Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-03-21


sand citizens of New England. or three hnh1fe"
thousand. or all New England. como here an1' u
citizens Of the United States, protest. a J. thei'
right. against any legislative aenon' anu ,"'"
protest will be treated respectfully. but ineTe
men do not come here citizens they c"'n'
here as ministers of God-his sie' gerents, ns ~"
Senator from Texas said. vice regents. a. ne
probably meant and n servants at their DIVINE
Master, and in his name. protest against great
moral wrong. which they a. ministers u tir ',r-
pel declare 90 be committed by an act of tins
body. II, objected To the receipt 81 mem"iia'
couched in such terms and processing to speak py
any such authority. Without my disr'-Pect w
the memoriasts personally,or any disresPccttor
the cloth. which, to cay the lent, ihey do not
grace, be moved, the proper eonrse That the
memorial be not received.
MIR. Douglas-lt has already been received.
Mr. Butler said. he had always entertained III"
highest respect fJr the ministers 81 the Gospel.
His respect was so high that he would almost sub
mt % their rcbuko for an act performed ~ has ~
fcal capacity. But that respect was for them IN
their appropriate aud sacred Calling and when
they abandon their duty. descend from then
high position, when they forget the religion oi
the Lamb. and mlngle with the waters of the
tnrbd pool of political strife, hi- respect no long
er continued These memoriazts have quilted
the pulpit and have taken their plnce in the po
liical arena, aud they speak as yice-rcgents @
God on earh, and presume in hi= name solemnl'
10 pronounce upon the Senate the Judgment a
the Almighty. He could no longer respect them
when they themselves abandoned their sacred du-
lies. When they had abandoned the religion
htch they profess ed. the religion which was iy-
ped by the meek and lowly Lamb, and took up
the character of the political lion going round
seeking whom they might deyonr, they do VIC
ienco 30 the Gospel and the religion Of the Sa-
yi5ur. He knew not what more was to be done
tI, a.. tbair
domination of this proceeding. He thought they
deceived the censure of the Senate.
Mr.. Adams said the South had for over thirty
yenrs remained under an unjust and oppressive
act. and if it, repeal led To agitation. they who
bud originally done the injustice. were responsi
BILE for the agitation, He would treat this memo
rial a- hc would treat all others. 1t profcssed t.
be the act of the ministers of the Gospel, bat
wa- different from the acts of the Apostles
that it lo-t all the potency and character whichit
signcrs supposed their character aud position
woad give it,
Mr. Douglas said the abolition address put
forth by Members of Congress had called upon
the Ministers of the Gospel To aud rebukc thi'
bIll violation Of plighted nth, DC, aud now
elergymeu IN obedience Ia that call, were cngHg
ed IN getting up protests founded upon the false
statements contained in TINT address. These
say, I'VE. in the name of Almighty
God, protest, &c" What was this assumption
oi the name and pow er of the Almighty but an
attempt 10 establish IN this country the doctrine
that the clergy have the supreme right TO deter
mine and pronounce the will of God on all sub
jects, and particularly in relation to the potica
action Of Congress! IT was mn attempt to set up
IA theocrucy-it nn attempt to put the lcgis
lation Of the country in the hands aud under the
control of the Church. M boder attempt thun
this ever mnde, by any Church. in the most
despotc countries, or in the darkest ages of the
world.-to enforce the doctrine that IL the pri
Yilego of tie Church To tell the people that not
only ON religious subjects, but also upon nil pc
hical ones, they must receive as the Divine will
whatever they received from the Church. If this
pretcnsion of the clergy be sanctioned all ques
tions must bc referred To the clergy for approval
before Congress shall act The memorial pur-
ports to speak in the name of the Almighty, aud
in that numc protests against the bill, and tells
Congress plainly that the gates Of Heaven are
CLOSED unless we obey the behcsts OF the Abo-
uonlsts. He had great respect tor clers ymen
aud for their calling. lie had 10 doubt but that
these mcmorialists were men Of learning, ntel-
gence aud responsibility, bel hr WIS sure that
there could not he found throughout the country
any other body of meu Of equal number who had
more ignorance upon this one subject upon
which they now protested. How many Of them
had ever read the history OF the act OF $50! Not
one. How mai.y ot them had ever read the his.
tory and votes OF the Northern States ropudinting
AT the time of its adoption that worry act! Not
one How many of them had ever read the votes
and proceedings of the nets Of 1867 Not one.
Yet they profess to speak the will of God upon
subject in relation To which they are profound
ly ignorant. They speak Of the sanctty of ma
tonal engagements. Did any one OF these three
thousand preachers tell their people in 1880 when
the fugitive slave law resisted by force that
it was their duty To nbey it,on the ground that il
was "A national engagement of the constitution OF
the |. 81 Not one. Did they tell their people
that the Senate did right IN passing that act,and
IN carrying out Il national engagement! Not one
II II part of the duty of these three thousand
clergymen to speak about the sanctity of nation.
nj engagements, where were they in lS5O-whcn
IN Boston the law was openly resisted by force,
they were silent. But now Mt the bidding of the
Abolition iunta in Congress they come forward
aud arragn The Senate of the L. :. in the name
OF the Almighty He cared nothing personally
for this or any other insults caused by the adj
dresses of the Abolition eonfederates. He could
hide his time--their day woutd cease when not a
man could be found who would snv he ever was
opposed to the great American principle of self
government.
mississippi
The Legislature of Mississippi closed its ses-
sion On the I'd instant Amongst the bills of