American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-05-27


accumulation of capital, are seen the monu-
ments of our industry.
Here, indeed, lies, at once, our honor and
our opprobrium An exclusively practical
spirit, injecting the community, has untitled il
tor purely intellectual sympathes and ener-
gies. we make no apology for, nor extenua-
ton OF, that money-makng insanity, that can
see no utility nor excellence but in what graft
ties avarce; that has made miserable bond
age to 'back and BELLY the memorable object
OF our study and sphere of our pride, and that
even estimates the value of the immortal soul,
by which man investigates the secrets of natu-
raj and spiritual TRUTH holds communion with
Cod and feels the sympathes Of eternity; the
only fragment left OF his Makers image--by a
certain kcenness in driving bargain, and the
amount OF bank stock he may be thought to
have boarded. What TO these enterprSing,
Duslness-llke sons OF lucre, 50 thick, in every
part, are delicacy of sentiment, grace in ex-
preston, variety Of acquisition, periods preg-
nant with reason and energy, and majesty of
imagination, in themselves considered or what
the complex calculation of transit, or a pla-
nets orbit, compared with some dextrous proof
OF peculiar smartness in getting ahead? 1t
is forgotten, IN an age of matcrialism, that in
the constant cultivation of our faculties aud
the study OF nature, there are deep springs of
enjoyment and power, which pelf cannot pur-
chase nor avarlce apprehend. This dollar-and-
cent tendency has crept into every system, and
lett It's bane even on the sacred objects of We
neration. The conservative influences Of re-
gon and letters have been insufficient to resist
1t; and public and private morality are diseased
with its breath: it has invaded the freslde and
ditfused Its venom through domestic enjoy
ment; it has converted the discussion of mo-
mentous questions of policy into an unprinci-
pied strife of saary-seekers, and stripped alike
OF patriotism and dignity our legislative halls;
its reptile eyes gloat over the universal bank
ruptcy it has caused, while its tongue Kisses
the sophistry of reputation; it has degraded
the standard OF education, whose object is the
perfection of human nature, TO the mere ac-
QUESTION of knowledge enough to get living,
and is eating away the noble character and
stern sentiments of oar fathers Still the dis
J temper is temporary and not necessary to our
|, form of government 1t will be counteracted
by agencies already at work. The enginery
OF the gospel, more powerfully directed, the
inspiring effect of eloquence, works of taste,
: and wholesome philosophy, public lectures, Ga
novel feature in our American society," eabo-
; rately composed, and the improving character
OF our semnaries of learning, are giving
better tone to our national feeling.
} Although the tone of wealth is common to
, this with other countries, and is carried to a
: very perncious extent, and the greater facili-
ties Of elsewhere acquiring it, may have Sc
duced some from the less profitable walks of
: learning, there is still among US an unusual
degree of general information, of educated
taste and sentiment, and of relish for profound
and vigorous writings, so that genius has all
the encouragement she has ever asked; and
, fha nlo Of ipton A.
ambition of commanding influence, and
bright memory do not effect the mind, with
moral certainty, than we may expect the
dawning of the perfect day of American ge-
MUS. E. d. w.
PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Two of the important questions coming be-
fore this body, have been disposed Of On Tues
day morning, the vote on the following qles-
ton was taken: SIS Baptism in the Church of
Rome valid;" and decided in the negative by
the following vote-ayes 6, nays 1863, non IL
quets 4.
In the afternoon of the same day the ques-
ton of Slavery was taken up and very sum-
marily disposed of The Committee to whom
the several memorials upon the subject of Sla-
very had been referred, offered their report
AS the report is long, we can give only few
extracts from it:
"The question which is now unhappily agi-
tating other branches of the church, aud which
is pressed upon the attention of the Assembly
by the three classes Of memoraIsts Just nam
ed, is, whether the holding of Slaves, is under
all circumstances heinous sin, calling for the
disci plne Of the church.
The Church of Christ is a spiritual body,
whose jurisdiction extends only to the religious
faith, and moral conduct of her members. She
cannot legislate where Christ has not legisla-
ted, nor make terms Of membership which he
has not made The question, therefore, which
this Assembly is called upon to decide, is this:
Do the Scriptures teach that the holding of
slaves without regard to circumstances, is
sin, the remuneration of which, should be made
a condition of membership in the church of
Christ,
1t is impossible to answer this question in the
affirmative, without contradicting some of the
plainest declarations of the Word of God =
That slavery existed in the days of Christ and
his Apostles is an admitted fact. That they
did not denounce the relation itself as sinful, as
inconsistent with Christianity; that shareholders
were admitted to membership in the churches
organized by the Apostles; that whilst they
were required to treat their slaves with kind
ness, and as rational, accountable, immortal
beings, and if Christians, as brethren in the
Lord, they were not commanded 10 emancipate
them; that slaves were required to be ''obedient
to their masters according to the flesh, with
fear and trembling, with singleness of heart as
unto Christ" are facts which meet the eye of
every reader of the New Testament This AS
sembly cannot, therefore, denounce the holding
of slaves as necessarily heinous and scandal
lous sin, calculated to bring upon the Church
the curse of God without charging the Apos-
ties of Christ with conniving at such sin, intro
ducing into the Church such sinners, and thus
bringing upon them the curse of the Al