The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1856-09-09


and Is.
Thus violence is mentioned MS tho outward
sign of the irredeemable corruption Of the Eu-
man heart, the unmistakenble expression OF
incorigible depravity Corruption and vic
lence, when universal had SO provoked the
| Almighty, that nothing could satisfy his inf
nitely pure heart, but to seiza the world bod
ly and rlunge 1t in the ocean to make it
clean; and though he has promised never
again to bring on man similar calamity, it
is not because he loathes sin less, but because
by his grace he will always have enough of
his chosen ones to prevent the contagion from
becoming universal. Our modern sinners,
then, are repeating precisely the crimes that
caused the deluge; they thus endorse the sins
Of those offenders, and exhibit the same evil
dencc of depravity they become responsible
for the deluge! And could their wishes be
accomplished, violence would soon destroy in
this land every vestige of virtuous atterance
and fill it with the sinking corruption of sla
very.
This, too, was one of the crying sins Of
Sodom. Lawless mobs roved the streets at
night, and rendered them utterly unsafe
Private dwellings were boldly assailed, and
their inmates dragged forth to pollution and
death. No stranger was safe in the city
night. "Thc cry of them is waxen great"
said God, in assigning the reason for their
overthrow. "Their cry ir waxen great"-
How expressive this language of unrestrain-
cd violence and helpless suaering Yet the
government of this nation and its shameless
advocates, well aware of all these sifinfcant
facts of history, and of Gods terrific Judge
ments, suffer Just such scenes to be renewed
in Kansas They wage cruel and unrelent
ing war on the innocent, the peaceful, and
the virtuous till even some of the wretched
instruments of the butchery shed unwonted
tears of sympathy at the sight.
But though our government has indeed
struck down several of the noblest defenders
of liberty in the new territories, has delivered
Others to the tender merces of wicked men,
and has compelled yet others to flee for their
lives, thus endorsing the crimes of tyrants
since the world began, thus becoming access
ories to the murder of Kosciusko and of War
ren, and Of Algernon Sydney; thus allying
itself with the Neros, the Domitians, and tho
King James of history. Though it has given
its verdict in favor of the men of violence
whose deeds made necessary the deluge, or
those whose daring iniquity brought fire and
birthstone on the cities of the plain; though
the cry of Kansas has waxcn great also, and
though the outrages Of her .opprcssors are
committed in the very face Of Gods indignant
frown, and as if in bitter mockcry of his judg-
nncnts; yet this Is not their greatest sin -
Why in the name of justice should this be
counted moie than the mcrciless oppression Of
millions of the African race through long
weary years of their bondage? OR ears, it
NAV be, are made to tingle that white men
are murdered in cold blood. We start with
instructive sympathy, and embrace our loved
ones, when we hear that women and children
of our kindred are nightly driven homeless in
to the forests on our own soil. lighted only
bv the lurid flames of their burning dwellings.
The resounding lash the clanking chain, the
desolating fire arm alarms us when our friends
are victims.-But is God any such respectcr
Of persons? Do the sufferings of us or Of our
friends touch his sympathies more keenly than
do the SORROWS of the helpless African! l
confess | despair Of speedy relief for white
nicn, only when think how long he has per-
mitted Africans to endure these torturcs. How
many tmid slave, who, perhaps, having
suffered to the limit Of human endurance, has
bravcd the great peril of cndcavoring to es-
whispering breeze at the note of every bird,
or the slightest rustic of the forest leaf lest
tho pursuer be on his track? How many
mother, who has herself escaped the house OF
bondage, weeps day and uight, and prays IN
secret for her children, who are yet the vic
Tins of cruelty or Of lust? Nv soul sickens
Mt the thought of the terrors, tho anguish of
soul as we'll as of body, which slaves, Amer
lean slaves, have suffered within twenty-four
hours; and when / reflect that this has been
repeated time and again for dreary century
of years. For all these sufferings, according
to the principles Of the text, our government
becomes responsible, since it seeks to pcrpat-
uate and nationaIizc them, and even fastcn
them on soil hitherto uncursed.
We shall better appreciate the untold guilt
of our present rulers and of all who uphold
them in the course they have taken, il we call
to mind in passing, what is tho legitimate
and proper functon Of government. This is
universally acknowledged to be the dispensa
ton ofjustice. o. the protection Of all right.
Whatever power the magistrate 20 scsscs like
, the money paid 70, revenue. is so much yield
ed by the people as contribution expressly
for their personal protection. Without such
, protection, society would be the prey ofcvery
covetous wretch who chose to subsst on the
toll of others. No community is wanting in
such persons. There are men in this town
, who are restrained from awlcss violence and
, robbery only bv fear. The sack Of Lawrence
| is but an illustration of what would take place
/ everywhere were protection in like manner re-
moved. Especially is it the function Of the
magistrate to protect tho weak. This is his
4 first and commanding duty. The strong need
/. no protection; the rich arc comparatively Sc
cure; but who is to save the poor and the
{ stranger from oppression. The government
S which God gave to Israel is model in prin-
{ ciplcs so perfect that it has been adopted as
| the common law Of all Christcndom; and yet
, almost tho entire scope of il from beginning
{ to end is to secure the protection Of the weak
: the stranger and the poor. Listen. to n pass