Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1845-06-04
From The. Petersburg Repubiieen.
THINKING by PROXY

THINKING BY PROXY l..
I'm view of this Convention -Tor the
preachers Of The Methodist Episcopal
Churcn from The saveholdiug STATES of the
Union letters have been addressed 10 Mr..
Folk and MIR. Clay, putting the following
Querles:
'.W,Il the division of the NJ. Episcopal
Churcn, into two separate. organizations,
slavery being The cause Of the division,
and he dividing liue] be likely To- affecrlhe
civil connection between the slave and
nou.saveholding Sta,es?" !. ~
''lf SO, will II strengthen or weaken lhe
bonds of their union ?"::; :. -.
MIR. Polk did not answer the letter, but
Clay has in the following characterize
manner :-Phaiaaetphia Ing.
Aud pray, wha, effect will the answer
Of MIR Clay, allhnughil be in "charac,
IerIslic MANNER" haze upon the decision Of
The Question, or what new light would be
shed upon The country byine publication
oI letter. on This subjecl from Mr. Clay or
MIR. Polk! What particular and exclusive
ecclesiastical experience has either of these
distinguished gentlemen been favored with,
that they are 10 be consulted as oracIes in
such matters
The minister's VINO are unfortunately
placed IN ,nis delicate situation, and upon
whom rests The tremendous responsibility
OF settling these difficulties, are not. Me
-presuine. pfr ot placing their con
sciences iu Tie keeping Of politicians, how
ever exalted, bnt profess, at least, 10 sub.
mil themselves 10 The direction and gui
pance Ot One, higher and wiser than man,
and therefore the opinion OF both of these
gen lemeu ~ this Case, could, at Tie far.
lhest, ne odly matter of interest to. the
one propoundinS the question. and posi-
hly lew others, aud might, very properly,
be drawn from them privately, simply Tor
Tue purpose oi gratifying personal curiosity.
As such, we have no objection to It, aud
would Sd. nought against lie propriety oil
sDlIchIu5 all <xPression OF opinion. But,
We do oIJecI 10 this growing anxiety on
The parl ol some people in our country, 10
appeal 10 great neu for their views on ev-
er. subject, WHICH IN later years has be-
cuIne d perfect mama, 80 much sU indeed,
thai win many, no UpluIon will be express
sed unll HE oracle speaks. and then ererg
man $ mlHd Is made up at onSs.
we do uol Wish to be understood as
having the very slIgh'csr desire to dispar
age Ihe oplnIous OF these distinguished
meu, ur 10 Cast The SIN. Hest degree oi cen
sure upon those VINO really cannot make
up all UpInIon Tor themselves upon any
subject, OF national Or ecclesiastical cuu-
cerus, aud therefore. with iona tide OBJ
jecl, make sucII, applications. .WhaI. we
object lo IS this, 0l late, fashionable prac-
lice Ul begging lucas aud sentiments from
great men III relation 10 almost every sub
jecl tnat has auy degree of novelty attach.
ed to II, and thus lIabltuaIIng ourselves 10
the odIous and injurious custom OF having
uu fixed ideas OF our own, AID of being de
pendent upon CERTAIN men ,ior'eyery senli-
ment we express. When individuals Cease
o:thiaE lOr themselves Iney are al once in
capacItated ~ act Tor themselves; and,
when llIs IS The case, they lose the pecu-
liar aud inviting characteristics OF free
men, and are hi only to be the subjects Of
a man who has The uerye aud The will 10
rule aud enslaye hem. This habit, with
us, seems TO pe daily increasing, aud is
pervaulnS our whole country, There is
much danger in it,. In government
where hr will OF The people. is the Jaw,
The people must think. or they jeopardise
their dearest Interests, and run The risk of
losing their freedom OF Will and OF action.
AS peuple We are 100 coniidlug, too ready
ready IN receive as orthodox, as sound,
aud undenably true, every thing that es.
capes The lips or The pen OF meu who are,
Or nave been, hlsh IN authority, not recOI-
lrcing that we are all falIaple, all 10 a par
llcular extent acIuated by interested mo-
ives, that there Is certain mixture Uf sell
tishness III our strange mortal compound
Ol winch we sometimes would uDt be de.
pnved II W could. and that at all times,
10 trust too Implicitly to the councils oI
even good aud wise man, i've may du
ourselves du unlnlenliUudI bul al the same
time, very serious injury 1t does no,
require the wisdom vi S0uniun always
10 conduct al honest man in the way ht
snould 50, uor is 1. always necessary thai
the sasaclty of resident, or a dis,in
gulshed Senator oil tho United Stale:
should be put lntu requstion IN order ina
lhe nation should Ue prosperous or The
Unon preserved. No; lei the people reut
jor themselves, ant reflect for themselves
and then they. cum. Independently md fear
tessLy, ana ~iseLy, act jor themselves. 2