The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-24

A WORD FOR THE CLERGY.

Sad the hearts and fearful the forebodngs Of many
of even the great the good and the wise Of country
when the light first shone upon il which developed the
strange fact that had among organized party Of
political rcgionists marching in solemn procession
the Bible TO unite with party of religious politicians
erect standard OF patriotism 10 overop the constitution
Long has that standard remained already and the adj
yoeaes and champions Of faith purer than Revelation
and OF policy too elevated defer the organic code
OF the republic have greatly increased in confidence and
numbers until now the warcr against the sacred charters
of faith and liberty is proclaimed and echoed
throughout every region of religious and political pura-
ISM from Maine to Minnesota. r.ga 1855
BY thousands voices made hoarse few years since by
loud audauons OF the Bible, the constitution, the Union,
and all thesnstitutions based upon them in tone and
style intended to their own claims TO be the peeu-
liar defenders Of the dth and liberty Of the republic arc
nov employed in the nide and seditious denunciaons
Down with the Bibe down with the constitution! down
with the union and down with every institution Of pey
or politics that stands in the way of onward march
the establishment Of higher law than theirs Y r s
While the republic, riding in her strength eyern-
creasing strength heard the din of dissenson distant
echo OF the solid rawlings of Exeter Hall and Stafford
House reverberang the blatant bser Of their Shafts
burys and sutherlands she able feel quite at ease
about it, and, indeed, plcased that even madness
had found means of amusement But the time is
when she may no longer be thus at sior the COM
monwealth has already suffered damage the hands of
this bold, and not quite bloodess party of sedous law
threatening to fall under its attackssome of them al
ready sundered which promised to bind the Union
together with impersable cordsare all the institutions
which uphold the peace and prosperity of the republic
and all fair prospects of emnence in whatsoever
things of real value TO people, morally and nteect
ally and attractive to foreign felow-creatures suffer
ing under the msrue of other lands are peril being
and destroyed unless every friend of the
republic it under the constitution it is shall
fnering, giro up his oins for its defence Surely the
time is come for this and it must be done all is lost
and the blood of fathers shed in vain free
from subsection to power declared by this party to
be greatly preferable to independent constitution
This, may have occasion to notice is one Of its
| foundation principles ,y
While these denuneiators of the constitution and its
rly antecedents able to claim friends associates
allies not single politician recognised by the people as
| sound statesman and superior party motives,
sound divine above all wicked worldly sectaran induce
mens was generally thought and felt that their power
and influence might safely be despised and ignored But
such thoughts and feelings longer wise safe,
for the party may boldly claim either adheren cham
pons active auxiliares number of rightly or
wrongly considered among the respectable statesmen Of
the day. and sagacious politicians besides hreeourths OF
the clergy of New England at home together with hum
dreds Of clerical emigran,s to the western States.
All these have virtually enrolled themselves Of the ani
constitutional party association and thus suddenly eleya-
ted 1t from the condition Of noisy and turbulent faction
that of powerful political party whose reckless prime.
pies of awless disunon of the most appalling chaacer
No number however great of mere politicians by trade,
added TO their numerical fIcr, coia h-Ss alarmed the
friends of the republic for her safety integrity but this
great clerical accession is looked upon with unmsakabe
alarm by too many of the good and true friends of political
religious truth and peace allow it wisely to be made
| light o.
Never before since the organization Of political abo
oIn has it been able its present gorgon
pec TO ghten the tmd and TO and the in
eIdity Of the faithful and the fearless. Hitherto the
large sound and respectable portion Of the Gospel min
isry has been confidently supposed to stand firm and
moyeess the strong ground of truth and order against
all anaticisms and factions of every sort and name That
pleasing and comfortable confidence is forever depart
ed for not only found the New York Tabernacle
platform of political agitation cergymen Of emincnce ever
before reigously conhded in stcadiast friends and de-
tenders Of truth and peace but very large proportion of
the weight of the New England pulpit is thrown into the
scale of disunion and disorder And STILL gen
orally be approhended from other quarters the weight
increasing the grea, satisfaction OF the leaders Of ths
league and herads of church and Of republic Of the -
| tire, untrammecd by either Bible constitution
This state of our horizon religious and POLITICAL thus
by dark and portentous clouds is appalling to
many good man, whose painful apprehensions call for
relief and not OF good TO countrys prosperity
and peace Panic fears for the future dsrsng many
hearts which should be reassured To aid in this labor Of
love my kind and country is the object Of this essay,
In which shall be my cndeayor to convince the earnl
that though there be somew hat Of Tor appe-
hension and much for faithful vigilance there is
really far of substantial fear the consequences
Of these clerical nterventons than appearances would seem
l To Justify.
This grand New England coup degise- brought down
upon heads of the authors Of what scaeda coup dta
by this time very friendly to the New England
clergy in partcunrmany win here be set down as o not
the immediate importance IL certainly cannot tram
mel up the consequence Of the honest constitutional cony
on of Congress that has local license to deny to tho
people Of any portion the country, within the circle of
II. Legislation their chartered right to selfgovernment
But should II either effect It's purpose and defeat the bill
against which directed effect the eontagra
ton Capitol IL would sl be Of temporary interest
In any event the chains the constitution will rust on
after awhile and another Capitol might be erected al
greater distance from New England These are compare
lively small matters for great nation But at the Dc
hest of the leaders Congress of political party who
would lock the wheels of legislation md so put the public
veal in jeopardy and make the soundest principles OF gov
ernment reel under party struggles for place and power
If At such behes the and denunatons Of
the clergy of the republic be successfully invoked and
brought to bear upon important question of national
legislation then foolish and futile must be every hope Of
peace and pemanency for the institutions Of govern
| ment and country. .HE=
In relation to political interests the clergy have certain
y high and solemn and cvcrprcssing duties but obedi
such behcsts preside nt umultuous poieal