The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1852-10-11
From the Christian Press
r,uty Of Christian Voters =" 'he "p
Droaching Election.

From the Christian Press.
,~.... of el,ristian Voters i'm the APP
prOaching Election.
The two great political parties OF the country
Have constructsd their platforms, and seiected
,leir candidates as the exPonents Oh theif primer
nles. We can now calmly and intehigenlsy Survey
,s;r ositiou take the hearings of their policy and
I..r the duty of the Christian voter in the premi-
sss Preliminary, however, to an exposition OF
,ta osition and doctrines of the parties, it may be
proper TO glance at the fixed principles, which
should govern the Christian in the exercise OF the
elsctivs franchise. The Christian is one who
lives to glorify God, by doing good to his fellow
nan. This is the great end of his life, and every
right act is performed with reference direct, or
indirect. to this one object. The comprehensive
command of God, is, ..whether ye eat or drink or
wfatsoever ye do, do all to the glory OF God
The Christian, therefore, who feels that he can
censcieutiously, exercise. the elective ianch,'o
under our eoyernment,-and we write onS io'
a,cb.-wiII feel it his duty, and privilege 10 do
sor the pIorv Of God Now that civil government
.ona ran olorify God, whose great object It s' 10
.....,.a h;s. will and whose Irws are in harmony
with ,ie law of God 1t Is only such a govern
A rr1nrtf
possessing the character, which he requires In Inc
civil ruler, are Gods ministers for good to the peo
x,a. II Is a mockery and blasphemy. to caii
that government Gods ordinance, which habiInai-
" tramples on his law, or to call that ruler MS
,n;r;ater whose power is exercised to Cypress and
wrong his subjects. It follows from thls' 'nat tne
S.brst;an Is bound TO vote for such laws as are in
accordance with the divine law, and for such rulers
as will execute them in the fear OF God. Ii ne uo
otherwise he votes to set up civil power WHICH
will contrayene the will and law of him whom he
vrofesses in every act to servo and honor
The only rsmaining question then, is, whether
III. laws and ,,oicy which the political parties pro-
noae To enact and sustain, are in harmony with the
Law If God, and whether the candidates they have
pomipntod, will execute these laws IN his fear
Ii sounds like mockery to ask such quest'ons'
THAT God and his law were not in all the thoughts
of the Conventions which constructed the plat
forms. and selected the candidates of the Wing
md Democratic parties, is simply self evident.
Roth acted undsr the dictaton of the slave power
and for its advantage. Both are pledged to sus-
tain the Fugitive Slave Bill, and similar enact
ments Now there never existed on the face of
this earth, power more hostile in every point and
particular, 10 the government of God, than the
slave power of this land. Slavery is the embodi-
mont of every crime against God and man. 1t
would dethrone the Almighty, if it had the power
1t makes merchandise of his image, and subjects
Jesus Christ. in the persons of his blood bought
disciples to every horrible and conceivable outrage.
party therefore under its dominion, and legis-
iang for its perpetuity and stability necessarily,
IN It's political action, Goddess and wicked.
Again had it been the studied effort of the auth
ors Of the Fugitive Slave Bill, to concoct tissue
of fIegslatve requirements, which should, in every
point, and in their whole letter and epirit insult
and abrogate the law of God they could not have
brought forth any thing more completely otheir
purpose, than that compound of sin and Satan,
known as the Fugitive Slave Law. The enact
.inent is without single redeemng feature. 1t is
.cosl unbIushing, defiant rebellion against God and
shis law.
We repeat then the declaration, that both the
large political parties of this land, pledged TO
do the bidding of the slave power, and to sustain
that infamous offshoot of slavery, the Fugitive
Slave Bill To vote for the candidate of either
: party, is then to vote for that which would de-
throne Jehovah, and which tramples his plainest
requirements in the dust. Can the Christian cast
such a,vote? Cun he who processes to make Gods
law, the man of his counsel, and the guide Of his
life, give his suffrage for and measures, utter
ly and immeasurably hostile TO all that law re
quires? Gun he, who Processes supreme love tt
his Saviour, as the great controlling motive of hi:
hfe give his political influence to sustain system
which sells that Saviour at auction to the highest
bidder? Can he vote to respect and lhaintain I
statute, which makes it crime TO IS hide the out
east TO feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, t.
bring the poor that cast out, into his house. an
To hide not himself from his own flesh - To as
these questions, would seem to answer them.
is, therefore, no breach of charity, to say, that
vote east for the candidate of either of the larg
political parties of this country is prima faeie ev
dence against Christian character.
0theE aspects of this subject, may caim atten
tion at another time.