Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-02-23
RICHMOND DAILY WING
THE CLERGY AND THE ADMINISTRATION
MONDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY ~, isio.

THE CLERGY AND THE ADMINISTRATION.
We have alluded in another article, to the fact
that many of the Northern Clsrgymen intended
TO celebrate the 22nd Of February by prayers Tor
the continuance of peace. The New YORK Even
ing Post, ms we see by the New York Express,
takes them roundly to task for this henous offence
and holds forth as follows;
.Clereymen. however well informed upon other
topics, are apt to blunder in politics, from mere
want of knowledge on the subject. The greater
part OF that class in this part of the country al
least happen to be connected with the w ing par
", and such superficial information as they pos
sess, il generally derived from the reading OF
single Wing paper, from which they receive al
most correct n notion oil the merits oil any po-
litical question one may get OF the true pro-
portion Of visible objects by viewing them in
concave mirror
Now here is very extraordinary admission
by one of the ablcst and most influential Demo.
cratic papers in the land, and we beg the reader
To note the TACT. The great majority OF the Cler-
gy are Wings. Take, IN connection with this. the
remarkable CONCESSION OF Gen. Chapman OF Nj
chyan, that Education is enemy of Democra.
cy, and say what kind Of principles are those,
with which, according to the showing of their own
advocates, Religion will have nothing to do. and
which ny from the presence of knowledge as bats
and owls conceal themselves from the beams OF
the rising sun
The Post thinks, however, that Clergy.ncn are
apt to bIunder in politics. They read Wing pa
pers, il seems, and thus imbibe deadly pollt cal
heresy But how comes it, that they all prefer,
in the first place, TO read Wing papers, unless
there is something in the sentiments which those
hat themselves t,l
the intelligence, the virtue, and the conservative
sp rit of the land We entirely disagree with
the Post, as to the competency OF these gentle
men to decide political questions. We believe
them to be more competent to sit impartial
umpires upon the merits of the questions Of is ue,
than any other class Of persons in the country.
They ara educated men and, taken as whole,
more thoroughly educated than either Of the other
learned professions. They do not make politics
their business. admit, but that very fact rem
ders them more disp issionate and unprejudiced
IN their Judgment. They stand aloof from the
angry passions and fierce strife Of contanding
factons,-they prevented, in most cases, by
the laws, from seeking political preierment they
have therefore no interested motives whatever TO
actuate them in the formation of their opinions.
This clear headed, well read, vlrtuous body OF
men, whose lives are devoted TO the promotion OF
religion and learning, almost unanimously sustain
the Wing cause And this, no matter what their
church, or sect, or shade of theological belief!
However tbcy may differ upon other matters, in
this one point they all agree. that Wing princi-
Piles arc right, JUST constitutional, and oxpcdien,
and that Democracy is exactly the reverse. Why
is this! What is the reason, unless the Wing
s.L i
with its true honor, with the maintenance Of the
law, with the promotion Of order, with the diffu-
sion Of intelligence, with public and private vir.
tue We do not claim, we never have claimed.
for the Wing party, all the knowledge and all the
decency in the land. We recognise among our
opponents many men, of whom their country and
human nature itself may well be proud. But, re.
ally, the Evening Post and General Chapman
seem disposed to save the Wings, even if they
had the inclination, from the necessity Of making
any such claim. They come into court, thrust
Themselves into the prisoners box, and cry gully,
before the Clerk has had time 10 read the indIct.
ment. If they made the confession in the spirit
of penitents, and covered themselves with sack
cloth and ashes, as they ought, should feel dis.
posed to exclaim, $50, sinner, go and sin no
brazen effrontery, and glory in their shame They
are condemned out of their own lips, and as they
asa no mercy, ought to be punished without ''be.
neft Of clergy"
A beautiful state Of things this, when the priests
Of the Most High, are not to be permitted to pray
for peace, without exposing Themselves to the iul.
IA nations Of the Presidents press; when they
must shout hosannas to the party in power, at all
hazards; and, when the country which they love,
is bound upon tho altar, must be forced to raise
the sacrifciai knife aud not be permitted to cast
one look to Heaven in the hope that it may bid
them stay their hand aud release the victim from
his doom. Why should they not pray for peace
Are they not the ministers of Him whose great
mission was, Peace on Earth ?" DO they not
know that War is a Demon from the bottornless
pit, opening the nOodgatos Of crime Of every
kind, bringing IN hs train, robbery, rapinc, muir.
der drunke mess, aud infidelty, an1 causing the
earth, wherever it is marked by his dcsulating
track to present frighlfu image Of the aban.
doned guilt and hopeless misery of the Hell from
which he camel Not pray against war; They
would he traitors TO their God, traitors TO their re-
ligion, traitors to humanity, If at time like this
they failed to besiegc Heaven with their nyoca
tions that lie who rul,ih the madness Of the PEG
pie, and stilloth the angry waves Of human pas.
SION, would dspe from our sky the storm
which is has gathered thickness abo,e our he ads
and place his bow Of peace and promise upon
tho retiring cloud.
THE FOREIGN NEWS.
We have only room to give the news by tho Cambria.