The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-11-27
MR.. CONWAY IN CINCINNATI.

Mr.. conway, late minister OF the nltarlan
church in this city, is now in Cincinnati, for
the purpose of temporarily supplying the Uni
tartan pulpit in that place. The Cincinnati
Gazette publishes an outline of what must have
been most interesting discourse, preached by
him after the election, an extract of which we
subjoin:
" 1t is related, that when Brutus fell on his
sword, after the battle of Philippi, he exclaimed,
have followed, thee, o Virtue through life,
and find thee at last shadow Ii these evil
times, such doubts pass on US. When we think
of Kansas, quiet as while beneath the heel of
her tyrant, hoping, expecting the great heart of
the nation to come like the Samaritan and bind
her wounds-pouring in oil and wine-then
finding it the Levite, looking on and pass
ing by on the other side; when we think of
the five millions of slaves, whose oppressors
are now glutted with power to bind them faster !;
when we think of Freedom subdued in America,
then we say, Yes, Virtue is a shadow. Satan
is enthroned!'
But the reason of our faintness of heart is,
that Faith has not lowered in Virtue. Why
should we think our political method better
than Gods providential one. If the full sway
OF Wrong for while is its path to Death, why
should we murmur? -Four years of triumph
have almost killed it now. He who has stood
for Freedom, apart from interest or success.
but because of its virtue, knows that he and his
cause cannot be defeated. Ye who sit sadly BY
the sepulchre of Liberty, seeing the stone at
the mouth-the seal of p6wer-the guard about
ii, despair not Listen close to the angel of
Virtue within, and even now it whispers, LIB
erty is not here she has risen.'
d" There are about five millions of voters in
fho fofn Tfxyr Of haon l. l.
cided that the violation, in the face of the sun,
of every commandment of the Ten, by the Pres
ident and his minions, is worthy to be sustain
ed this practically. Yet should we suppose
these men essentially bad hearted? Go to
their homes whose portraits are on the wall
those of Nero, Jeffries, Benedict Arnold Mol
here are Fox, Wesley, Washington, Lafay-
ette-whose whole lifelong force was levelled
against Slavery. After whom are their children
named After Captain Kidd and Munroe Ed
wards, or other Border Ruffians? No! but
after Evangelists and Martyrs for Truth. The
People are right at heart, and few years more
of common-schooling will make them right at
head too, when they will stare at many things
they now do.
Therefore we must not believe that Slave
ry has triumphed in the hearts of those who
upheld it. The very grandeur of the cause of
Freedom must retard its success. Inferior an
finals reach full growth in few months or a
year, perhaps; but man, the noblest animal,
the elimination of Nature, needs over a score
of years. Other parties and causes reach their
full growth sooner not so the Human Party,
which stands among the rest as man amid the
inferior orders.
"When we think of those who deceived the
people, sugaring over the crimes of which this
nation stands convicted by the moral sense of
the world with the name Democracy, we are
reminded of Montesquieu's keen satire, that it
would not do to admit that negroes were men,
lest it should appear that whites were not.
EVIL stands in the world, that men may
grow strong by wrestling with it. We would
seek virtue in things which are easy-would
generate muscular power by pitching feathers
Not thus is it possible. Pearls cannot be gath
cred on the wave tops, nor diamonds like
leaves. We need just these strong evils to gen.
crate virtue and the world stands not to be
rid of evils, but to produce great human souls,
as a fruit tree stands to produce fruit. Thus
Slavery in this country becomes the test of
virtue"
In conclusion, the speaker said:
81 stand among you a stranger; an exile
from my church, robbed by Slavery of that first
and dearest association of my life robbed also
by Slavery of my home-my parents compelled
to meet me, if at ALL in distant city. You
will allow that l have some reason to know
Slavery, and to hate it. But let us see that it
does not rob you and me Of something more
than home and friends-of virtue! Let US see
that we are not defeated, nor cease to strive for
the Right all the more in its weakness! And
here, as the shadow passes on us, let US join to
pledge ourselves again and forever, for God
and Humanity, resolved never to swerve from
our true manhood.
"So shall undreamed energies, which thus
alone reveal to each what he can do, be born
in US, and Faith and Virtue strike forth as pin
ions to bear us to the God whom the true spirit
of man ever seeks, as fire the SUM-"