Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-04-04
THE CLERGY AND MR.. DOUGLAS.


THE CLERGY AND MR.. DOUGLAS.
The New York Recorder one Of the ablest
religious papers in the Union, has word in
behalf Of the clergy assailed by Mr. Douglas:
at is often said of clergymen as q class,
that they are unacquainted with the ways OF
the world and are sadly apt to blunder when
they travel out Of their strictly professional
sphere Undoubtedly there is foundation for
this criticism, as there is for the same criticism
with reference to any other class Of men; but
the amusement of the thing is, that the wise
people, who are most fond of descanting upon
the worldly greenness Of the clergy, are often
quite as limited in their own knowledge of
matters not belonging to their own line. W0
venture to intimate to the Senator from Illinois,
that he knows less of tho clergy Of the country
than they know of him, and that the clergy
of the country understand good deal more OF
secular and political affairs than he does Of
those Of religion and theology. Indeed, we
venture to say, further, that if Mr. Douglas had
made more frequent choice Of the clergy as
his companions, he would have been man Of
good deal more general intelligence than he
can with any reason pretend to, and might
have derived other advantages from the COM
panionship which it is not necessary for us to
suggest, AS matter of fact Mr. Douglas
shows himself utterly and inexcusably ignorant
OF the character of the New England clergy
As a class their superiors as to general intel
ligence are not to be found in the United
States, or in the world. They are men of
learning The colleges Of New England were
founded by them and almost universally they
have been the teachers Of the colleges OF
~ ooo r~o1s,okao af Maui Epu1anI o,lIaca,
according to tables at this moment before us,
502, or more than one fourth, have entered
tho ministry, and there is not a school district
from Rye to Madawaska which has not felt
their influence in raising the tone Of general
Intelligence and culture. II has been, more
over, an incident Of New England history, that
the doctrines which have prevailed in regard
to the ministry-that they are not caste, but
the companions and equals of their lay breth-
rem, and distinguished only az called to pccu-
liar duties-have always brought them into
tho closest relations with the public in all mat
ters of social interest. They have mingled
with their fellow citizens freely in the consid.
Grafton Of public questions, and not year
passes in which they do not hold Office, moro
or less as magistrates and Legislators, and they
are often members Of Congress, Judges, and
Governors.
at is of such men, to the number Of more
than three thousand, that Mr.. Douglas makes
the sweeping statements which we have quo
ted--that not one Of them knows the history Of
the Missouri Compromised not one Of them
even knows the history Of the Compromises OF
ls50-and that not one Of them has taught
the obligation Of the Fugitive Slave Law Of
that year, or Of national engagements in gen.
eral Why, there are names on that protest.
by scores of men who wero high in station,
men of learning, general intelligence, and in
fucnce, before the Senator from Illinois was
born-who were participators in the agitations
of 1920. and know it's details as they know
their alphabcts There are scores too, who were
some Of whom preached in favor Of them, and
who proclaimed in Boston itsclf tho obligations
of the offensive law in question, and congratu-
lated the country that it was now to have q
Sabbath on the subject Of Sla1ery'--the very
Sabbath which the Senator from Illinois has
broken, outraged rs he affects to feel at being
charged with the proclamation. II was certain
ly wanton venture when the comparatively
Youthful Senator impugned the intelligence OF
such men rs Francis Wayland, Lyman Beech
or. Nathaniel Taylor, Alexander H. vinton,
and a host of others OF similar standing among
the distinguished personages Of our time. Are
thew less citizons because they are clergymen ;
and because they solcmnly believe the judg-
mcnts Of God are provoked by violation Of
public faith and an act Of political immortality,
are they to be denounced as fanatics and
OUNCES by----the Senator from Illinoisf"
AN AGED WoMAS.--Tho Utica Herald Of
March 3lst says:
"A correspondent in our paper OF March
f4th. made some notice OF Mrs. Judith Town,
lady resident in the town Of Marshall, in this
county, who had attained the remarkable age
Of Io7 years. Hardly had we published bis
note, however, before she passed away. On
the 10th Of March, with hardly any previous
indications Of so speedy departure, she term
mated her earthly career She was born IN
October i747, and was consequently woman
grown when the Declaration Of Independence
was signed. Her recollection Of the events Of
those days wore vivid in the extreme. She was
undoubtedly the Oldest woman in the country
at tho time Of her death. We are informed
her oldest daughter survives her, at the vener-
able ago Of s6 years,