 thrown in its way, and the difficulties which have arisen from the peculiar and impracticable na. tare of the Indian character, the wise, humane, I and andevi"!ing policy of the Government in ! tli s the most difficult of ail our relations, toreign 1 ordomostic, has at length been justified to the ? world in its near approach to a happy and certain Oammniatioji. The coiniiiion of th"1 tribes wliich occupy the \ country set apart for them in the West is highly j prosperous, and encourages the hope of their ; o '.rly civilization. They have, for the most part, j abandoned the hunter state, and tnrned their at. lentiou to agricultural pursuits. All those who ; have been established for any length of time in j that fertile region maintain themselves by their i own industry. There are among them traders . of no inconsiderable capital, and planters export. ! ing cotton to soinc'exlcut; but the greater num. bcr are small agriculturists, living in comfort J udou the produce ofthcir farms. The recent cmi. ! grants, although they have in some instances remorod reluctantly, have readi'y acqnisced in their unavoidable destiny. They have found at once a recompense for past sufferings, and aji incentive to industrious habits, in the abundance and comforts around them. There is reason to believe that all these tribes arc friendly in their | feelings towards the United States; and it is to j be hoped that the acquisition of individual wealth, the pursuits of agriculture, and habits of industry, will gradually subdue (heir warlike propensities, am! incline them to maintain peace among themselves. To effect this desirable object, the attention of Congress is solicited to the measures recommended by the Secretary of War for thoir future government and protection, as well 4Vo:n each other as from the hostility of the warlike tribes around them, 4nd the intrusions of the Whites. The po icy ofthe Government has oiven them a permanent home, and guarantied to them its peaceful and undisturbed possession. It on'y remains to give them a government and ! laws which will encourage industry, and secure ; to them the rewards of their exertions. The j importance of some lorm of government cannot! bo too much insisted upon. The earliest effects will bo te diminish the causes and occasions for 1 hostilities among the tribes, to inspire an interest in the observance of laws to which ihry will have themselves assented, and to multiply the j' s?curities of property, and the motives for self improvement. Intimately connected with this -1 subject is the establishment of the military de. ! < fences recommended by the Secretary of War, 1 < which have been already ref?rred to. Without j I them the Government will be powerless to re- it deem its pledges of protection to the emigrating '; Indians against numerous warlike tribes that ' < surround tbem, and to provide for the safety of ! i the frontier settlers of the bordering States. i i Tire case of the Scinir.ales constitutes at pre- ! I sent the only exception to the successful efforts j t of the Government to remove the Indians to the i 1 homes assigned them wes* of th? Mississippi.? i t Four hundred of this tribe t migrated in 1S3G, i and fifteen hundred in 1837 and 1838, leaving j i in the country, it is supposed, about 2,000 In- i < dians. Tho continued treacherous conduct of ! a these people ; the savage and unprovoked mur- ; r dcrs they have lately committed, butchering j t whole families of the settlers of the Territory, j c ? -11 ? ? Af oov ami maLrtrirr n WUUUUif llU-4 I1CUUII Ui ujje \JI BV?, ...... | ? their way into the very centre and heart of the t count y, so that no part of it i3 free from their j t ravages; their frcqnent attacks on the lighthouses I l along that dangerous coast; and the barbarity J 1 with which they have murdered the passengers ; t and crews of such vessels as have been wrecked j v upon tlio reefs and keys which border the Gulf, | n leave the Government no alternative but to con- i ti linuothe military op?ration9 against them until j tl they are totally expelled from Florida. j tl There are other motives which would urge the i p 'GoTcrmnent to pursuo this course towards the j L Scminoics. The United States have fulfilled in : b; good faith all their treaty stipulations with the ti Indian tribes, and have, in every other instance, I c< insisted upon a like performance of their obliga- tl tious. To relax from this salutary rule becauss i tl thek Sc:ninole9 have maintained themselves to pi long in the Territory they had had relinquished, j c< and, in defiance of their frequent and solemn en. : tl gagements, still continud towagca ruthless war ! in against the United States, would not only evince i vi a want of constancy on our part, but