Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-11-23
sEDITIoN IN THE PULPIT JUSTLY REBUKED.

sEDITIoN IN THE PULPIT JUSTLY REBUKED.
We have lately read, casually, in the public
journals of non-slaveholding States, passages OF
Discourses delivered by Clergymen from the sacred
desk, too evidently composed with the intention Of
melting their hearers to armed resistance to SO much
Of the Constitution and Laws of the land as de-
nounce the interference Of individuals or Of commu-
mites, to prevent the reclamation of fugitives from
the States of the South in which slavery vet exists
as political 4stitution Some Of these discourses
which we haze seen are of a character that may be
pronounced Infamous; not the less SO, but the
more, because they are indited and pronounced by
those whose mission on earth it is to preach peace
and good will among men, instead of using what
talent God has given them to rouse in the hearts OF
their hearers the passions of He'll ITSELF traducng.
vilifying, and cursing their countrymen who abide
by the laws; and urging their followers to treason,
bloodshed, and civil war--to course of action
fraught with consequences no less dangerous to
themselves personally than TO the political nstitu-
tons for which they are indebted for the protection
and preservation Of their cwn religion, lives, libsr-
ties, and properties. If the congregations of such
pastors listen TO their counsel, and follow it, they
will in fact commit treason, of which their lives or
the existence Of the Government itself, may become
the forfeit. That these Clergymen, for the most
part mistake both their duty and the consequences
Of their doctrines, we do not doubt. But their
course is quite as dangerous, if not unwise, if
they were as0are of what they are doing.
The correction of the errors and excesses Of the
less politically enlightened Ministers Of the Gospel,
in reference to late legislation in the General Gov
ernmeH may, however, be well left to their own
reflection, reason, and judgment.
Our BUSINESS to-day is not with such men, but
to introduce TO our readers just and well-earned
rebuke, administered in quarter from which it
will befelt, and with power which would make
itself Eel from any quarter, to the author Of Dis
course tpon this subject, pronounced and publish
ed by al eminent Divine, who cannot avail himself
of the ea Of want Of information or lack Of intel
ligenceto excuse or palliste his reasonable doc
trines d his incendiary appeals. We refer to the
following article:
PROM rHE NEW roRK EVENING NOVEMBER ls.
CONSCIENCE AND THE LAWS.
The institution of slavery, we believe, is entitled
to the honor of having originated the only laws in
this country which have been resisted for conscience
sake. On more than one occasion since the foun-
dation Of our Government have intelligent and con-
sciendous men found themselves unable to yield to
all of our laws relating to slavery peaceful ODE.
dience 1t is useless to deny that the ranks of this
class Of conscience-men have been greatly swollen
by the passage of the recent law for the surrender
of fugitive slaves, which makes it the duty of every
a. Ill 49,
himself with the functions of constable, and to
pursue the suspected fugitive, and which Furnishes
with fine and Imprisonment any who offer food or
shelter to the refugee.
1t is unquestionably more difficult to reconcile
obedience to such law with the dictates of sound
moral sense than to any other law which our Gov
eminent has ever attempted to enforce. Many find
themselves driven by it to hypocrisy rebellion.
Several presses Of deserved influence have denied
its claims either support toleration, and emf
nent public speakers have declared, from the tri-
bune and the pulpit, their determination to resist it
unto blood.
They make resistance point of conscience, and
rank the offence Of submitting to it with the treach-
cry Of Judas and the cowardice of Peter.
One of the most prominent of these ,recusants is
the Rev. Theodore Parker, one of the ablest and
most fearless divines in New England. In an
address delivered in Boston, we believe, the very
week that the fugitive slave bill passed, and re-
Gently published in this cty,* he discusses the re-
cprocal obligations of civil and moral laws with
special reference to that measure. II is character
lied by all that originality and bodness of specula-
ton for which the professional performances Of
Mr.. Parker have always been distinguished, and as
presents with great force and clearness the views
of a conscientious man, we may say of many con-
scientons men, upon most delicate question Of
personal duty, we have deemed it worthy of more
than passing notice.
After setting forth the paramount obligation of
every man to obey the dictates of his own con-
science, irrespective Of what may seem right TO
other people, and regardless of any human laws to
the contrary, to all of which no just exception can
be taken, he proceeds to draw distinction between
moral and conventional duty, or, as he calls it,
" official business" which he illustrates thus:
81 may be merchant and my official business may be
to buy, and SELL and get gain may that the traffic in
ardent spirits il the resdiest way to accomplish this So
becomes my official business to make rum, sell and by
all means to induce drink IT, But presently see
that the common use Of it makes the thriving unihy the
rich wealthy, the poor miserable, the sound sick and
the mad tina. brings hundreds to the jail thousands
the almshouse and millions to poverty and shame pro-
ducg amount Of suffering wretchedness, and sin beyond
the power Of TO picture conceive Then my natural
duy a is very clear very Imperative Shall sacri
fee my manhood moneythe integrity Of my conscious
TO my gains by rum-seing That is the question.
And my will depend the fact whether am
matter and draw line somewhere between my natural duty
and my official business rumseller and for every
three that make by inquiy, give cent to the
American Tract Society, the Board of Foreign Missions