The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-08


The Rev. GEORGE DurFiELD, pastor Of the
First Presbyterian church ofDetroit, Michigan,
preached thanksgiving sermon in that city In
November last, which has lately been pub
lished in pamphlet form at the request Of
number of his auditors, and from which We
make the following extract, as specimen OF
the enlarged and liberal views, strong good
sense, and patriotism by which the whole is
peryaded:
''It is to the legitimate and happy action OF the
Consultation of these United States, derived in its
bold outline from these sources, that, under the
guardian and benigpant providence of God, we
owe our civil and political freedom, social and
national happiness, and the world is indebted for
the only asylum open to the oppressed of all ma
tions. God be praised for this monument Of wis
dom and philanthropy Long may il be pre-
served and palsed be the arm fret lifted to strike
the fatal blow, designed to sever the chords uniting
as one grand Confederacy OF free and indepen-
dent States!
eve are we'll aware, notwithstanding the admit
ration and attachment we express for this Const
shall be told, that there evils in them both.
and that their friction works disastrQlsly to
interests of humanity. But we expect nothing
perfect from uninspired man. Nor do we look for
any perfection in human government, till the
Lord Jesus Christ Himself. according to His pro-
misc, shall reappear, and set up His Kingdom upon
the ruin OF tho thrones and donlinions of earthly
tyrants and oppressors. Admitting these evils,
however, still we question whether there ever was
government on earth, save that OF the Hebrew
commonwealth, devised by the wisdom of Jehovah.
50 beautifully adapted, In all it's provisions, TO
the great wants Of human society, and 20 adm
rably balanced in all ts functional powers;
complicated in its structure, and yet so simple,
and 30 free from frction moving with such celebrity,
and yet with 80 much case, and safety; and COM
bining 80 wonderfully it's centripetal and contri-
fugal forces, to make it roll steadily and glo-
rously in its orbit like some bright constellation
Of the heavens, in its wide extended and far
reaching cycle. But because II is not perfect we
would not, therefore. undervalue or reject IT, Il
have end Of all perfection here below" said
the inspired cage; and we should learn with him
not to leopard present good by penlous Utopian
on the works of man. Rather would we cherish,
tenderly and gratefully, the Constitution Provi-
dence has given US, with all Interpretations than
rashly to resist and rabidly revile it.
eve have no fellowship or sympathy with
those who make that Constitution their reproach,
and seek to rend this glorious Union, because
slavery has not yet been extirpated. All organ
lied societies and combinations pledged by oaths
and promises, under whatever religious or other
pretexts it may BIO done, to vote only for men, that
WILL at all hazards, prosecute their purpose, and
who seek TO agitate and initiate the angry stormy
passions of men, do but peril every collateral in
tcrest and aim of good government, and eventu-
ally become the turbd fountains Of faction. Such
means to secure an end, however desirable in it.
belI, only DeLTay ignorance OF the very nature Oh
true liberty. Those who adopt them eyince as
well their uttaS unfitness for liberty themselves,
as the danger Of entrusting them with the liberty
of others. We have no confidence that the evils Of
died by any talisman which they possess. No
Midas touch has yet been given by their wisdom
or patriotism to transmute the iron into gold.
The evils in our political system cannot be RENE
died at once. They must be worked out by de-
grces, whatever be the specific for their cure.
'Time and experience, wisdom and patience,
are necessary. God, in His providence, DEVELOPS
by degrees the virtues necessary to correct the
incidental ills that cIeave to mortal things We
are dependent ever on that providence and must
learn to trust Him for His care and protection in
thousand exigencies, where no human foresight,
wisdom valor would be sufficient.
"Whatever the evils existing in the system
Of our constitutional Government, yet, at least,
they not fatal; mono but what may be remedicd
~ prudence, patriotism, virtue, and the fear OF
cit is, indeed, an evil, serious and distressing,
that slavery exists. Would that it could be speed
lily removed But we fear that empirical physi-
the fostering sore, and understanding not the i'm
portance and necessity of attending to preserve
the Constitution in it's hcalthful yigor, may admin
lister poisonous nostruns, only to irritate, and end
in incurable gangrene and dissolution.
'sHad our Constitution recognized the One only
living and true God, and His providence, and de-
clared what is the fact, that il founded the
Divine, moral law, and framed for Christian peo-
pie, 1t had been, in our estimation, perfect
than 1t is. But these are assumptions which some
of our courts have already distinctly recognised
principles to be respected in the Interpretation
Of its provisions Had it prohibited the continu-
ance of slavery after certain date and given no
recognition Of it. concession to it, in the several
States in which that terrible evil then existed. il
had been also in our estimation yet more perfect.
But then had this been insisted on, the Union had
never been formed The Constitution and Con-
federacy had both died in the womb. There
would have been no such thing, and it is more
than probable that there never would or could
have been, the same amount Of social, political,
and national prosperity, secured by any other
means, which have been under it, II has been the
Ggis OF safety, the fountain of prosperity.
Shall we, therefore, now make upon it, and
rend it to atoms, because the evil still c1iss' That
were suicidal Madness