The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-19

authority and doctrine"
This resolution appears to have been adopted by
at an ant-Nebraska meeting oomposed exclusively Of
clergymen Twenty-Five in number and called for the pur
pose OF considering that question and other IL was
adopted in eonneIion with the protest and forms part OF
the same transaction The protest denounces the Nebraska
bill in the Of Almighty God" us IA great moral
uronyas breach of faith eminenty injurious to moral
p,s.eple Of the community" and exposing to the
righteous judgments Of the Almighty The resolution do
eares "ha the aisyy "a the dtvnei ssstiion
for the declaration and enforcement Of Gods pH upon all
points moral and religious truth Do not the protest and
resolution refer to the questiono wit the Nebraska
bin now pending before Congress- Surely you will not
deny that such was your understanding You assembled
to consider that question: and other You acted upon
that subject and that alone Your resolutions decla
ratoy of the extent Of your rights and as clergy
and your protest your action in conformity with
those assumed rights and powers.
understand, then, your position to be this that you
ministers of the Gospel that the ministry Is the
institution for the declaration and en-
orcement Of Gods will upon all points of moral and reli-
gious truth that this dvinely institution is
empowered ITO declare" what questions of civil political
judicial Legislative character do involve points OF NOR
and religious truth that the Nebraska bill does involve
such points and is therefore, Of the questions upon
which it is the duty of this ddvinely institu
ton" to declare and enforce Gods win and that cloth
ed with all authority and doctrine this "divinely-ap
pointed institution proceeds to issue its mandates to the
Congress Of the United States ain the OF the Almighty
God" This being your position must be permitted to
say you in all Christian Kindness that differ with you
widely radically, and fundamentally In respect to the ma
and extent of your rights duties and powers min
listers Of the Gospel If the claims of this "divney
pointed institution shall be enforced and the various pub
lie functonares shall yield their Judgments your super
vision and their your keeping there will be
limit your temporal power except wise discre
ton and viruous orbearance If your "diviney-appont
ed institution has the to prescribe the mode and
terms for the organization Of Nebraska why
your authority not be extended over the entire CONT
nen not only to the country which possess but to
| oil which may hereafter be acquired.
Nor do you propose to conne your operations to the
supervision and direction Of the action of Congress in the
organization of territorial governments and the admission
of States into the Union 1t difficult to conceive of
matter of private public pending before
Congress or in the legislatures Of the different States
the judicial tribunals which does not quite much the
Nebraska bill nvolve point of moral and religious
TRUTH and informed in your resolution that upon
all points of moral and religious truth" the ministry is
the diyneyapponted institution for the declaration and
enforcement of Gods will" do not wish to be under
stood ntimatng that it present purpose through
the agency of this divney appointed institution to de
clare and enforce Gods will in all matters affecting
foreign policy and domestic concerns that you intend
direct the of the political parties control
the local and general elections throughout the country 1t
is enough to fill with alarm the mind of every patriot and
bring and grief to the heart Of every Christian
that you have asserted the right do this In all cases. and
have in attempted the exercise Of this divine pro-
rogave din the of Almighty God" 1t is true, that
while you assert the right in the broadcast terms and pro-
pose to establish precedent which will justify its
ercse in all future time in your second resolution you
"dsclam all desire" to do certain things from which it
might be inferred first view that you do intend to
NEEDLE with party politics. attempt to control the
cal movements Of the day. This however turns out to
be illusory, on closer examination.
Re.olred. 3D. That while dscaim all desire inter-
diets Of poitic. parties il is duty to recognise the
bearing Of such question, and conflicts and 70 proclaim
human interest," the principle of inspired truth and obga
tion."
You do desire interfere in questions of and
you willing leave the question OF where the
sution has placed itin the hands Of Congress- the
Of the and s the States Ct the Union
cts Of political parties" This sentiment is admirable
viii meet the cordial appreciation of every patriot and
Christian But you Immediately follow with the decla
ration that ait duty recognise the moral bearing
Of such questions and conflicts You do not desire
gage 6ght the battles of your country but
you do claim that il is your right and you please your
duty by virtue Of your office as ministers through the
agency of this divinely institution to declare
in the name of Almighty God, war In which your coun
try is engaged with foreign power to be immoral and
unrighteous although the representatives of the people
and Of the States in of the constitution have de-
cared it to be just and necessaryand this not in the
Of your ordinary pastoral duties your several
congregations, but organized body speaking to the
constituted authorities of the nation cannot recognise
the principle that while You protected in the enjoyment
Of all your rights as citizens of all just rights min
sers you yet released by virtue of your Office min
sters from your allegiance to the country during and
from your obligation Of obedience the constitution and
laws and constituted authorities at all times
You also say that you consider your duty to take cog
nizance OF the moral bearing Of the conflicts Of the differ
emit political partiesn The moral bearing Of the demo
cratic party and Of the whig party and Of the abolition
party each be recognised by our divncy
institution and you then add that il is your duty Ito pro-
claim in reference thereunto the princp inspired truth
and obligation You propose, throue bur dvinely APP
pointed institution to apply the test of INSPIRED truth to
each OF the political organizations and TO their respective
conflicts, and "to reprove rebuke and exhor with all
thority and doctrine in the Of the great Jehovah
With all due respect for ministers Of the Gospel
cannot recognise in your divine y-appointed institution
the power either Of prophecy or Of revelation have
never recognised the existence Of that power in any man
on earth during my day. Only few years since and
within the period Of your vivid recollection priest
hood OF religious sect calling themselves Lstter-Day
Saints claimed for themselves the right by virtue OF
their dvinely appointed institution declare and enforce
Gods viii earth in respect 10 ~ points of moral and
religious truth They also declared that their duty
to recognise the moral bearing Of the conflicts POI
tca parties and to proclaim in reference thereunto the
principle of inspired truth and obligation When the
Mormon prophet proclaimed the principle OF inspired
"in the name Of the Almighty God" and through the
agency OF His divinely-appointed institution that it was
the decree OF Heaven that STEPHEN DouoAs should be
beaten and his opponent elected Congress the Quincy
district the people Of that portion Of Illinois did not
knowledge the authority Of the prophet did result
of the election strengthen my opinion in the validity Of his
claima.
have wandered distant and extensive portions of
the globe during the past year. where the of Ma
homet proclaimed and enforced Gods win on earth nc
recorded in the Koran and by the potency of His d.
vnciy appointed institution held in the hollow OF his
hand, and suspended upon his breath he lives the ber
ties and the property Of millions Of men, women and chill
dren When within his dominons and surrounded by
his bayonets had neither the time the disposition TO
argue the question Of his right to pproye rebuke and
exhort with all authority and doctrine" in the Of
the Almighty But when set foot the shores of
native land under the broad folds Of national flag and
pAns