Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-04-13
DAILY EVENING STAR.
THE NEW ENGLAND CLERGY.


The properly balanced of all parties
have, with remarkable unanimity. con.
demned the attempt of the New England
clergy to give bias and direction to
the political struggles of the day. Even
those whose purposes have been subserv-
ed, have made q most lame and impotent
excuse for them. The religious papers OF
the South, without exception, have ex.
pressed their dissent. The Richmond
Christian Advocate, the leading journal
of the Methodist Church, South, admin.
listers the following rebuke upon the re-
monstrance of the New England clergy
against the Nebraska bill, which for dig
nifty and severity is scarcely equalled e
This is a sad affair, not for the country.
but for christianity, so shamefully out.
ragged in "the houses of its friends. -
Professionally we cannot be supposed to
feel indiferently towards the ministerial
character. When in their place, engaged
in their appropriate work. no class of
men in the country is more highly
esteemed than the ministers of the gospel.
But when they turn aside from their
holy employments, and descend into the
arena of party political strife, they defile
their mission, and lay their honor in the
dust. Instead of washing their hands
in innocence" they soil them with world
ly filth, and stain them with crime against
their country's peace. They richly merit
the rebukes administered by gentlemen
of the Senate, and must blame themselves.
it, hereafter, they fnd themselves
stunned as disturbers of the public peace,
and the religion they profess to teach.
Of having too much to do with
the world that now is, and too little with
that which is to come. MY kingdom
is not of this word" said Christ, {" if il
were, then would my servants fight."-
We write more in sorrow than in anger
when we express the belief that this
furious conglomeration of every shade OF
religious opinion and ecclesiastical polit,
against the Nebraska bill has more of
earth than heaven, of time than eternity,
IN its elements and objects, and has
higher veneration for mems Judgment s
than for Gods, Notwithstanding their
seeming impression that bis judgments
Are subject to the impertinent and vim
lictive movements of their own.
They can consort, agree and act with
massive loneness in this case, but If the
question concerned the sending of mis-
sionary to convert the Chinese, they could
not be woed into the same building
together, or brought within bow shot of
each other without vexatious disputings,
and sectarian wranglings. We utter this
opinion with profound humiliation; but
with as proud conviction of it's truth
and justice. 1t is'painful to witness such
4 description Of ministerial character, to
watch the movements of men, of whom |
better things might be expected, engaged
IN a crusade against the rights of the |
South, and trailing their priestly garments
n the dust to accomplish objects not men, |
Toned in their commission, and never
lreamed ofin the acts and writings of the |
apostles. These are the evil works that |
,ndanger our glorious Federal Union.
Blinded with passion, and with far less
reason for resentment than Samson for |
oss of his eyes, they seize the pillars of
he temple and seek to bring a mass of !
uiuc upVii eACii o"u ucduS' IL ID w lueSt
clerical agitators, with their ceaseless
praying against the South, We must as
cribe the opinion, now widespread, and
Strengthening and deeping in
the public mind, that there is something
more sacred than the union of these States,
and, something great deal more to be
dreaded that their dissolution. If the
reaches its consummation in
the dissolution of our Federal compact.
the evil, and all its disastrous commissions
upon it, must be ascribed to
the evil Vaccinations of those ministers
who, as in the case before us, turn aside
from the peaceful pursuits of their call
ing to engage in reckless political brawl-
ings, and to prosecute a ruthless invasion
of the rights of Others"