be of evil J Ir example in our intercourse with other trtbes.? I Experience has shown that but little is to be ; pi gained by the march of armies through a conn, j C try so intercepted with inaccessible swamp3 and th marsh; 3. and which, from the fatal character of' to ihe climate, must be abandoned at the end i fthe in fT * J ]'rr\ tion the plan submitted by the Secretary of War in the accompanying report, for the permanent occupation of the portion of the Territory from the Indians, and the more efficient protection of the people of Florida from their inhuman warrfare. From the report of the Secretary of the Navy, herewith transmitted, it will appear that a large portion of the disposable naval force is either ae. lively employed, or in a state of preparation for tho purposes of experience and discipline, and the protection of our commerce. So effectual has been this protection, that, so far as tho information of Government cxt nds, not a single outrage has been attempted on a vessel carrying it** fl i<r of the United States within the present v,,v" " year, 111 any quarter, however distant or exposed. The exploring expedition sailed from Norfolk on the 19th of August last; and information has been received of its safe airival at the 'eland of Madeira. Tho best spirit ani ates the officers and crows, and there is every reason to anticipato from its efforts results beneficial to commerce and honorable to tho nation. It will also be seen that no reduction of the force now in commission is contemplated. The unsettled state of a portion of South America renders it indispensablo that our commerce should receive protection in that quarter; the vast a d increasing interests embarked in the trade of the Indian and China seas, in the whale fisheries of tho Pacific ocean, and in tho Gulf of Mexico, require equal attention to their safety ; and a small squadron may be employed to great advantage on our Atlantic coast, in meeting sudden demands for the reinforcement of other b ations, in aiding merchant vessels in affording active service to an additional number o *officers and in visiting the different ports of the Unf ed States, an accurate knnvl-dgc of which is obvio-s'y of the highest importance. The attention of Congress is respectfully call ' 4 ^A ?4- ?. ?. A MA/tAmmanrlinrr UU IU tllUl purtlUil Ul II1U irpwib icvwiiiiu^uutiig an inc-oauc in the number f smaller vessels, and to other suggestions contained in that document. The rapid increase and wide expansion of oui commerce, which is every day seeking new avenues of profitable adventure; the absolute necessity of a naval force for its protection precisely in the degree of its extension ; a duo re. gard to the national rights and honor ; tho recollection of its form -r exploits, and the antici. pation of its future triumphs whenever oppor. tunity presents itself, which wo may rightfully indulge from tho experience of t.ic past?all secnf to point to the Navy as a most efficient arm of our national defenco, and a proper object ofl gig'ative cnco iragement. The progress and condition of the Post Office Department will be seen by reference to the report of the Postmaster General. The extent of post roads, covered by mail contracts, is stated to be 131 S18 miles, and the annual transportation upon them 31,580.202 miles. The number of post offices in the United States is 12,553, and rapidly increasing. The gross revenue for the year ending on the 30lh day of Juno last was 84.462,145. The accruing expenditures 8117,923 ; excets of expenditures $417,923.? This has been made up of the surplus previously on hand. The cashon hand on the first instant was $314,068. The revenue for tho year ending June 30, 1838, was $161,540 more than that for the year ending June 30, 1837. Tho expenditures of the De. pnrtmcnt had bcon graduated upon the the anticipation ofu largely increased revenue. A moderate curtailment ot mail service consequently nf.nnsMfv nnfl Ins hf*pn pfflirtcfl In shield the Department against the danger of em-' barrassment. Its revenue is now improving, and j it wil soon resume its onward course in the ; march of improvsmcnt. I Your particular attention is requested to so' much of the Postmaster General's report as re. j lutes to the transportation of the mails upon rail roads. The laws on that subject do not seem : adequate to securo that service, now become al- j most essential to the public interests, and at the j samo timo protect tho Department from j combinations and unreasonable demands. Nor can I too earnestly request your attention fo the necessity of providing a more secure building for this Department. The danger of des. truction to which its important books and papers are continually exposed. a6 well from the highly