The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-09-11
THE NATIONAL ERA.
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE ERA.
NoRRrsrowv, Pa, august IS, 1851.

NoRRISTowN, Pa august 20 1871
n, me Elaor Of me National Era:
Among your numerous able correspondents,
none have been more welcome or profitable than |
DSsnex" lie has weekly spread before your
readers q vast amount of information in relation
10 the internal affairs Of Canada, which at this
time is a drsideratum of no small importance.
Bat. while this has been the general character
Of his letters have observed with regret that
whenever Church questions como in his way, his
character of Ltbsrqltd Immediately forsakes him,
and he permits his denomina,ional feeling 10 get
the mastery, and thus wrongs himself and wounds
the sensibilities Of his readers In his last num-
her. dated August 9th, he has written some things
on this topic discredtsble to himself and exas-
ppratiug TO the feelings of majority Of your sub
scribers As an act Of Justice TO the people thus
stigmatized by "Seuex" ask you to publish
this communication.
In that number, August 81 "Senex" seems
very much grieved az the bigotry " and intol-
erancep Of the members Of the Free Church Of
Scotland and the Congregatonalists Now, If
he intends to characterize opposition to Church
and State OF Government Church patronage, as
" bigotry . snd intolerance" land he can mean
nothing else,l venture to tell him that he has
sent his wares 10 the wrong market; for where
the Era is read by one person who believes in
the divine right of State religion, and who
holds the other dogmas about the Church" it
is read by thousands who hold the whole system
he is defending in hearty adherence. "SeneX0
writes elouuently about the "intolerancen he
found in Congregational family with whom he
tarried a short time ago and whose hospitality
he seems 10 have abused and appears to dwell
on religious sgitAtors in general, and few "cler
ica demagogues in particular, with as much
holy horror as a South Carolina planter. lie
says they look upon every form Of Church Gov
ernment that is not founded on the voluntary
principle as hereticaln
rather guess, as they say down East, this is
pretty common kind Of intolerance" and " her
isy - 10 Uncle Sans dominions at least.
What business, would ask him, has Govern
meut to discriminate between Churches-to en-
dow one, and not another-to NEEDLE in their
temporalities even further than to protect their
members in the right to worship, or to secure the
title and possession TO property which may be OBJ
tanned only as honest men get possessions, by
working for it
About the " Puritans,o Free Church and
Cougregationalists, fOun ling every "vagsry
upon the Old Testament, it is simply gratuitOus;
n - 4, - ,t-sh' issf .Ts6H
ity Is tradition-the basis of many "vagaryD
which prevails in the world Your correspond
ent tells us very inDocently, in the conclusion Of
his remarks on this head, ait is surprising
how prone men are to fall into the very errors
they condemn!o Now, how far he has verified
the proverb himself, leave an impartial public
20 decide.
Again he says, those of this Province (mean-
ing the Di5senters,n of course who enjoy eUery
civil and religious right, would mould society 10
their views
| will ask "Senex" one more question. Do
Dissenters" or the members Of unendowed
Churches, and those belonging TO no Church
whatever, enjoy the civil and religious rights
under Government which unj justly takes a pOr-
tiOn Of the public property owned by the commu-
nifty at large, and bestows it upon only part of
the people to constitute an odious MONOPOLY
monopoly which has filled Ireland with beggary
and ruin, and blasted the rest of Europe with
tears of blood
The question needs no answer unless the ex-
plOded doctrine is held, that public property be-
longs TO the Sovereign by divine right, to be dis
trbued, not according TO the rules of justice but
by Royal Grace.
In conclusion, | may remark that "Senex,"
after deprecating week after week the mmobility
Of the French Canadians, their opposition to all
change and improvement, their stolid indifference
10 their true interest, their stupidity in all things
the moment n religious question is mooted, theraw
head and Hoody bones of " stern Calvinismo as he
terms It, frightens him from his propriety, and
he exclaims, begin TO think, after ALL that the
French population of Lower Canada are the true
Conservatives!o Well, well; every one has bis
afiinities, and sympathies also | will not longer
trespass on your columns, and would not have
noticed the matter at all, but for the marked I'M
fairness Of " Senex" in discussing this question
7lOae, and the contrast it exhibits to the other
subjects treated of in his letters. CROMWELL