Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1857-04-10
I aPOT.ITICf.L PARSOAs..

cited hy tie cries and denunciations Of the
Bedford Ga7ests ard kindred pribts against
.spoAITloAL Ps.RsoNs,'' and ssPaEACHERs
MEppLING IN POLITICS" This game las
been 50 parsi stensly pursued, that many
clergymen were deferred from expressing
their honest sentiments at tie ballot box.
Two yeass 40 the solemn protest Of three
thousand clergyulen Of New England
against :'lat great National Crime the Re
! peal Of he Missouri Compromise, and The
attempt tospread Slavery over the fair
Terri toty Of Kansas, vas received with The
how'ls and exeeratioas of the sham Demo-
ieraey from one end Of the land to the other.
TO have heard them then, one would lave
supposed that clcrgymen Ind no political
rights, no political duties or obligaiious.-
The politicians told them that their '.King :
! dom was not os this Earth aud to meddle
at all with the trade, would only dltble
their sweet aud sanity garments. But
when ne of iheni is found like the Rev.
John Chambers, ready 10 prostitute his
priestly office ana garlic holy texts 10
prove that human slaveryis an institution Of
Edirioe ordination, he was caught up and
quoted ,and pufed AID faitere5 by every one
of these politicians, who had lately been
80 fearfully exercised on account Of cleEical
Interference ip affairs belonging SO peculiar
! ly to the laity, Aud when the Rev. John
4. Collins was wheedled into very foolish
reply TO tie ''three thousahd," which made
him guilty Of the very fault which he con-
deurrea in ten, his letter was used as
I fFst-rate campaign document, by these very
politicians who So late treulbled with lie
fear that the nsddling priests were about
10 orertarn the fair fabric which had beer
reared by the patriotic fathers. Ii shorl
wherever . minister could ta persuaded 10
use the Influence Of lis ptiestly offiee, aud
attemptto prove the divine origin Of hu-
man chattleLood, and the exceeding great
blessings thereof, lie was carried upon tic
hands Of these very politicians, and his
arguments were made to appear the most
forcible IN the campaign.
To come down frcln these general remarks
TO special case, and to prove that This cry
Of priestiy interference Was only sham,
and that it Is REGARDED BY themselves as
very excellent thing. We have only to cefer
10 the election Of Post Master of our lit
tie Borough, when three Buchanan, Demo
cratic, Union-loying Preachers, were led to |
tic polls, aud soiled tie putty Of their
priestly robs, in the filthy pool Of politics.
Here was a meddling in political alIairs en-
pLatie aud decisive; more 70 than if they
bad openly declared from The pulpit their
opinions upou the great political questions
which divide the nation, and thus let ihem
be seen and known Of all men They were
thus seen TO exert their personal influence
at strictly party dispute, without any Of
tile usual sanctions of an election, from !
,ahich one half of their fellow-citizens, sup
posed TO possess equal rights with themselves
we're excluded None, be it understood /
were permitted to vote al This election bct I
regular, simon pure 'recognizedD Democrats /
vino had voted for Buchanan, and these
clcrayinen marched to the polls with the +
badge OF Democracy upon them, thus using
all the influence which preachers possess in
behalf of the parry and the faU9rite Of It's
leaders. II was not an election inYolying /
the slightest political principle, but an eager
and indecent scramble after public plunIer !
Worse still, it was paltry prescription,
petty persecution Of defenceless woman,
and the participation Of these gentlemen
failed TO ilnpart to the proceedings tie least /
oder Of sane;ity. Four or ivo other clergy |
men we're not permitted to enjoy the priyil- |
eye Of voting at this party eiectios Were
the former better than their professional
brethern who we're exclaiedl Two Of the |
latter we believe dill not vote at tbe gen9r. I
al election, and The others, in obedience,
perhaps, to the arrogant demand that preach
eTs should take no part in politics, 50 nod-
estiy and unobtrusively, gave expression to (
their predictions Al the ot-box, that
their opinions are hardly known now TO .he |
public. After this demonstration let US
hear no more cant and slang about preach |
eFs meddling in politics.
| But in what We have said we 10 not
wish it 10 be'nnderstood that We nake any
objeetion to the participation Of elergymen
10 political affairs. Onthe contrary We re-
gard it as misfortune that hey do not
make their influence more frequently felt.
i one half that wewere told by the Demo-
craey were true Of the designs Of the
faaales of the opposition to destroy this
glorious nnion 1t was their duty to bring all
tkelr Influence TO bear against the wicked