combustible character of the building occupied as from that of othors in the vicinity, culls; for prompt action, Your attention is again earnestly invited to the sugg stionsand recommenduttons submitted at the lost session in respect to tho District of Columbia. I feel it my duty, also, to bring to your notice certain proceedings at law which have receutly : bocu prosccutod in this District, in the name of' the United States, on the relation of Messrs. i Stockton & Stokes, of the State of Maryland, agiinst the Postmaster General, and which have ; resulted in the payment of money out of tho Na.! tional Treasury, for the first time since the cs- j tablishment of the Government, by Jaw writ of mandamus, issued by tho Circuit Court of this ' Disrict. The facts of the case, and the grounds of the . prooeedings, will be found fully stated in the j report of the decision ; any additionai intorma. , ? ?i.:_i J?-..-II i? ! HUH winmi vuu lll.iy ut'eau nm m? Bupjiucu i/? i (lie proper department. No interference in the J pasticulur case is contemplated. The money | has been paid; the claims of the prosecutors) have been satisfied ; and the whole subject, so j far as they are concerned, is finally disposed of; i but it is on the supposition that the case maybe j regarded as an authoritative exposition of the ! law as it now stands, that I have thought it ne cessiry to present it to your consideration. The object of this application to the cir uit court wa6 to compel the Postmaster General to carry into effect an award made by the Sellcitor jf the Treasury, under a special set of Congicss, for the settlement of certain claims of the nla. I :ors on the Post Office Department; which ! lwnrd the Postmasscr General declined to cxa :ute in full, until he should receive further legslative direction on the subject. If tho duty i mposlod on the Postmahter General ay tint aw was to be regarded as one of an official na- ( ure, belonging to hieofficeasa branch o the Executive, then it is obvious that the constitu- 1 ional competency of the Judiciary to direct and 1 ontrol him in its discharge was necessarily ! Irawu in (juestion. And if the duty so imposed . >n the Postmaster General was to be considered is merely ministerial, and not executive, it yet j omainedtobc shown that the Circuit Court of ' his District had authoiity to interfere by man- ' ' ? MAfTo* Ka4AI?A IUIJJUS t-uwu u Jiunti muuig uv,lu U1-luit utvjj , issertcd or claimed by that court. With a view J o the settlement of these important questions, he judgment of the Circuit Court was carried * 'V a writ of error to the Supreme Court of the Lhiited States. In the opinion of that tribunal t ho duty imposed on the Postmaster General ras not an official, executive duty, but one of a le.-cly ministerial nature. The grave constitu. ionul questions which had been discussed were, licrcforc, excluded from the decision of the case: t lie court, indeea, expressly admitting- that, with !; owcrs and duties properly belonging to the Ixccutive.no other department can interfere, y the writ of mandamus; and the question,'1 icrofuro resolved itself into i his: Has Congras j '1 nferred upon the Circuit Court of this District,' ic power to issue such a writ to an officer of: ^ io General Government, commanding him to, f, ?rfonn a ministerial act ? A majority of the ' J >urt have decided that it has; but h ive founded | f icir decision upon a process of reasoning which,' h ' my judgment, renders further legislative pro- j jr ision indispensable to the public interest and | ic cqua; administration 01 jusuce. It has long sinco been decided by I he Su- j ^ ome Comt that neither that tribunal nor the i tr ircuit (Courts of the United States held within j e respective States possess the power, c'onicd, j3 both of these high tribunals, (to the lonner j ' ' f ic Constitution, and to the luhtr t;r Con. > ? V ^ },- * . . r *tAf! 4 * ??> tV? f Circuit Court of this District. No such direct grunt of power to the Circuit Court of this Dis. trict is claimed; but Ins been held to r suit, by necessary implication, from several sections ol tho law establishing the Court. One of these sections declares that the laws of Maryland, as they existed at the time of the cession, should be in forco in that part of the District ceded by that State; and, by this provision, tho common law, in civil and criminal cases, as it prevailed in Maryland in 1801, was established in that part of the District. In England, the Court of King's Bench? because the Sovereign, who, according to the theory of tho Constitution, is the fountain of jus. tice, originally sat there in person, and is still deemed to c present, in construction of law? alono possesses the high power of issuing tin writ of mandamus, not