The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-03-29

We now behold 1t confronting the
Representatives in the Upper House Of Con-
gress in the shape of a petition signed by three
thous md New England Clergymen, invoking
in the name of almighty God the nation Rep
resentatives not to con NIT the crime Of passing
the Nebraska Bill and threatening them with
the vengeance OF an outraged Divinity if they
dare to commit so gross a violation Of His pre-.
cepts. We find them reported in political meet
ings and on the stump as denouncing the Sem
ale in coarse and vindictiye terms and encourag
ing the people to acts of violence and lawless-
ness. The nations Senate chamber is stigma
tised as theatre OF pestilence and corruption
and its grave, venerable and exemplary in
mates, assailed as band Of reckless, unprinci.
pied, drunken, politicians. Where is this spirit
to lead 10, ii not checked To an open con-
test between The state and the church as 10
which shall control the national consels
A new test will be instituted as qualification
for political preferment and the more rigid and
austere the religious partisan the better fitted
for political promotion and the more successful
politician. This unhallowed spirit is even ex-
tending itself to the West, to our own state,
where we find Clergymen all over the state dab.
bling in politics. Some are engaged in politico
temperance lecturing, while others are offering
themselves as candidates for Office. We find
one denouncing all parties, unless they will
bring forward maine Liquor Law men for Office;
another assailing candidate for office through
the columns of political journal; third
worming himself into a political convention and
bartering away the suffrages of his fellow Abo-
litionists, for the sake of nomination a fourth
offering himself as an Independent candidate
for Superintendent Of Public instruction and
fearing defeat on the score of his Abolition
proclivities, declining in favor of an other, the
Rev. l. |. Stewart, who is now making circuit
Of the state, appealing 10 the people for their
votes. What is 10 Be come Of the church, if the
Clergy forsake the sacred desk and the bible for
the rostrum and the political text book and wha,
we ask is to become OF the Republic, if its Leg
islation must conform to the notions Of eyery
sect in the country' Where will this mistaken
philanthropy lead to- Is not the answer in the
mouth Of every rational man in the country -
A bitter and never ceasing strife between differ.
ent sects; the fruitful source of innumerabe
and deep rooted prejudices and the sure fore
runner Of biite- contention, blood shed and a
speedy and complete overthrow Of the govern
nent. We are taught by experience that reli
giout teachers do not make the wisest states
men and the best Legislators. Their views are
too extreme, their opinions toe unyieldinc and
they are too often swayed by feeling, rather
than Judgment. Their legislation par,akes too
much OF q severe moral discipline, 10 be well
adapted TO the common routine of life, or com
mand the respect and obedience Of the masses.
It's By no means agreeable to our feelings TO
indulge in this kind OF writing. 1t is the frs,
time That we nave ever ventured upon this for
hidden ground and We could nave wished that
no necessity had arisen to require it now. But
proper regard for the sacred cause OF the
church, The high and noble mission it has to &C.
compiish with the present and the rising gener.
alton and generations which TO come after
and proper love for the institutions of our
country, TO see them so honored and reverenced.
that they may be transmitted unimpaired to pos
teEity for all time to come, admonishes US that
we have duty to perform and that we should
be unworthy Of the position we hold did we fail
10 employ our pen in mitigation Of this crying
evil. Whenever the sacred desk is prosti,uted
10 the purposes Of politics and the Clergy acquire
stronger love for the civil, than the ecclesias.
teal worship, forsaking the one and cleaving to
the other, beware then Of disordered, Jealous
and discontinued state Of society, the inevitable
and irresistible forerunner Of civil anarchy and
premature decay
Some may laugh at what they will term our
crednlity, but let such mark well the history Of
the past and consider calmly the memorable Law
OF C1use and effect.
A WoRD To ouR SuBscIaERs-.Mr Sar /.
uei Hendrickson, r., our authorized agent
will leave this city in day or two, with the
accounts OF subscribers in Jackson, Clinton.
jones, Cedar, Linn, Benton, Black Hawk and
Buchanan counties We trust our subscribers
will be ready % settle their accounts with him