American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1855-07-14

/ ship; that will silence her own ministers for
daring TO ihveigh against the institutions of
the South, deserves, to say the least, some
respect and confidence from the people of the
South, for the conservatism that has marke ed
its action, instead Of being unjustly denoun.
ced as a body Of free soiicrs and abolition
propagandists.
US~ 1t is the very self-same spirit of blind
cd party bieotry that indi,ed so foul Sian.
der, and so iiendishy false an accusation, as
that cited in the Richmond Enquirer, tha,
attempted 10 abuse and hunt down, worthy,
devoted, and sell-sacrifcing Methodist Min
listers in this quarter but short time ago,
whose pulpit ministrations and private de.
meanor had ever been acceptable and blame.
less. The instances to which we refer are
yet fresh in the memories of the people, and
the actors IN the demonstrations against
those ministers, whether in village meet.
Ing OF indignation or in the authorship of
newspaper commu nications, we trust may
enjoy fame as enduring as unenviable.-
The time was when the Minister Of the Cos
pei could oppose Romanism, and denounce
the inquisition, n,-could speak from the pulp,
in denunciation of prohigacy and corrupa
tion in society and in the rulers of the land,
could open his mouth and preach from the
text, righteousness eXalteth a nation, but
sin is reproach to any people, without
lear oil an enemy or seeking favor with a
irend. But now let the Protestant minister
preach Professionalism and denounce Jesuit.
ism,-let him rebuke the abuses of power
and place by reckless Bigots and time -serv-
ers,-and the farce Of ali Indignation meet
ing must be enacted, and an article written
for The paper, to injnre the preachers minis
try, and to deiame his reputation as Chris
tian citizen.
The same blind party spirit that proposes
that we driUe out The Methodist Ministers
from Western Virginia, because of their sup.
posed abolitionism, by heartless bigot has
prompted the state of affairs we have cited
in thisregion. How long will the good sense,
The inlel'iggenc@ the pa,riotisrn, tbe Ch;siiat
liberality of the people tolerate the enact
ment of such high.handed and degradin.
iarces as lhese2 We have too high an opn.
ION OF the people to whom these devoted
men OF the Church minister, to suppose tha!
their intelligence will not be insuIied by such
Outrageous demonstrations as those cited
When party prejudice would attempt to seal
The lips OF the Protestant ministry in this
free and happy land, where the sound of the
" Church going bell" is heard and when
party spirit weds itself to Jesuit influence,
that has attempted 10 wrest the Bible from
our Schools,-it is time the people apply the
corrective, and restore the liberty of speech
10 the pulpit, and the liberty of thought and
action to the conscientious and devoted Min.
listers Of the Gospel, who, as the pioneers
of civilization and religion, have gone out
with every wave of population, bearing tie
Bible in their hands, to discharge the duties
which are laid upon them by source inf.
nilely higher than the petty tribunal erected
BY political prejudice and party spirit.
We have alluded to this matter here be-
cause the very persons who have heretofore
denounced this worthy class of men, are now
denouncing the American party for its pyo.
scrip'ion Of Roman Catholicism Verify, we
have reason to fear the inroads of Catholic.
ism, when American Protestants become the
apolosists and friends Of Popcry, and persc,
cute and injure the humble, yet devoted
Ministers Of the Protestant FAITH!