only to Inferior jurisdic tions and corporations, but also to magistrates a ni | others, commanding them, in tho King's nam* I to do what their duly requires, in cases wher* there is a vested right, and 110 other spacifh remedy. It has been held, in the case referret to, that, as the Supreme Court of the Unitec States is, by the Constitution, rendered incom pelent to exercise this power, and as the Circui Court of this District is a Court of general juris diction in cases at common law, and the high est Court of original jurisdiction in the District the right to issue the writ of mandamus is in cident to its common law powers. Anothei ground relied upon to maintain the power i: question is, that it wa6 included, by fair con struction, in rhc power it granted to the cir cuit Courts ol ihe United States, by the act44 tc provide for the more convenient organizatior of the Courts of the United States," passec 13th of February 1801; that the establishing the Circuit Court of this District, passed th( 27th day of February, 1801, conferred upot that Court and the judges thereof the same powers as were by law vested in the Circui1 Courts of the United States and in the judge* of the said Courts; that the repeal of the firs! mentioned act, which took place in the noxi I vpnr. did not divest the Circuit Court of th? District of the authority in dispute, but left i still clothed with the powers over the eubjeci which, it is conceded, were taken away fronr the Circuit Courts of the United States bj the repeal of the act of 13th of February 1801 Admitting that the adoption of the laws o Maryland for a portion of this District oonfen on tlio Circuit Court thereof, in that portion the transcendent extra-judicial prerogative pow ers of the Court of King's Bench, in England or that either of the acts of Congress, by ncces sary implication, authorizes tho former Court t< issue a writ of mandamus to an officer of thi United States, to compel him to perform a min, istcriul duty, the consequences are, in one respect the same. The result in either case is, that the officers ofthe United States, stationed in differ ent parts of the United States, are, in respect t( the performam e cf their official duties, subject t( different laws and a different supervision; those in the States to one rule, and those in the Di? trict of Columbia to another and a very different ; one. In the District the r official conduct is sub ject to a judicial control, from which in the States they are exempt. Whatever differnce of opinion may exist as t( the expediency of vesting such a power in th< Judiciary, in a system of government constitu I ted like that of the Uni ed States, all must agree that these disparaging discrepancies in the law ! and in the administration of justice ought not te be permitted to continue ; and as Congress alone can provide (he remedy, the subject is ?.navoida bly presented to your consiaorauon. M. VAN BUREN. Washington, December 3,1838. From the Christian Intelligencer. THE OXFORD TRATCS. W'c coniinue the extracts from a recent work published in England, entitled," Essays on the Church, with some observations on existing circumstances and dangers, by a Layman." They more particularly exhibit the character of the Oxford Tract Theology 41 We have already traced the identity which exists, between the Popery which is now up rearing itself in the midst of the Church of England, and the Popery of Rome ; and have shewn how very minute and trivial is the distance which is still left between them. But it seems advisable, bc^ fore leaving the subject, to resolve these de? tails into their first principles, and to shew if possible, in what fundamental points the preachers of this revived Popery have erred; bandoning the doctrines of the Curcli of England, and adopting those of the great Anti-christian apostacy. " f. The first grand error, then, iuto which these teachers fail, is, that of denying the sufficiency and supremacy of God's word, the Holy Scriptures, as oar one sole, and sufficient Rule of Faith : and setting up as a necessary addition and accompaniment to if, the Traditions of the Church. In this they so entirely coincide w ith the Romanists, that Dr. Wiseman, the Pope's missionary in this country, has contented himself with quoting from Mr. Newman's work, on 'the A rians of the Fourth Century the following passage : " * Surely, the Sacred Volume was never mended, and was not adapted, to teach us our creed ; however, certain it is, that we can prove our creed from it, when it has once been taught us. From the very first, the rule has been, as a matter of fact, for the chureh to teach the truth, ?nd then to appeal to the Scriptures in vindication of its own teaching, upon which he Romish