JB/109/155/001

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1820. May 21.

Examiner May 21, 1820.

"We are much pleased with the prompt and enlightened
manner in which the independent journals have
discussed the Spy question, which indeed is one among
the many proofs of the blessings of a free press that must
endear it to the country. We have the satisfaction of
following up our last weeks' article by the quoting some
solid arguments from other papers:–

"He who allows of employing men to assume and
profess to be what they are not, has no right to exclaim
against assassination, when the object in view
is the good of society. Both crimes proceed on the same
principle of expedience, – that it is right to do evil that
good may come. Allow this in one case, and it must be
conceded in all. The rest is simply a matter of calculation.
To deceive is an evil; to betray is another; to kill is
only a third evil; and if the two first offences may be
committed* * to prevent a supposed greater evil, why may not the third be committed to correct or remove a supposed existing evil?
We say they are forbidden, and alike contrary to the
laws of Deity and man. Were we possessed of an omniscient
faculty, to give us a certainty that, when the evil
was done, a more than countervailing good could follow,
the principle might then be acted upon: but, limited
as our knowledge and faculties are, the evil
committed is certain, while the anticipated evil and the
anticipated good are both problematical; which is a sufficient
moral prohibition; but we must add also the
pain and the guilt of acting in opposition not only to
the dictates of a natural and necessary emotion but also
to a positive religious injunction. And how can those
who declaim so much against the violation of Christian
precepts, and the value of a Christian example, take it
upon them openly to violate one of the most positive
of our Christian commandments? Or will Mr Canning
contend here also, that the revealed laws of heaven must
bend to the practice of an earthly political faction?" –
Scotsman.

"If bad tendencies and propensities prevail, they are
generated by the circumstances of the times, which spies
may, and necessarily do increase and stimulate, but never
oppose or eradicate. They make the bad worse,
and the good unhappy." – Scotsman.

Identifier: | JB/109/155/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 109.
Date_1	1820-05-21	Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	109	Main Headings	Parliamentary Reform
Folio number	155	Info in main headings field	Collectanea
Image	001	Titles	Examiner May 21 1820
Category	Collectanea	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering
Penner		Watermarks
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year
Notes public	[[notes_public::"Copy down to the underlined word unhappy" [note in Colls's hand]]]	ID Number	35810
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