Washington sentinel., 1855-03-21
HUMILIATIoN AND PRAYER.

w q nave uOC uuCu Idltu Al duy COLAUiuAllOu
Of piety and politics. We have scarcely any
confidence in the efficacy Of prayers paid for
by the Government, or in fasts appointed by
the civil authorities. All these things SAVIOR
too much Of what, to US, is indiscribably odious,
the union Of Church and State. Governments
should not be instituted either to preach or to
pray They should be instituted to accom-
plish far different ends. The people ought to
be pious, and the church, which is but volun-
tary association of religious people, under
Heaven, ought to appoint its fasts and its days
for prayer and humiliation.
There is no law that requires any President,
or Governor or Mayor, or other civil authority
to appoint days Of thanksgiving and prayer,
nor is there any law that ever recommends it
to any officer Of any government, State or
Federal, to starye the people, even for q day.
We are aware that the motives that lead
Presidents and other rulers to appoint days Of
fasting and prayer are pure and pious. They
are also frequently the result Of applications
made to them in that behalf, by ministers and
laymen.
We think that the church, which is reli-
gious and voluntary association of people,
should manage these matters without any inter
position on the part of the State sgssa
We, however, do not remember having ever
seen any such exercise Of authority that we are
so inclined to approve as that Of the Governor
of Alabama. 1t is As follows:
"MoBrIE, March 8, 1855. 4
MEssRs BRIrrAN & Blue
"Gentlemen: At the suggestion of some in
telligent and devout gentlemen, and in compli-
ance with my'own sense of propriety, under
the peculiar circumstances In which we find our
selves placed, both as regards our pecuniary
and domestic affairs, and the gloomy aspect Of
the political relations of the southern States,
have considered it proper to do what, under
other circumstances, should have left to those
whose religious position it more properly be-
comes to move in spiritual affairs. 1t well be-
comes every one whose political lot has been
cast in this section Of the Union, to examine
prayerfully the end to which political ianati-
cism at the north is so rapidly tending, and to
fathers Of our republic, with fortitude, patriot.
through the difficulties Of the revolutionary
struggle and the establishment Of constitu.
tional government, to enable us to bear our
selves, in whatever emergency we may be
placed, so ~ not to reflect disgrace upon our
ancestors. JOHN A. WINSTON"
Humiliation" is the Ht word with which
to describe the feelings that southern men
should experience, when they remember that q
clandestine organization, which sprang up in
the North, and in the North has passed under
the controlof the Abolitionists, has risen up
in their midst and ambitiously aspires to estab-
lsh itself on the ruins of the other parties.
The above lettsr from Governor Winston, it is
true, does not distinctly define the precise occa-
sion for appointing q day of humiliation and
prayer. But there are expressions in the letter
that sufficiently denote " Know.nothingism" as
the main cause. If Governor Winston can
only prevail upon the Know-nothings to ac-
knowledge, before high heaven, that they are
humilisted, he will do memorable and signal
service to the State Of Alabama.