The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-08

disnce Increasing attention to the subject must be
followed BY growing intelligence and more earnest
win take various shapes and win approach the OBJ
ject that exeites them by different ways. But they
will never cease to haunt it, and makei II uncomfort
able in its wickedness. Fortunately it does not
Burke tells us We should rejoice to hear when the
city is on fre,) and it has been kept esshng for
twenty years, with few hands 1t the rope, and with
a nsighborhood hating the disturbance more than
the conaag grafton, We think 1t is than Mr. Clay
or MIR. Webster can do to silence it. That the
American Union must come to IN end, II the ele-
nent Of slavery be not eliminated is Is certain as
that the Union between the thirteen colonies and
it had been postponed from l776, or as it is that
great changes must take place in the political ar
rangements OF Continental Europe. II is merely q
question of time And all tho professions Of loyalty
and allegiance with which our great great men and
little great think it necessary to garnish their
speech withal, are symptoms not Of health, but OF
conscious weakness The true friends Of the country
are they who are proving that the Union is delu-
for evil and impotent for good. Increasing multi
tudes are growing up to the knowledge Of this
truth and the day ce sts reduction to practice will
be that from which history will date the birth Of
the republic.
We look upon this Fugitive bill as most signif-
cant, as well most important, event in the his
tory of the i-slavery revolution Whence came 1t
From the degree Of protection ani-slavery agitation
had thrown around the fugitves whose evasion anti
slavery agitation had promoted. What is its de-
sign? To replace this matter where it stood twenty
years CO. when escape comparatively rare, and
rendition absolutely easy. What does it provel
That there less hostility to slavery than has here
tofore existed? Nay, verify; but the direct con-
trary. Are there not as many abolittonsts IS be-
fore the bill passed! Yes, indeed, and their num-
hDr " i'll mnltiuly fnatAr than bpfOra nd
the wire pulers at Washington believe, or pretend
that they believe, that they have pat tbs agitation
at rest, and pacifed the country We can tell
them that revolutions never go backwards and that
. movement like oars, aimed at the destruction Of
element closely entwned with our institutions
as slavery, 10 revolution. What tho present stage
Of that revolution may be, cannet be told from
contemporary stand point. But the time is not
very remote when this imagined victory Of the slave
power will be seen q certain sign Of its weakness,
and . sure forerunner Of its downfall.
ARRIVAL or GEORGE THOMPSON.
The past year will be long remembered by the
aboitionsts Of Massachusetts,, as tho one that wit
messed the return of George Thompson to tho scene
Of his former labols and trials Fifteen years ago,
his fidelity to the American slave drove him from
our shores, which were no moro worthy Of him.
The bloodthirsy spirit which marked that reign of
terror, and which had singled him out in an espe-
cal manner, as the most acceptable victim to be
offered by its Northern worshppersto the idol Of the
land, made his return to his own country necessary
to the safety Of his fe During the long interval,
we have been in constant intercourse with him. He
has kept himself accurately informed Of each pass
ing chapter in our history: We have watched his
active participation in the great reforms in his
own country, as they have successively presented
themselves, and the growth Of his infue nce and
fame until he was raised to the British senate by
the most numerous constituency OF the empire.
ESCAPING SLAVES.
Notwithstanding the stringent provisions of the
Fugitive bill, and the confidence which was felt in
it certain for escape, we arc happy TO know
this moment. All abolitionists, at any Of the pro-
minents points Of the country, know that applica-
ti0ns for assistance were never moro frequent This
is inevitable in the nature of things, and from tho
mer, Mr.. William l.. Chaplin was arrested in the
District, or just over the line Of Maryland, in the
act of conveying several slaves 70 freedom. For
this act Of humanity and on charge Of resistance OF
the officers employed for the recovery Of the slaves
he WAS thrown in our prison, at Washington. A
strong excitement raised in his behalf, particu-
larry in Central New York. Agents were sent over
the country to raise the money necessary to lberate
him on bail. After being thus released at Wash
ngton, he was re-afrested and confined for several
months, in Maryland. for alleged breach Of her
laws. Very recently he has obtained bail to an
excessive amount, and is now in this part Of the
country. SO dangerous and expensive Is it to yield
to the simplest impulses Of common humanity in
this free and happy country!
THE CHURCH AND CLERGY.
Our narrowing space forbds US TO devote to this
head the attention which its Importance demands.
Tho action Of the great denominations bodies has
not been marked with any of those prominent
features which have obtruded themselves upon us
IN former years-not that there has been any re-
Taxation Of the attitude Of repuse which those sects
maintain towards any attempt to act against sls-
very Though thei. machinery.
The head of Massachusetts, orthodox theo.,gy,
Moses stuart, blesses the defender Of the cousttu
tion for having recalled him a sense Of his ooa-
stitutonai duty Of catching slaves, and falminstes
sunes to condo the constitution. The heresiarch
o! New Haven, Dr. Taylor, doeS suit and service to
the supreme law of slavery, under the very droppngs
of the sanctuary Of Yale. Dr. Hawks answers for
the fidelity Of the Anglican churchmen; and Dr..
Dewey, the lesdor OF the hosts Of the unitarian
cesson, who sits in Channngs scat, ves with those
of the elder faiths in the humility Of bis homage
and the servility Of his allegiance to the demon
that we serve.
lis no uncommon subject of complaint that the
old reverence for the clergy is on the wsne, aud
various causes have been suggested to account for
il. A fsvorite theory Is, that il is owing to the
syst.matto attacks which the sboli,ionists have
made upon them,-a charge, false rs far as tho
authority Of the clerical otico is concerned, bat
true IN the sense OF oonstant'watching aud expos
ing Of their shortcomings in this direction. IL Is
oui opinion TIA tho present position OF the Amer
clergy, n slas~ Is not owing to sbolitionisa
or iniaeiity, or any other extrnsic CAUSE, but TO
tbe,nseiv,N. The macs of mon do not approach
then doctrna opinions through the gate Of ABSTRACT
btb,tfIoh, IHcy uHu ihtmbttNeb uebnrOnlNy
them sAd setting up new sovereigns; II IL by the
avenue u experience and IN tbs clear light Of se;5
that they enter into the hdytum OF their thoughts
aud lay ieenoelas.ic hands on their idol ideas.
Who have been the bitterrsl rcviiors Of the sbo-
ltionsts, even when the Influence Of their labors
had made the former gross wickc incss Of clerical
p,o slavery uuwisc aud inoxpedieDt3 VINO tho
Iesdieet vehicles % defamation and lics7 Men in
pulpits, and having the control Of the religious
litts Aud, Row, who Ia IL that justify the abomi.
nablc slave catching law, that stand rUsdy 90 bless
slayecstcbing meetings. and preach passive obod-
eLee and non-rcSistaDce to wicked laws aud wicked
rulers, but the great leaders o. the determinations
Calhoun, and Clay, aud kangman Foote, shine rs
moral teachers when contracted with the black ia.
fanny Of such men as lrs. Spring Hawks and Dewey;
for they DO not pretend that slavery or slave.
tiswiih religious as with political princplos-the
good must either prevail or So 20 the wall. God
ana slavery can more be served together than
q Cd A ud tnafuu,on tpust hold IN ose AMI