controversialist remarks : This is more than sufficient for my pur pose ; it nui oniy uami sine promises wmcn [ have laid down, Lut goes as far as I can tfisb, in I he consequences if draws.' [Wiseman's 5th Lnc.ure, p. 139.] " In tbo Tracts (or the Times, No. 71, he same doctrine is thus stated : "?T hn Bible is the record of necessary ruih ; and the 4 Church Cathoitc's tradition s flip interpreter of if." *' But Ciiillingworth had. long ego, set is deceit in t e light of truth, with his us., inl power and clearness ; ho says, 4 lie hat would usurp an absolute lordship and \ rrany over any people, n 'cd put himself to he trouble and difficulty of abrogating and j disannulling the laws made to maintain the ommon liberty ; for h?* may frustrate their in j "lit, and compass his own design as well, if he can g't the power and authority to ine;rupt them as he pleases, and to have is interpretations and additions stand for I iws ; if he can rule his people by his laws, nd his laws by his lawyers. So the Church j f Homo, to establish her tyrranny over ; ten's consciences, need not cither to abol- j h cr corrupt the Holy Scripture^ the nil- ' ir at J supporters of Christian liberty. But c more expedite way. and therefore the ; Ir>.n 1 ' t r. - "0,' 'r, the opinion and esteem of being the public and authorised interpreter of them, and the authority ofadding to them what doctrine she pleased, undsr the tittle of traditions or defi. ! nitions. For by this means, she might bof serve herself of all those clauses of Scripture which might be drawn to cast a favorable countenanceupon her ambitious pretences ?which, had the Scriptures been abolished she could not have done ; and yet be secure . enough of having neither Iter power linfted, s ; nor her corruptions and abuses reformed bj j them; this being once settled in the minds ol i men, that unwritten doctrines, if proposed bj ; i her, were to be received with equal reverenct -1 than of the warfare to be waged, he 1 ; would hardly havo failed to remem J j ber, that for whole centuries the chie I i to those that were written ; and that tin i ?ense of ScriDture was not thnt which i 1 j srcniod to reason and understanding to be - i but 'hit which the Church of Rome shouh 1 declare it, seem that never so unreasonabli arid uncongruous.' (Ch4i ling worth's Works ; foi. p. 40.) 44 And it is very important that we shouh r nlvva>s bear in wind, that it is one unerrinj 1 test of truth or error,?wnether the teacher of any given doctrine are ready to submi J to ihejudgment of God's word or not ? 4 T< j the Law and to the Testimony ; if the; j speak not according to this word, it is be r cause there is no light in them.' The Be < reans are praised by the-Spirit of God, fo 1 that they, being laymen, 1 searched th i Scriptures daily, whether these things wer ^ so.' I " But to this test, no teacher of error wi l ever willingly consent to bo brought. Ii i the aversion, all shades and contrarieties o t heresy agree. With the Socinian, reasot t is to be the judge ;?wi h the Irvingite,4 th 1 Church or * the voice of the Spirit.' Th 1 Quaker equally refuses ihe simple word o p God, and prefers4 the inward witness j the Romanist asserts 4 the authority of th< , Church,' to declare what the sense ofScrip ture is ;?and the4 Tracts for the Times ' refer us to 4 the Church Catholic's Tradt li^n ' A rv/4 inncrvntAb no AoaK n a/1 oil /> J Iivjii nuu iijuoiuu^ii uuu uii VJ s th'-se refuse to abide by flie plain and un . ambiguous decisions of God's were, w< ? know and are assured, by the mgsl certaii J of all tests, that it is because there is in eacl ] and in all of them, some human admixture i which cannot abide this trial." i " But it has been asked, Do you mean " then, to set up every man's own private in 1 tepretation of Scripture as his rule c ! faith ? Or, if not, what better guid< have you to propose than that of th< > Church's teaching, or the Church's tra 5 dition! It is stran*e that this sophis [ tical dilemma should have perpHse< 'r any one. But it was well answered in th > Downside Discussion. T e statute law o > the realm is the rule of life to all person ' within that realm. We do not mean the stu ute law according to each man's own pri vate intepretaiion, but the statue law itself So the Holy Scripture are our rule of faith ? The Holy Scriptures themselves ; no the Holy Scrip ures as we choose to inter, pret them f t " But it has been objected,?that a mean ing, an interpretation, must be attached ti > the words of Scripture, or the mere act o : reading them will be of uo use :?Is then each man to attach his own meaning as \u reads, or ought he not rather to accept thi intepretuliou of the catholic or universa church 7 44 The first answer to this, is, that to tin , great bulk of mankind, to whom, in dealing with these mat ers, we must always havi reference,?ihere is no such thing availa. ble or accessible, as this alleged * interpre tation of the Catholic church.' Let a mar turn on which ? ver side he will, he is sure tt find whatever party he meets, laying clairr to 4 the consent of antiquity.' " But the second reply is, that in am difficulty, a fir more safe and certain guidt is provided for us, than ail the wit or wisdom of man could furnish. The promisf is, that4 the way-faring man,though a fool shall not err therein,' and this promise i? mado doubly sure by the means provided 1 for its accomplishment. 