The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-21
Political Sermons.

/ On Sunday Dr. HAWKES., an eminent EpscO-
pal clergyman of New York, delivered sermon
at the Capitol in favor Of the Union, on this text
And the people came to the house of God, and
abode there ill even before God and lined up their
voices, and wept sore:
And said Lord God Of Israel. why is this
come to pass in Israel, that there should be to-
day one tribe lacking in Israel. Judges xxi /. 3.
The sermon is the same, we understood, de-
livered by him in New York, on last thanksgiv-
ing day.
The Washington Union of Sunday, contains
another sermon, on the same subject and occe-
sion, delivered by the Rev. Mr. BoARpMAx, in
Phladelphia--and we have also the sermon OF
the Rev. Mr. BUTLER, of this city, also on the
same subject and occasion, which We have before
commented on.
The sermon of Mr. BoARpMAN is a ford, and
imposing discourse in favor of Union, and is
against those who resist the Fugitive slave law
in the North, and those who in the South are in
favor Of secession.
The sermon Of Mr. HAWKES., is in favor OF
Union. All Of them assume that the Union is
u soit Vi uiNIut HsttutOit, Anu DOlLEh
says It is Goods gift
We do not object as we have already said to
pulpit Intervention in politics. The duties of
life are intimately interviewer, and religion pre-
sides over all duty. But We assert the .uti-
mate right of private Judgment in forming and
expressing our opinions, and also the right of
the press as sort Of universal censor. 2,
This love Of Union is carried rather farther
in profession Of late than It was few years
ago. In 1874, there was a separate government
from ours in North America 1t was Repub-
lie, it was Anglo-Saxon-it was our immediate
offspring--it was, partly at least, on the winters
o: the Mississippi--it was Texas And it's in
corporation into this Union was urged on all
those grounds But the principal men who now
go for Union all over the continent, and all the
way to the Pacific, were opposed to this Union.
Mr. CLAY, and Mr. WEBSTER were decidedly
opposed to it, General CAss himself fitered
a good deal when II was proposed. 1t was
thought then, that two republics of the Anglo
Saxon race could exist in this part Of North
America. And Mr.. DEsTox before that time.
thought that the statue Of the God Terminus,
ought to be set right on the top Of the Rocky
Mountains, aud that California ought 10 be sep
arate and independent. We don't know what
was then the opinion Of our clerical friends, but
we dare say from what we know Of their politics.
that they also. were not quite such ardent friends
.,f .;v ,,oc ri
that then instead Of regarding the annexation
ofTexas. and the conquest Of California as things
Of Divine origin, and steps towards evangeliz-
ing the world, they thought them the instigation
of the devil.
Man as he comes from the hand of the Crea-
tor, is a being of limited faculties and power,
and as he generally behaves, one Of much moral
depravity. Yet he il created the unit, and as mn
Individuals invested with moro power, and sub
ject to more responsibility in that capacity than
in any other His individualism is modified only
by the relations Of kindred, friends, and society,
and it Is evidently tn, divine intention that as
The circle extends from the individual as CEN
tire, nil the elements of cohApeness APE rclnEed.
God has never created but one Government
but one Union, and that was Federatve. And
like ours, it tended 10 consolidation, to central
ism to monarchy, and rejected it's Creator.
The central government Of the Hebrews, soon
became 40 extravagant. and oppressive, that
when Edom was conquered, disuolon ensued--
and in fact was foretold by prophet Of the
Lord, M a consequence and n punishment And
although the temple was at Jerusalem, and was
the place Of national worship and sacrifice, the
effort Of King Rehoboam, to compel by force
the ten seeding tribes to remain in the Union
was forbidden by . prophet Of the Lord. Fl
nally the centrulism Of religion was abolished