The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-03-19

view of the subject which have mentioned,
There are thousands of religious men, with
consciences as tender as any oftheir brethren
at the North who 90 not see the unlawful
ness of slavery; and there are more thousands
perhaps that. whatsoever they may think Of
it in its origin, and as matter depending
upon natura! right, yet take things as they
are. and finding slavery TO he an establish
ed relation of the society where they live,
can see no way in which-let their opinions
on the abstract question be what they may
it is in the power of the present genera
ton to relieve themselves from this relation.
And. in this respect cand0r obliges me 10 say
thatI believe they are Just as conscientious,
many of them, and of the RELIGIOUS people
all Of them. as they are in the North in hold
ING different opinions.
WHY, sir the honorable SenHtor from S
Carolina the other day Rludcd to The great
separation of that great religious COMMUNE
ty the Methodist Episcopal Church. That
separation WAS brought about by differences
of opinion upon this peculiar subject of slave
ry. | felt great concern as that dispute
went on about the result, and was in hopes
that the difference of opinion might be adj
justed, because I looked upon that religious
denomination as one Of the great props of re-
/ ligion and morals throughout the whole
country, from Maine 10 Georgia. The result
was against my wishes and against my hopes.
| have read all their proceedings, and all
their arguments, but have never yet been
able to come tc the conclusion that there
was any real ground for that separation
Sir, when question ofthis kind takes hold
of the religious sentiments of mankind. and
comes to be discussed in religious assemblies
OF the clergy aud laty. there is always to he
expected, or always TO be feared. great de-
gree of excitement. 1t is in the nature of
man. manifested By his whole history that
religious disputes are apt TO become warm,
and mems strength of conviction is proper
tomato TO their views of the magnitude Of the
questions. In all such disputes there will
sometimes men be found with whom every
thing is ahSolute-absolutely wrong or ahso-
lutey right. They see the right clearly;
they think others ought 10 do it, and they are
disposed to establish "A broad line of distnc-
ton between what they think right and what
| they hold to be wrong. And they are not
seldom willing to establish that line upon
their own convictions Of the truth and The
justice OF their own opinions. and they are
wiling 10 mark and guard that line by placing
along it serirs Of dogmas as lines Of bound
airy are marked by posts and stones. There
are men who. with clear perceptions. as they
Think of their own duty, do not see how too
hot IL pursuit Of one duty may involve them
in The violation of others, or how too warm
dn enhancement of one truth may lead to a
disregard Of other truths equally important.
As heardit stated strongly not many days
ago, these persons are disposed TO mount up
on some duty war horse, and to drive iu-
riousIy on, and upon and over all other du-
ties that may stand in the way There are
men who, in times Of that sort, and disputes
of ba Of hot I,-
ties may he ascertained with the precision of
mathematics. They deal with morals as
with mathematics and they think what is
right may he distinguished from what is
wrong with the precision of IN algebraic
equation. They have, therefore, none too
much charity towards others who differ from
them. They are apt, too, TO think that moth
ing is good but what is perfect and that there
are 10 compromises or notifications to he
IN Ide la submission 10 difference of opinion
OF difference TO other mems Judgment. If
their perSpicacious vision enables them to-
detect spot on tie face Of the Gun they
think that Il good reason why the sun should.
he struck down from heaven. They prefer
the chance of running. into utter darkness to
living in heavenly light if that heavenly
light be not absolutely without any imperiec-
ton. There are impatient men-ton impa-
TENT always TO give heed to the admission of
St Paul, =" that we are not to do evil that
good may come"-tOo impatient to wait for
the slow progress Of moral caus9s in the i'm
provement OF mankind. They do not re-
member that the doctrines and miracles of
Jesus Christ have, in eighteen hundred years
converted only Il small portion of the human
race; and among the nations that are convert
ed to Christianity they forget how many
vices and crimes. public and private still pre-
vail, and that many Of them, public crimes
especially. which are offences against the
Christi n religion, pass without exciting par
tcuar regret or Indignation. Thus wars
are wagrd. and unjust wars. do not deny |
there may be just wars. There certai iy |
are, but il was tie remark Of an eminent per-
sou, not many years ago, on the other side of
the Atlantic that it was one OF the greatest
rrproarhes to human nature thai wars were |
sometimes necess try. The defence of nations
SOMETIMES cau-es war against the Injustice |
OF other nations.
NV. sir in this state Of sentiment upon
the general nature of slavery lies the cause
OF Il great portion ofthosr unhappy divisions,
cXasperaiIons, and reproaches which find
vent and support in different parts of the
Union. Slavery does exist in the United |
States. 1t did exist in the States before the I
adoption of this constitution. and ct the time. |
And now let us consider sir, for moment,
what was the state of sentiment North and
South in regard 10 slavery al the time this |
constitution was adopted. A remarkable |
change has taken place since. but what did
the wise and great men of all parts of the
country think of slavery Pin what eetima- |
ton did they hold it in 1887, when this con
sti'ulion was adopted? Now, it will he
t0uad sir, if we cary ourselves by histori- |
cal