Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1854-03-23
WHOLE NO l@27


States Senate such a ribald attack upon
the clergy of New England as fell from
that Senator's lips yesterday. Stephen
A. Douglas, a man sharp, quick. active,
dexterous. cunning, ever on the watch
for opportunities to Iuth his fortunes,
! yet without weight OF personal charas-.
ter, without greateess oi mind or eleva-
non OF souI, without sympathy and iei-
low feeling for others, Without love
either for God or man, utterly devoid Of
all true wisdom, destitute oi every quail.
i,y that can command respect Tor oih-
ers or 90 even a small way towards
comforting seli-respect-this man rises
IN his seat in the Senate, and charges
three thousand five hundred clergymen
with having misreprcsenicd the truth
for sinister purposes. For exercising
an undoubted constitutional right, Tor
sending, IN wei. weighed language,
their protest against "a measure now
! under public consideration, they are To-
suited denounced and maligned. Men
whose lives are consecrated 10 the
service OF truth and the highest :nte :.
esis Of humanity, men oil large edusa-
uon and strong mr ntal power, Of refin-
ed sensibiItIes,o %! deep piety, Of unsullied
virtue, ol singleness Of purpose Invigo-
rated by hatitual sell denial, and OF u
patriotism beyond all reach Of prefer.
ment or reward. men familiar with the
depths Of Tho human heart Ms well as
with the grounds OF moral science, men
who as a body are unsurpassed by any
other body OF men on earth IN every
quality that cnoblrs or adorns human
nature, aud whose moral influence
upon thr world admits OF no measure
ment-mcn who are Americans all, tho
descendants OF those who encountered
the dangers OF the ocean and the vio-
/ lence Of savages to establish liberty up
on this Continent, the successors of
those cody men who prayed Tor their
c,un,ry on the battle fields oi the Revo-
lution-ihese men, IN mass, a,e rsbuksd
by Stephen A. Douglas Tor presuming
to hold and express AN opinion upon u
matter deeply affecting the interests Of
the Union, and engaging universal at
tention They are not only rebuked.
but they are rebuked in an Imperlous
tone and with insolent languags-in
language that no respectable man
would use to lis fellow in the street.
the blusterin! overbe airing language OF
pot house bullJ.
There cannot be two opinions about
! the exhibition which the Senator from
illinois made OF himself yesterday. -
Oar country has not sunk TO that yet. II
matters not whether the conclusions Of
the clergymeE are correct or not, no
American legislator, we will not say
worthy OF his position, but worthy Of
the Inc of a man, could treat So
lrmn expression Of these conclusions
with disrespect. None can be more
a ers than wo TO the mingling OF
pro chers OF the gospel in the ordinary
b,ois Of the day. But where great
principles are at stake, where the peace
ol the country Is involved and men are
called upon TO act under weighiy re-
sponsibIllties, in those great junctures
when persons and prejudice should be
banished and calm discretion rule the
hour il is meet that christian mlnisters
who arc isolated from the political
arena, who have capacity TO form wise
| judgments and character TO obtain
| deeren'ial hearing, should speak-and
speak too in accordance TO their clear
sense OF right and high convictions ti
| duty, whether the vaporlng politicians
aud petty wire.puIlers will hear or
! torcbear. 1t is certain that their innu-
, ence has often been exerted In the his
tory oil our country with most beneficial
effect. No single influence did so much
TO reconcile the public mind Of the
| North Eastern Staies 10 the Cofnpr IN
:se oil 1850 as the appeals made from
the pulpit in behalf OF consti 'utional law
and the tranquility OF the country No
man denies that our cergy have great
power. Ii is both right ahd expedieut
that they should exercise H. IN Tree
land like ours. when questions touching
the vita, elements Of our civil system
are in agitation. There is very little
danger that this exercise Of power will
be abused lor clergymen, as n mass,
are, by education aud habit, The most
consct yativc class Of the comm nifty
The whole spirit OF what they preach is'
in favor oil iorbearancc, mutual iolera-
tion, peace, good ORDER aud obedience
to the law. II they have not the ex,
perience of professional politicians IN
mixed affairs, # they do not thoroughly
understand the various complicated,
external and internal Interests oi tho
nation in lis political capacity they are.
| at all events, quito as iamiliar as any
other class with the great lr,Dciplcs-
which coasu,uts the only true elements
Of national prosperity aud their very
retirement from the field oi party con-
tovcrsy secures soborness Of Judgment
aud honesty OF purpose.
For the insolence OF Scna or DouoLAs
towards this body oi men, there can bs
no other feeling than utter disdaln. Our
neighbor, the Journi Of Commerce, II
il had any regard for ITS character, will
check lis manifestations OF a similar spir-
It, lis absurd-worse than that, u is
positively dishonest, tor a paper whose
columns tour years since were crowded
With eloquent sermons ~ iavor OF the
Compromise Of 1850, nov 10 cast re-
proach upon their reverend authors Tor
appending their names TO simple memo
rails in iavor Of what they unt erdand 10
he the Compromise Of 1920; the support
oil both, by them. being alike dictated by
a regard 10 the peace and harmony and
best interest Of the country. The ineoD- .
sis,eney repels every Jusi mind, whatev-
or be it's judgment upon the Bill now IN
question. Courier & Enquirer.