4 Your heavenlj Father will give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him. Here, then, is an interpreter incomparably .beyond all that man could-devise, a sure, an unersing guide: One ; not a thousand conflicting authori. ties ; and one too, obtained by4 asking,' instead ofljing hid in the multudinous volumes of the Councils and the Fathers." ..ti n . .i .t i i /? t ii. uut me nexttcaaing anaiunciamental error of this school consists in an undue exaltation of what is termed Antiquity.1 Aiming, on the one hand, to pull down the Scriptures from their rightful elevation, as the one standard of truth ; they endeavor, on the other, to elevate most unduly, certain of the works of men, in such sort as to bring them nearly to the same level with God's word. u To show that we do not misrepresent the views of these writers we shall just ob. serve, that in one of their publications, we are told that to assert the principle of * the Bibie, and nothing but the Bible,' is to be guilty of 1 an unthankful rejection of an. oilier great gift, equally from God,' (Tracts for the Times, No, 71, p. 8 :) to wit, 'radition. In like manner, a departed friend is thus lauded "'He was one of those, who, feeling strongly the inadequacy of their own intellects to guide tiiem to religious truth, are prepared to throw themselves unreserv dly ' nn Revelation, wherever found, in Scripture > or Antiquity.* (British Critic, Jan. 1839, p. 1224.) I " Here is an exaltation, without any ! qualication or obscurity, of what is called 4 Antiquity,' to the same rank with ' Scrip, lure,' as equally the product of 1 Revelation." And in another page it is said, J flow little shou'J we know of the interpret tion of Scripture without the works of On. gen, of Tertullianf&c.' (Ibid. p. 47.) " Thus we are at one and the same time informed, that the writingsof the fathers are io be looked upon as a portion of revealed truth ; and that they arc absolutely cssen. rial to our understanding the Scriptures* N . ? a ! ffr.f. P'th. ,, J er of these assertions. Both, clearly, are J mere assumptions ; and of the boldest, nay of the most rash and groundless dcscrip tion." 1 " We have seen that one of the Oxford - writers talks of1 throwing oursel.es unre. ' servedly on the guidance of Revelation, whether equal in Scripture or antiquity.' > And if we ask, what is included under this ) term, * Antiquity, we find that there is no ? intention of confining its application to the r works of the apostolic Fathers,?to those f who wrote in the days when the miraculous r gifts of the Spirit were still vouchsafed to } the church ;?but that weare to be carried 1 down a course ofcenturis, and still to accept the perpetually .deteriorating works of the ^ ' J.-* (LA M'nn/tllrtio ftf & t)n uivines oi me uay, us iuc piuuuvu wi **w } velation.* It is said, 1 "4 Three centuries and more were ne? cessary for the infant church to attain her ^ mature and perfect form and due stature. 3 Athanasius, Basil and Ambrose are the ? fully-instructed doctors of her doctrine, morals, and discipline/(British Mag. vol. ^ | ix. p. 359. ' j 44 4 Now here we have a principle intros j duccd, which is obviously inconsistent with 1 i the ground previously taken. We were 0 ! first told that the study of* Antiquity* was y I important, inasmuch as it introduced us to - the Contemporaries and immediate succes" sors of the Apos.les. But now it ;s argued, r j that the Fathers rise in authority and in 0 ! value, in proportion as their distance from e | the apostolic times increases ! Common sense will teach us just the contrary. The " main ground of the respect and venerable " which the earlier Fathers may justly claim, ' arises from the fact of their having been ac1 tually cnnver*ent either wiih the apostles, e themselves, or with those appointed by the c apostles to various offices in the church. advance two or three hundred years down " the stream of time, and what is the inevita8 ble result ? You come to a race of divines who were as far removed from the Apostle ' in distance of time, and probably also in " likeness of