Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1850-05-15
SLAVERY, THE UNION, AND THE CA
THOLIC CHURCH.
LECTURE BY THE REV. DIR. CUMMINGS.

LECTURE BY THE REV. DR.. CUMMINGS.
On the Sd inst, the Rev. J. w. Cummings
d. D., of St. Stephens Church, New York
delivered lecture at the Tabernacle, Broad
way, on "the Catholic Church, Slavery, and
the Union," TO crowded audience. The
lecture, which we find reported in the
Herald, is most eloquent production, and
takes high conservative ground in relation
TO Slavery and the American Union. We
learn from it that although the Catholic
Church is opposed to slavery, she will aid
in its extinction only by gradual, pacific
and lawful means, taking care to discoun-
1enance all fanaticism, and all violations oi
the laws of God and man. The following
extract from the conclusion of his eloquent
lecture, will be read with interest:
1t is folly to make the question Of slavery
is the republic, on ,iIesother not. (Cheers.>
AS far as have studied, Ihave not found
any nation dissolvng on account Of this
question, though it came before allsof them,
as it has done before us. Shall we be the
first? 1t is problem. !. was for them
They all got over it. Cannot we, who pride
ourselves on our superior advantages, do as
much as they did? Whatever principle is
brough. to bear upon the admission of the
new territories, the principle of moderation
will not be sacrificed. If they be admitted
with the proviso, there will be something
gained by the advocates Of emancipation. II
without the proviso, then none will become
slaves who were freemen. 1t will operate
as an extension of the number at present
existing, over greater area. Will that in
crease their numbers? As We have already
observed, it is a, least very doubtful that i!
will, if not certain that it will not. Some
few are heard to say, "No Proviso, no
Union )" others, elf Proviso, no Uuion."-
Let all wise men say, 'With or without
Provso, the Union for ever!" (Great cheer
| ing) This | consider the practical resul,
of my lecture-to stand by the Union
There is no appeal to Southern interest. |
say we are bound, as good citizens, to take
! high conservative grounds. This is more
over The duty Of Catholics. 1t is doubtful
whether the Federal Government has con-
slituIional right to legisa,e on slavery, un-
less in exceptional cases. 1t is certain one
State has no right to interfere, except by
gentle and moral means, with the institutions
us as individuals have any business to at
tempt charge Of the Federal compact, or
of State legislation, beyond the means of
petition and the influence Of opinion. 1t is
certain, moreover, that the Federal Govern
| meni, the State Legislatures and every A.
merican citizen, native and adopted, is bound
by every tie of justice, honor and interest,
TO maintain inviolate that Union which is
the safeguard of law and liberty in this
country. Tremendous cheering.) There
are men appointed to arrange these ques-
lions. They are noble and enlightened
Let Us pray that God may direct their coun-
sells, and enable them to propose such mea-
sures as may insure the preservation Of
peace. And if there are persons who will
try t" gain notoriely by crying out against
the Union, or hindering its preservation,
may they be deserted by all good citizens,
and left 10 repent in solitude of the folly of
tlCiI CoulS utS tHuCl 10 SouSoIlISs tudb
il there be such strong advocates of anti
slavery further North, that they will take
action destructive Of the Union, rather than
give up their schemes, and if at the South
others who will demand so much for slave
holders that they will endanger the Union,
neither will find any sympathy in this good
old Knickerbocker Stale. Cloud cheers
To carry out the design Of my lecture
fully, have to bring together the Two
threads Of my argument-lhe doctrines of
the Catholic Church and the principles Of
the American constitution. The faith of
Catholics is to obey and love the Church
and to obey and love the constitution. Lib
erty has its duties as we'll as its privileges.
The head magistrate has his duly-lhe
statesman-the citizen-,he Catholic, who
is slave, has his duties too, and he has his
rights. Were the statesman to 60 to con-
fession, he would have to repent of any un
worthy motive which might have led him
TO take steps endangering the peace of the
country. The slave obeys for Gods sake,
unless where he is commanded to do aught
against the will of God This being the
state Of things in the country it is clear that
we will obey the church, by doing what
we are directed to do by the laws of the
country, and tha. we will do what the Jaws
direct us to do by obeying the church. LIE,
our federal government manage this ques-
lion as it think proper-le. them compro-
mise, or.not compromise-let them bring
in the Wilmot proviso or any other proviso
or leave out the Wilmot proviso and eve-
-, 1os t,o hr,r, If
nia--or bring out Texas-in short, let them
bring up, or bring down, or bring over, or
bring under whatever they please, only let
there be brought about no disunion. (Grea!