Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-03-23
The Remona.ranooe of the clerg sym

The Remonstrance of the Clergymen.s
Tie New York Journal of Commerce has the
following temperate and iudicious remarks in re
latou 10 the interference Of the clergy in political
affairs and contests ~ =
''ruE NEsaAsK4 BILL.-A mighty effort is max.
ing in The Northern States 10 alIay public opinion
against The bill. More especially The clergy are
0ppsaisdlo, on e-ery henL, TO lend their influ-
emce in opposition 10 what called the Nebraska
E~iIdle,4 aud ghelike. Hive knew; that all tlies.
gentlenen had exaninedthe sui iect with care and
tandOr-hadareadi both sides, alli not based their
opinions upon the misrepresentation of violent
partisan OF nboli:lon I-wsra p=rs-we should feel,
that they were entltied 10 efeTence; even OIL
sub ctaiiotpecuilariyw ithintheTe kphere. But
We are well CONVINCED tnat such is not The fact in
Regard to most oil them. The Tribune aud. the
Independent are the OracleS of multitude Of
clergymen on such TOPICS and the result 1s--whal
might be expected "A Again. we a e aware. how
dlfhcnlltis iIr ciergNman 10 refuse 10 sign re-
lnnuSttanee against .stnpendous fraod,' viola
lion oil Q SUleInn compact &C., even, when he
feeis and knows that he d &c not well Understand
The subject, and would much rather be excused
from signing. We are, however, lree 10 admit that
tue annexed list comprises many Of our most intel
llgent and respectable ministers; though many
otI ers equally intelligent and respectable are not
10 he found tLeTe.ssM e bserve, loo, that large
number Of the NiSnrrS have no p PASTORAL charge
The list includes not only clergS men of this city,
but LE Brooklyn, Williamsburg aud doubtless
otheI neighoorIng towns aud villages. The whole,
number of names is 14s Thete are in this city
moi far fbom250 Protestant ministers, exclusive of
probably as mony more who haze no pastoral
charge. The mum; er in Brooklyn, Williamsburg,
&c..s also large. The list. therefore, IS very far
lion beng complete, il II isesgne't to represent
the united voice of even the Protestant elersymsn
OF This city and vicinity. .fe.li a. f4I5 sI5s K &
WesyIsld .'nune Il ouf respect and yenefaiior
for good and faithful ministers. But II always di.
m.nIshed, that respect (and in this we know we
It pesent alarge class ,in the community when
We see them dabbIing with politics, With a
large, and, We tent, an increasing number Of min
lSterS tue practice Is hHbnual. Crisis are ala
Ways occurring when, in q cir own view, their
interference Is necessary to- Prev ut tie ship of
STATE eInrpnnhg upon the quickSandss Alone
tltnes IS The annexation of Texas; aranothertha
Mexican war; then the WIImot prosisn; then the
fugtlvesslave law then Kos ulh; and always alb.
orlon. Probably the Clergy oil The Nartl, ,y,-rs
never so bitterly hostile 10 any one measure of IN.
government Os ~ the pWTcGse Of Lou SARA M
echoes oil their Lamentations extended 10 PERIOD
within our own recollection. Aud VET th. res,,It
has shown that this tneasnreiwSs one of the wisxst
AMI most productive ct goad-past, piesent and
ptuspective-thats ever occurred m tle annals of
OUT government. II story we have no DOUBT, win
record sinilurl Iuemurlaleiu regnrd to other
measures which the Clergy have generally opposed
with might aud maIn. Tie fact is, clefgymen
asa class, are not the best itdges on political
questions They do not study them with the thor;
eushness, nos with the inpartlallly of statesmen.
Faithful ministers have not time to doNoa They
look only on one side. And sone of them are rs
dramatleon such subjects, esimpnlisnt az dissent,
ans. ne ready 10 driIounee those ho differ from
them. as IL ali wisdom, and even an honesty.
lived and would die with them We adfnil Sthat7
there is nothing IN the mere signing OF a.memor nj
10 Congress which Is necessarily c0nsistent with
The character AMI dpties M q clergyman. Bnt
when selraical 10 aneateE as invoked as sucl-t
whenipis songE 70 be used by patsy and sectional
Interests as a means of ear The Polpl-when
II - employed bysReY OF detsTfing hoaet states
men from the discourage OF what they eonreiye,to5
they haye ASSUMED as leg slatoFss before God and
masi--iben ~ say ills dangsIou influence, and
the less ~ have Of II the b..tter Such, we have
40 doubis VIII he The general sentiment Of the
country and hut, thai tis eiort to turn the pull
pita he Clergy into engines iof the accomplish
llient Of iltrai PURPOSES viii dasge the cause
g hieh n s designed 70 pFoaiole But we shall y