Washington sentinel., 1854-04-11

upon tudt subject anu that aiOne. IOur
resolutions were declaratory of the extent OF
your rights and powers as clergymen, and your
protest was your action in conformity with
those assumed rights and powers.
understand, then, your position 20 be this;
that you are ministers of the Gospels" that
"the ministry is the divinelyappointed institu-
ton for the declaration and enforcement of
Gods will upon all points of moral and reli.
gious truth;" that this "divinely-appointed
institution is empowered "to declarep what
questions of civil, POLITICAL judicial, or legis-
lative character, do involve "points of moral
and religious truths" that the Nebraska bill
does involve such "points," and is, therefore,
one of the questions upon which it is the duty
Of this "divinely-appointed institution to de-
clare and enforce Gods will y and that, clothed
with "all authority and doctrine" this "divinely
appointed institution" proceeds to issue its
mandates to the Congress of the United States
"in the name of the Almighty God" This
being your position, must be permitted to
say to you, in all Christian kindness, that /
differ with you widely radically, and funda-
mentally, in respect to the nature and extent
of your rights, duties, and powers, as ministers
Of the Gospel. Hthe claims of this "divinely-
appointed institution" shall be enforced, and
the various public functionares shall yield their
JuuShiSHsS w youl oupCASisIOl, uHu tutT COIL
sciences to your keeping, there will be no limit
to your temporal power except your own wise
discretion and virtuous forbearance. If your
"divinely-appointed institution has the power
to prescribe the mode and terms for the organi-
cation of Nebraska, | see no reason why your
authority may not be extended over the entire
continent, not only to the country which we now
possess, but to all which may hereafter be ac-
quired.
Nor do you propose to confine your opera
tions to the supervision and direction Of the
action of Congress in the organization of ter
ritorial governments and the admission of new
States into the Union. 1t is difficult to conceive
OF any matter of private or public concern,
pending before Congress, or in the legislatures Of
the different States, or in the judicial tribunals,
which does not quite as much as the Nebraska
bill "involve some point of moral and religious
truths" andwe are informed, in your resolution,
that "npon all points of moral and religious
truth" the !" ministry is the diyinely- y-appointed
institution for the declaration and enforcement
of Gods WILL / do not wish to be under
stood as intimating that it is your present pur-
pose, through the agency of this "divinely-ap-
pointed institution" to declare and enforce
Gods. wilf' in all matters affecting our foreign
policy and domestic concerns, nor that you in
tend to direct the movements of the political
parties, and control the local and general cleo
tons throughout the country. 1t is enough to
fill with alarm the mind of every patriot, and
to bring sorrow and grief to the heart of every
Christian, that you have asserted the right to
do this in all cases, and have in one case at.
tempted the exercise of this divine preroga
tive lin the name of Almighty God.h 1t is
true that, while you assert the right, in the
broadest terms, and propose now to establish
precedent which will justify its exercise in
all future time, in your second resolution you
"disclaim all desire" to do certain things from
which it might be inferred, on first view,
that you do not intend to meddle with party
politics, nor attempt to control the political
movements of the day. This, however, turns
out to be illusory, on closer examination.
g Resolped, Cd. That while we disclaim all desire
to interfere in questions Of war and policy or to
mingle in the conflicts of political parties, il is our
duty 10 recognise the moral bearing Of such ques-
tons and conflicts, and to proclaim, in reference
thereunto, no less than to other departments of
human interest the principle Of inspired truth
and obligation"
You do not desire to interfere in questions
Of war and policy Thus far I heartily ap.
prove. rejoice to see that you are willing to
leave the question of war where the Constitu-
ton has placed tin the hands Of Congress,
as the representatives of the people and the
States of the Union.
You disclaim all DESIRE" also, " to mingle
in the conflicts Of political parties This
sentiment is admirable. It will meet the cor
dial appreciation of every patriot and Chris
tian. But you Immediately follow it with the
declaration that it is our duty to recognise
the moral bearing Of such questions and con-
fictsW You do not desire to engage in war
nor to fight the battles of your country, but
you do claim that it is your right, and, if you
please, your duty, by virtue Of your Office as
ministers, through the agency of this divinely-
appointed institution, to declare, in the name
Of Almighty God, war, in which your country
is engaged with foreign power, to be immoral
and unrighteous, although the representatives
of the people and of the States, in pursuance
of the Constitution, have declared it to be
just and necessary. And this, not in the
course Of your ordinary PASTORAL duties to
your several congregations, but as an organ
lied body speaking tothe constituted authorities
Of the nation. cannot recognise the princi-
pie that, while you are protected in the enjoy
ment Of all your rights as citizens Of oil your
just rights as ministers, you are yet released,
by virtue of your Office as ministers, from
your allegience to the country during war, and
from your obligation of obedience to the Con
stitution and laws and constituted authorities
at all times.
You also say that you consider it your duty
to take cognizance of the moral bearing Of
the conflicts of the different political parties"
The moral bearing of the democratic party,
and of the whig party, and of the abolition
party are each to be recognised by your diviney
appointed institution; and you then add that
it is your duty ito proclaim in reference there
unto the principle Of inspired truth and obliga-
ton." You propose, through your divinely-ap-
pointed institution, to apply the test of !" in
spired truth to each Of the political organiza-
tions and to their respective conflicts, and " to
reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all authority
and doctrine" in the name Of the great Jeho-
yah. With all due respect for you, as minis
ters of the Gospel, | cannot recognise in your
divinely,appointed institution the power either
of prophecy or of revelation. ! have never re-
cognised the existence of that power in any
man on earth during my day. Only a few
years since, and within the period ofyour own
-, L. <>1 1of