The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-05-11
THE DAILY DISPATCH
: --.:;;;.snAY N0aNIfs0. NAY II. 1854
N noucI,As AND THE CLERGY.

Mr.. DOUGLAS AND The CiAEhSis
The unfortunate Mr.. Douglas. Of Illinois,
Who q made reluctant channel for the de-
aires Of the Western theologians. and who
certainly cannot complain that, if he Is hung
in efigy. he Ia denied the benefit of clergy,
presented, on Monday last, memorial sign
ed by over ave hundred clergylnen OF the
Northwestern States. against the Nebraska
bin, on which occasion he made q speech
said 10 be similar in tone and temper to his
letter published on similar occasion. Mr..
Douglas seems to be very much sought after
by the ecclesiastics of this age. He is the
object of great spiritual solicitude. and of
many outward and inward exercises Since
the period when 1t has been deemed moon
sistent for the clergy to indulge in fox hunt
ing, or An occasional hand ct whist, and other
agreeable diversions of a similar character.
they have had to lead very quiet ana
hum-drum sort of life, until 1t was discover
ed that federal politics belonged iegitimately
to the domain of theology. and ought to be
annexed forthwith. This new discovery has
been hailed with rapture by the clergy Of
boys emancipated from school, they have
burst with wild hurrah into. the green and
fragrant fields Of politics, rolling themselves
over and over in the dewy meads, and, If
colt or horse happen to be feeding near,
belaboring theprior occupant Of the soil with
sticks and stones, and chasing him far from
his own ancient pastures. There is more
fun and excitement in politics, especially, to-
the tyro, than in fox hunting, and, to the
theologian. it affords fine field not only for
amusement, but for the exercise of all the
stronger passions of human nature-ambi-
tion, pride, hatred, revenge indulgence IN
which was not formerly considered altogether
In keeping with purely clerical life Hence
the gustO with which the anti Nebraska cier'
Ky are after the little giant of Illinois with
sharp stick. Never was red or grey fox SO
hunted. The whole field is alive with biacK-
coated horsemen and abolition hounds, anu
all after one little fox! In the meantime,
more crafty animal of the same species is es-
tablishing the right of squatter sovereignty
among the ecclesiastical poultry yards, and
carrying off with impunity multitudes of fat
pullets, matronly hens, gallant chandeliers,
irrascible gobblers, and melancholy shang-
hais. If the clerical hunters don't soon re-
turn from their fun they will find that an en-
terprising old sportsman from the subterra-
mean regions has put them purposely on
wrong scent, and, whilst they have been cha
sing one poor quadruped, he has been max
ing game Of them and their flocks. In one
word, while they are looking after Douglas,
Old Nick is looking after their spiritual
charge There is the best authority for de-
claring that when the shepherd is absent the
wolf will make havoc among the sheep.
Parson Beecher, who is the ringleader of
these anti Nebraska Nimrods, declares that
he and his brother ministers of the North.
ought to have share in the management of
political affairs and that in the ancient days
of New England, they did exercise very con-
siderable authority in the State. That is un-
doubtedly "a cody fact The clergy of
New England formerly possessed no small
temporal as well as spiritual authority The
Quskers, whom they scourged, imprisoned,
and put to death; the witches, whom they
tortured, hung and burned, if they could rise
from the dead, would all testify, with one
voice. to the entire historical accuracy of
Beecher's statement. And, there is no doubt,
that il Beecher and his associates possessed
the same power at this day, they would exer-
else il In the same manner, and, instead of
hanging the Nebraska men in effigy, they
would hang them in dead earnest, and think
they were doing God service. The prece
dent, quoted by Beecher, is an unfortunate
one in this humane and liberal age. More
over, there never has been period when
the connection of Church and State did not
injure both There can be no union of light
and darkness. There is no such thing as ser
wing two masters The founder of Christi. |
anity declared that his Kingdom is not of this |
world. and those of his servants who say that
it is, deny their Lord, and prove themselves
traitors and hypocrites. So r /
Where do these anti Nebraska clergy find |
authority in the Bible for their madness?-l
Did not our Saviour declare that the Ten |
Commandments comprised the whole duty of |
man to God and his fellows? And which of /
the Ten Commandments forbida slavery Is
1t the Tenth? Does the law in that command. |
ment-1ho~ shalt not coret thy neighbor,s
aaan-serUdnt nor has maid seruaat-mean
Thou shalt covet them, thou shalt steal them.
thou shalt abuse, curse and excommupicate
every man. woman and child, who forbid thee
from stealing them!
We look with pride and pleasure unon tba
contrast which the Southern clergy present,
in their exemplary and harmless department
and their rigid abstinence from political Of,
fairs, to the faithless, turbulent, incena;arv
conduct of these clerical agitators of the
North. The cause of Christianity. SO far "a
Its affected by human agency, depends more
upon the lives than the arguments Of ;ts
preachers, and we rejoice that the Southern
clergy have proved loyal to their sacred
trust.
THE NEBRASKA BILL.