doctrine, as are the present theolf ogians of Germany, from the days and i'c.2 opinions of Luther and Me^anchon. When B authority, tl?erefore, is claimed for the wri1 tings of Basil t r Ambrose, we natural de. 1 mand know on what ground the claim is ** e.i VI made. Not on the existence 01 me spenai gifts of the Spirit, for those had been with'? drawn ; not on the score of a personal - knowledge of the apostles and their ways, f for this was prevented by the intervention of 9 three centuries ; not on a close adherence 9 to Aposiolic usages; for it is even made a matter of boast, ihat tbey had ventured/ r e. added to them. What, then, remains io claim our especial aud submissive attruB lion ? Nothing, but their intrinsic worth, ' whatever that may be. In otner words, we s ought to r^ad Basil or Ambrose with just as much veneration as we readCranmer or - Ridley, but assuredly with not a whit more. And, thus weighed and compared together. ? the value of the works of die sixth century 1 will be found to fall fur, very far short of - those of die sixteenth. * 111. Tne next fundamental error to ^ which we shall allude, in this school ofiheof Iogians, is a constant tendency to dwell more on the * outward and visible sign," ' than on the * inwnrd and spiritual grace/ I ?to pay greater attention to the form and j vehicW in which the divine mercy is conveyed to U9, than to the truth and power of ? the blessing itself. We are aware that j this imputation lias already been declared 9 to be 'uncharitable / but we know not how to estimate or describe a bodyofthoo" logical wri'ers, otherwise than by their pub. tvnrkci ? nnrl flint is renllv tl?? snirit } ? ' ? v ? r } of those works, will hardly l>e denied ;nev1 criheless, to leave no room for cavil, we will offer an instance or twe in proof. " I* The Lord Jesus Christ, just before , his ascension, eommissiorred his apostles 't to * go into all the world, and preach the , gospel to overy creature." fie charged them in ' baptize all nations, in the name j of the Fattier, and of the Son and of the I Holy Ghost; and to teach them to observe t all things,' that he that commanded ; and ( he added ' Do, I am with youahvay, even unto the eud of the world.' Now of the | power thus vested in the apostles, and the , authority given to them, (impliedly only, not expressly to transfer that power to certain successors ; wc near much from these writers. It is, in fact, the centre of their system; for they tell us, that ' The very notion, that representatives of the apostles , are now on earth, from whose commun? ion we may obtain grace, as th > first , Christian did from the apostles, is surely, | when admitted, of a most transporting and persuasive character ; it will supply the desideration which exhsts in our actual teaching at this day*' (British Mag, vol. ix~ OAS 1 p. uuy.j " Here, most clearly, it is the authority, vested in certain persons by succession, that is held up as the grand 4 esideratum.* To be commissioned by those who derive their own commission in a direct line from the apostles, and thus from Christ, is the main thing. But the great end object of he ministry so commissioned,?namely4 to preach the gospel to every creature,' is wholly forgotton ; or the writer, who is so 4 transported' with the idea of having actual 4 representatives of the apostles on <arth,' would never have lost sight of the fact, thai an immense majority of these 4 representatives of the apostle9,' now liv- ' ing on the earth, are among the greater traitors to Christ, and the most bitter enemies to his gospel, that can possibfc be c j ii..! up hmi nnt more KllillUi 11 I'lo niiivi uiiu iiv. of the ' authority' and the 4 con mission employment of these 4 representatives of \Jtf apostles' consisted in hunting out of tjeir i dens aad caves of the earth/ those fejfreal I disciples ofChrist,4 of whom the woW was i not worthy.' But it is evident ty the au ^ thority conferred, is the chief nyrferin this y writer's eyes; end that theobjrct and end tf of this mission?the preaching of the gos? A pel?fills quite a subordinaC place. y "If. This is placed bq^ooda doubt by, w the constant preference slfewn forihe Horn- ,n ieh BD'i?!ocv ovc- *\ f fijrmed "hvcf c.T I 7 of Germany, Scotland, &c. We have already seen, that Rome is constantly addres. sed as our 'mother,' 'sister/ and the like, and4 our present separation from it, declared be 4 a grievous calamity' [British Mog? ozine, vol.ix. p. 243 ;] while the church of Scotland is likened to Samaria, and even to Israel in a state of utter apostacy. Now this | is entirely to overlook the inspired description of Rome, as 4the mother of harlots, and abominations of the earth: drunken with I the blood of the saints, and with the blood I of the martyrs of Jesus ;' and from frhott) | God commands his people to 4 Come out that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.'