The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-19

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characteristic OF this whole movement is that DE sacred
of religion should be svoksd give sanction 10
measures adapted TO destroy this gcsennet 1.-The Uson
morality OF the Scriptures VIII not permit Us TO live To-
gelher under constitution which authorizes the luigi
tlssrAiAss lAw and ~s Isusa separate !! aes-s
81 thought where ali Thy oircl'ns wles you'd end
In iegnd religion. smooth hJpocrisyF
1t needed but this ingredient to the Super
ave madness and imp,ey OF this scheme for " there
Is any great national lnteest upon wnch inc disrup
ton Of these States would fall with crushing weight,
il is CHRIsTIANITYhat interest which as much sur
passse all Others in Importance il will in duration.
There is no land where Christianity has achieved
nobler victories Than has here Enjoying at once pie
aary protection from the State and the utmost freedom il
developed ilsef with purity and an energy rarely
witnessed 10 the Old World II was a sublime underta
king that Of supplying. without the aid OF ENDORSEMENTS
or patronage, churches and spiritual teachers
for youthful and growing nation like this dlffused over
80 great an expanse Of territory and the predictions OF
failure equally sanguine and universal among the
adherens of the ecclesiastical establishments Of Europe
But these predictions have not been verified We may
venture to assert without violating the modesly proper
TO the occasion, that Christianity has accomplished Tar
more than its friends could have anticipated; that the
efficiency of the voluntary principle as displayed here
has excited the astonishmen OF its bterest opponents
and that have done more by our example to reiule
the vicious theories OF foreign statesmen ami eccIesas
tics. and TO promote The progress OF religious liberty on
that sde OF the water than could nave oeen zone oy
go into detail But no candid observer can survey
our country in lis moral and religious features without
impressed with the grandeur OF the results already
achieved here Not to speak OF The churches with
which the land is dotted the large body OF edu
Gated and evangelical cergynen who occupy our pup,s
and conduct most OF the higher literary institutions; the
liberal spontaneously contributed Tor the support
and propagation OF the Gospel and the prompude with
which further subsidies and new labore are supplied as
fresh fields demand cultivation look at the benign and
powerful influence religion has exeed upon the popuia-
ton al large There work to be done here SO ia
that the n could moi get . on nn
do, Religion has done IT. II has been the chief
a.ent in establishing our systems OF education; It has
been the handspring OF most OF the humane institu
tons designed to alleviate the aud improve the
condition Of the people il has gone down among the
masses and not only ted them and clothed them. bur
renovated their principles restrained their passions,
taught them their duties, and made them value their
privileges has received in the OF its comprehen-
sve charity the myrads who land upon our wnarves;
and done by It's wondrous alchemy than all other
agencies combined 10 transmute them ho good citizens.
and 10 homologae all creeds and parties and tongues IN
harmonious brotherhood; il has redoubled its exertons
to keep pace with the tide of emigration has rolled
over the prairies pierced the pmeval forests OF the
West and poured itself down the slopes of the Rocky
aurerous valleys OF California. And, not satisfied with
domestic conques,s, though stretching from ocean 10
ocean, il has sent forth its peaceful cohorts to distant
shores and from ASA from Africa from the isles OF the
sea- ten thousand voices come back to proclaim their
bloodless victories, and to that the wilderness
and The solitary place have been made ga for them, and
the desert reIuces and blossoms as tie rose
Now let the Union he dissolved, and how certainly will
this vision pass away for it is not possible that this event
should occur without involving religion in the general
catastrophe. Il is a common maxim thai IN lines OF pub
lie distress alarm credit is the hrs, thing to suffer It's
less true that RELIGION sympahizes AT such crises not
Only with credit but with every other element OF prosperity
Chrisianil, is not thing By lseta me,e ma ter OF b
oe.rsad and OF Sundays and -acra nens
it lis inerfused we have just through all our
atios compIehends all employ menls and exerls its
prerogatv- the whole field Of human duty The mo-
ment you touch the commerce the husian OF coun
you touch its Christianity 1t you pa any branch
OF industry, weaken the popular condolences IN the gov
prnnent expectation anything else
to agitae he public mind religion teels the effect OF It.
II requires no prophet therefore, to foesee that IN The
event of disruption, the churches would share in the
common fortunes OF the country. Amidst dependency
and terror dissensions and their strength would
dwndle and their zeal decline. WIN diminIsh@r re-
sources the money now appropriated 10 the maintenance
and diffusion oil the Gospel would be wanted pay troops
and purchase munitions OF war; or should an appeal TO
be averted TO meet the enormous taxes tor civil and
military purposes incident to the order OF things and
the critical relations among the several States and Fede
raons II s no exavsgant suggestion that the pro-
OF dissolution begins it will moi finally stop
I'll the republic Is chopped up into SIX or eight distinct
leagues, each OF which must have its own general
acknowledgement as Legislative and judicial tribunals
bassadors navy, and. what will then be unavoidable.
Gordon Of camps and ioesses and considerable stand
ing army The very transit from present condition to
a state like this would be like the passage OF fleet
through the Norwegian Maestrom. II would extingulsh
hundreds OF feeble churches and shatter the srongc.
OF our nomadc population, which they barely able 10
do when blessed with redundant prosperity, the
denominations would md dlcult 10 sustain them
selves al home. Foreign missionaries would be
called, and fields restored to pagansm which have
been won from il at great outlay OF money and life,
and which are now :" white 10 the harvest" The cir.
cumstances of the country would be unproptious
the culture OF sound morals they now favorable
lnfdey and atheism would run riot through the land
| violence and crime would superabouDd; and should
deienorae in all those high moral qualities which have
hitherto aitesed the efficacy OF Christianity and
cured for The respect Of the civilized world.
And all this avalanche OF evil is TO be brought down
upon for the sake of RELIGION We are 10 exchange
present condition for alienation, insecurity CONNER
ca prostration the decay Of our churches. and the
bankruptcy OF great chares-for the sake OF eli
gon We TO make the Bible nullity, and the Sab
bah day OF amusement, reopen all the sluices OF i'm
profaniy-fori the sake Of religion We TO dsband
our schools and churches among the hsahen and seod
back the muutndes now under Christian instruction, TO
worship in idol temples and sacrifice their children 10
devls--for the sake OF religion
We protest against thshuge impeiy. II fanatics and
demagogues resolved TO destroy this Union let them
pretend sancy the parrcidal crime by perpera
ting il in the of religion. Enough that Buddhism
should crush it's deuded devoees under the of Jug
gernaut. in the name OF religion that Mohamned should
f.rtilize kingdoms with human blood, in the OF
religion that spurious Christianity should keep its
arsenals OF chains and agos and slaughter whole tribes
of unoendny pea-ants, in the name Of religion Let not
hi her also in the robes oil angel OF light
Let the august of religion be invoked to haIow
an enormiy winch would not only shroud This lanl in
mourning, but nAict upon religion itself The uep-
arabic injury. Every consideration OF virtue not only,
bat Of decency orbids that Christianity should called
upon preside 1uto-da s of which itself bu
the holocaus-,o consecrae an action which would for