The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-08-14

We do not claim that ministers should devote
their time to questions Of commerce, and
merely financial subjects; but there are ques-
tions, like that Of human slavery, upon which
it is their duty to speak, call it a moral or a
political question, just as you please.
We have been taughtto belive that religion
is practical -thatitis calculated to benefit man
kind here as well as hereafter-thst 1t is not
merely form for the Sabbath to save men
from perdition, but the foundation principle
of all human good. Nothing short Of this
would satisfy our creed; and we therefore
contend that minister of the gospel, lead
er in good works, cannot consistently wink at
iniquty in any form and that at the moment
when he stops 10 inquire as to the propsiety
ofdenouncing any great moral or social wrong,
Just at that moment the devil puts thumb
in his button-hole, pats him on the shoulder,
and says, {" good sir, you'll lose money by
it," and he's gone.
The pro slavery politicians may expel minis
ters for denouncing slavery, they may drive
men out of their States because they attend
the conventions of those who are opposed to
the extension of slavery, and they may i'm
prison women for teaching colored children
at the sabbath school to read the bible, but
they can never check the onward march OF
the principles of liberty and equality, or wipe
out the bright pages of holy writ The prog
ress of mankind cannot be stayed by the pow
er Of party threats or entreaties. Neither can
the mass of the people sanction the christian
ity of a purse-proud aristocracy, who in their
weakness imagine that they were born to be
masters and others to be slaves-who despise
labor and laboring men-and who will drag
from the pulpit christian minister because
his duty cOmpels him to denounce an enor-
nous iniquity.
We do not give this subject so much asten.
ton merely because Arthur's Magazine takes
sides with the pro-slavery sentiment of Phil
adelphia True, from his writings we had beer
led to expect better things from him. But i
is because there is growing disposition il
the wealthy portion of the people of the coun
try to confne preachers to the denunciatior
of the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah, and t.
prescribe and persecute them for any allusior
to the cherished wrongs of the people of tn,
present day. That this feeling originates il
the principle that sustains human slavery anc
upholds the worst monsrchies, there can b,
no doubt. Where the pulpit and the pres
are deprived of their freedom, there despo
tisn crushes the people beneath its monstrou
weight. The freedom of speech and the free
dom of the press, are the only safeguards o
a free people. Slavery, to sustain itself ant
strengthen its foot-hold, may seek to establish
a tyranny over the press, in legislative debate
and in the sacred desk, but every attempt Q
the kind but sharpens weapon for its owl
destruction; and the persecution of the Rev
Mr.. Tying, will not only fail to subdue hi
voice, but every pulpit in the north will catcl
the note of opposition and the people every
where will cry out with a loud voice for tn
subjugaton of a system which seals the lip
of ministers of the gospel.