Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-05-18

whose letter is here printed by way OF preface.
/ wish to see whether these things have all &C.
Cured by Observation-Disclosures they made the
mistake, first, in their protest; next, IN each OF
the resolutions; and them in their sermons, IN
the pulpit on the holy Sabbath day. If so, they
should be little cautious how they make such
mistakes because mistakes in the pulpit are
serious things. | wish to call attention to
some other extracts from this sermon, as speci-
mems Of that peculiar kind of oratory which
distinguishes the preacher when he abandons
his appropriate sphere, neglects his flock and
his ministerial duties, and turns politician un
der the lead of the abolition coniederates. He
says: &
I'VE may say again what God said long ago !:
'Wo unto them that decree unrigheous DEGREES,
and ne people 10 vhon ce SPEAK can COZ rert hsS
prophecy into history has been so offen conter-
ed before IN The condemnation and disgrace of those
who are guilty Of the great transgresslons"
Here the object was distinctly announced.
The prophecy" was to be converted into
history" The people were invited to do this
| by the "condennation and disgrace of those
who are guilty 81 the great transgresson." He
| then proceeded to declare that the Nebraska
bill was the great crime, and the transgress-
or. The people were thus advised from the
pulpit to take steps to disgrace me. Well,
sir the people of Chicago took the hint |;
and it was not long time before some OF
them had me burning in etfigy on the public
| square, in order that this prophecy might be
converted into history by the condemnation and
disgrace of the persons against whom these
Examinations were hurled from the pulpit on
the Sabbath day. 1t is not an isolated case.
| The same result has followed wherever the
same stimuant was applied. Wherever the
| preacher has converted the pulpit into the
hustings, and his congregation into political
meeting, and called upon them, in the name
Of Almighty God" to denounce and disgrace
me- there violence and passion have reigned,
wild excuses and disorders have prevailed, and
hangings and burnings in efigy have been the
order Of the day In all these cases, fanati.
| cism HIS endeavored to convert the prophecy
into history. If it be the appropriate Office of
the pulpit to stir up angry passions, stimulate
| excuses, and encourage violence, instead of
intoxicating meekness, and peace, and charity,
and good will towards all men, then it would
seem to be right to urge the people to convert
this prophecy into history, as it has often been
done before. Again !:
I" Let it ply the public mind, and heart, and con-
science, with fact, argument. and appeal. Let il
| scorn all the 5ri1tS qciM ac]ich paiyonage and
poeerwouM purchase as silence or ITS speech. Let
| II lay bare the origin and objects of that stupen-
| dous fraud now contemplated in the councils OF
the nation. Let 1t show the people its true char
| acter and its bearings upon their own interests,
| public and private. Let II arouse them TO speech
and action-not in blind fanaticism and fury, but
in earnest, inhexible resolve, against the consum-
nation, or for the correction of the intended evil.
| Would not that sound very we'll, if delivered
on the stump? But, further, the reverend ora
| tor says:
"And especially does this duty devolve upon
you, my hearers, citizens Of that State whose SUI
irages have sent both TO the upper and lower
| houses of Congress the man 10 introduce this
cursed and Ubiquitous bill. Your legislature too,
has endorsed and approved il. II becomes you
then, TO express your indignant and entire dissent
from The fathers and the sponsors ofhis Child ofSi,,
| and shame" l5. fI
| suppose that simile was used for the bene-
fit of his lady hearers, to commend his discourse
to their appreciation. He proceeds:
"lneed scarcely state in formal terms, after
what has been said, my own estimate of the bill
which now absorbs the attention of Congress and
the nation. Ii such statement be desired, i give
! 1t in unequiyocal language that il seems TO me a
measure wrong in every aspect in which it canbe
viewed; measure fraught not only with poti-
cal evil, but dshonorabls, unjust, wicked, ungod-
ly; contrary to the law of God and TO every un-
biased moral judgment of man.
| do not see exactly from what part of the
Bible he derives that condemnation, and, by
! the way, must do him the justice to say that
he does not profess to derive it from the Bible,
but he says he gets "the word at Cod mouth, y
and that he speaks by Gods authority and in
his name. Sir, have serious doubts whether
he received any such word at Gods mouth. !
have my doubts whether there is any man on
earth, at this day, authorized SO to declare
know that we have the word of God before us
in his Holy Scriptures trust that we all
search them carefully with the view of learning
their true meaning, and of following the divine
law in all things according to the revealed
word Of God. Ihope each Of us is as compe-
tent to Judge for himself as either Of these
clergymen is to judge for us on political
question. But, sir, must proceed to some
other choice extracts:
!" Where, then. ask again, is the necessity for
all the formal institutions of an organized govern
ment for such population as this II seems 10
me that il were hard to tell and that the reason for
The proposition must be sought IN hs desire to Gre
ate nee Offices for M patronage Of the national En-
ecnttve and He yetoard Of partisan serUice.o
Well, sir, that is very charitable inference
for minister Of the Gospel to draw from the
action of the Senate of the United States /!
The latter part of the sermon shows that he
knew at the time he delivered it that the final
vote upon the bill had been taken in this body.
BE knew the state Of the vote. He knew the
bill had been passed by the Senate and by a
vote of more than two to one, including a
majority of the wings, as well as a majority of
the democrats. Still, this minister Of the
Gospel tells his audience, in the pulpit on
Sunday morning, that they must look for the
motive Of the act to the base purpose of re-
warding partisan service by the offices to be
created by it. This may be charitable; but
do not think it is Christian charity. do not
think it evinces that purity of thought and
purpose that ought to pervade an no, est mans
mind, and especially minister of the Gospel,
who should not cherish antipathy, hatred, or
malice against any one. The charge that a
majority Of whig senators voted for an iniqui-
tous measure, in order to enable a democratic
President to reward partisan services, requires
no answer from me. Referring to myself, this
Christian preacher says:
Has anything occurred since the last session
of Congress, when the senator from Illinois intro
duced bill for the same object, but recognising
nat ,f,lfr l,l 49,.