Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-05-10
glPRDIA
EDWARpsvLLE, MAY 10, 1928.

| we are dCCuoGu ny lliC fsIitOT vi lIC LII
wardsyille Spectator, of having marked out
" at our first dash, for prescription, the teach
ers of our holy religion" s**''*
| *"+'s We ask, where is the evidence of
the prescription with which we are charged.
| Illinois Republican.
The Editors of the Republican have
relieved US from all necessity of adducing
the evidence which they SO emphatically
demand, by their own republication Of
| the article to which we referred. This,
we submit to the public, verbatim, as
it appeared in their paper, that our rea-
ders may Judge for themselves, whether
we were not warranted in the inference
that they had marked out for proscrip
ton the teachers of religion. The article
is as follows:
"We are told however, that he speaking of
the Executive] is actively engaged in combin-
ing into phalanx, the teachers of our holy
religion TO oppose the Convention, and that
the pulpit is to be converted into a political
forum. We have hesitated to believe this, be-
S'uoN VIC nave luo ilISl all opiIlVu lOl l1S Chd-
racter of those gentlemen, to entertain the OPT
mon, that they have so entirely forgotten the
pure, exalted, and benign, precepts of Him
whom they profess to adore and follow, to en-
bark or the boisterous ocean of politics. If
however,. this should be the case, and instead
of promulgating the mild principles Of chris
tianity, and inculcahng by their examples, the
practice of the duties imposed by the doctrines
of our Saviour, and their sacred office, thew
should, as it were, throw off the mantle of Eli
jah, we shall be obliged to treat them, howev-
er painful to our feelings as we do other po-
litical opponents.
"If such plan be really in conte plation,
we hope for the sake of the country the honor
of orr religion, and the veneration We bear its
ministers, that it will be abandoned We know
that there are many ofour ministers, whom no
arts, no persuasions nor earthly consideration,
could induce to engage in any political ALI
ance; who would spurn with contempt over
lures TO induce themto become political gsdia-
tors. they are not prepared to renew the
scenes which were acted during the late war,
by the Rev. DR.. Parish, and others, in Massa-
chusetts, and invite open opposition to the 60
vernment and the declared will of vast ma
jority Of the people nor are. they prepared to
denounce with fire and sword, all who do not
think alike with them"
What is the evident scope and drift OF
this article, but denial of the right of
the teachers of religion to interfere with
the question of a convenlion--in other
words, to oppose the introduction of sla-
very into this state--an attempt to deter
them from exercising privilege as sa-
credly secured to them, as to any other
class of society!
| Satisfied that those who have nos
forgotten the pure, exalted, and benign
precepts of Him, whom they profess to
adore and follow" could not become the
| advocates of holding their fellow-men in
abject bondage, so Inconsistent with the
di' inc maxim, of " doing as we would
be done by" the editors ofthe Republic
can appear to have determined to in
timidate those pious characters into ST
lence, by denouncing any interference on
their part, on the subject Of slavery, as
yielding themselves up TO executive 10
f1uence; throwing off the mantle of
Elijah; embarking on the boisterous
ocean Of politics; and converting the
pulpit into political forum.
To give the keener edge to these de-
nunciations, those Editors, though they
assert they g have been told that the
executive was actively engaged ir COM
bining into phalanx, the teachers Of
our holy religion, to oppose the conven
tion;" yet, from their "high opinion Of
the character of those gentlemen" they
profess great hesitation in believing them
capable of the heinous offence, of so far
departing from the mild principles of
christianity, and the duties imposed by
the doctrines of our, Saviour" as to con-
tribute their exertion to prevent the in
production of slavery into this free and
happy land.
Lest, however, the ministers of the
gospel should not be deferred by their
Illuminating anathemas, those editors
Gas appears by the article we have quot
ed) kindly forwarn them of,he chastise-
ment which they shallbe obliged, how