* It is also entirely to forget the broad and notorious fact, that Italy, so especially to be epried as possessing * representatives of the apostles on ear'h, from whom we may derive grace,' is a land wholly given up to idolatry, infidelity, superstition, and degrading vice; while Scotlond is a country, where the gospel is preached, and honored, and believed and where Christians abound, and faith and the fruits of faith are every where , visible. But all these things matter not, when a man acquires a habit of looking more to forms and names, than to things? to ordinances and sacraments, more than to grace and holiness. *jj "III. The like error runs through all W their views of the sacraments. The mio, isters of the ohurch are declared to be the only ministers in England,1 who have a right to be perfectly sure that they have the body and blood of Christ to give to (ho people.' Thus the value of the sacrament * is rrnde wholly to depend upon the kind of ordination received by the minister* instead of laying, as the Church constantly does, the chief stress on the faith of theieceiver. The church declares plainly,'hat unbelievers do not eat the body and blood of Christ [Art, xxix. ;] and it also distinctly states, that what remains after communion, though consecrated, is nothing but 1 bread and wine.' Cleary, then, the church look to the substantial par', the spiritual reception of the sacrament, by faitb. But the writers whom we have quoted, by their greatest stress upon the minor circumstances ofcon- * secration, whether by a priest or a deacon, and the like. And their argument goes to prove, that in iheCtrarch of Scotland, with hundreds of godly ministers, and thousands of pious communicants, there has not been a single real sacrament, for nearly two hundred years! And that merely because there lias not been a priest, in the apostolic succession, to convert the bread and wine into the bod) andjblood ofChrist; while in infidel nod debased Spain and Italy,our Lord's body and blood is constantly offered to the people, inasmuch as the priests who there officiate,?unbelievers, themselves, as most of them are,?ore yet the right line of 4 Apos olic succession.' POETRY. From the Imperial Magazine. THE HARMONY, A MORAVIAN VESSEL. [This is a small brig belonging to the United Brethren, which, for upwards ofSfty years, has regularly carried provisions, and other commodities, to their mission stations in Greenland, Labrador, &c. The missionaries are entirely *ependent for their supplies upon its safe arrival. It is customary for the Brethren 4 /r> ? ? fA /IAJ 10 OQer buieuiu prajrn w uvu. uu im ooiuuk, for its safety; and to welcome its return with praises and thanksgivings.] Little bark, thy wings expand, Catch the gently blowing breeze; Hasten to the destined land, Skim across the azure seat; Seek the distant, chil'ing Pole, Cheer and bless the longing soul. There, where Greenland's mountains raise High their snowy-crested beads; Where gay nature seldom strays Seldom her glad blessings sbed; There, upon that sterile land, Dwells a holy Mission band. Self-devoted to the Lord, Home's sweet comforts they lesign; Trusting in His holy word, On his promise they recline,? Not in vain?their vessel brings Bounties from the King of kings. Precious bark, the Brethren's prayer On thy hallowed path attends ; And Jehovah's waich/ul care Safe the Mission brig defends: Not a swelling billow's force Dares to stop its prosperous course. Far amid the frozen deep Lies its oft-repeated way: Yet not icy bonds can keep, Prayer avails far more than they; Like to faithful Noah's ark, 'Tie the Christian's sacred bark. Long hast thou the bills rods, Long the frozen plain defied; God, who erst the wa*rs trod*, Deigns himself to<*> thyjfoider He who 6torms acalmafne sea, Still will keep a*d prosper thee. Still go on to the Pole Heavily bounties safely bear; Till tb~' Gospel-he raids tell Ai'the Goipel-message there: T?l the sons of Greenland find ,Tesus, Saviour of mankind. Till ^he fallen race of man ? ""J ?,1 . /or my aia no more sncui cau , V^hen the heaven-projected pian Shall embrace and rescue all: / Wnen, O God ! the world shall prore All the fulness of thy love! J.S. B.,Jun. Is liey, Worcestershire. ftrntr Wanted. A Teacher to take charge of Pleasant Hill Academy, who is competent to prepare oung men for entering College ; also to teach le usual branches of an english education.? . man ot family would be pre>ered. Appliesons to bo made to William Sbaw, Mill Grow, umter district. None need rpply except those ho can come recommended for eobreitj and oralitr. Nor. is. 1939. n*-e?