Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-06-03
SOUTHERN DEsTITUTIoN AND OUR NORTH
ERN sYAIPATHIsERs.

sRev. Luther Farnham read a statement Of the
operations Of the Society, from which 1t appeared
existence, S24,929 96-Sl1,9 Sc Of which was
given the last year"
That our people may have some better idea Of their
own "mOra restitution, and the prOpriety OfrecOg-
nising the Southern States as an inviting missionary
field for New England phianthrophy, where there is
so much religion spare with which to supply the
wants Of their neighbors, we copy few paragraphs
from brief summary Of their proceedings:
sRey John TODD, D. D., Of Pittsheld, took the
platform, and proposed the following sentiment:
ResolDsa, That under the special circumstances of
the present time, special efforts are needed to send
the gospel TO the destitute Of the South
This resolution the eloquent doctor sustained in
Of his happiest and most powerful speeches, that
was undeTlaid by strong logic, sparkling with wit
and scortchng 10 the enemies of truth by its sar-
casm. He demonstrated that while we may ana
ough to be opposed to the evils Of the South, it is
nothing but in6delity to Christs commands "Preaeh
the gospel every creature" to refuse to give the
gospel TO our Southern neighbors because they are
sinners"
1.-THE poverty of the South was a reason why
the wealthy North should send them the Gospel
But II was said the South would not receive the
whole gospel If they did not receive it as we IN
derstood it. they might still receive enough to save
them. and that they differed from the slavery
question should not prevent our sending them the
gospel any more than it should prevent our sending
them our manufactures.
He concluded by expressing his belief that the
GOSPEL of Christ, working on the individual, would
remove slave and reform the world.
CDR Todd was followed by Rev. Geo. ". Bethune,
D. D.. of Brooklyn n. Y, who, by his mastery ora
tory held the vast audience as if spell bound, for
full hour, speaking to DR.. Todd's resolution, that
fully endorses the Southern Aid Society.
ttDr Pptbune clearly demonstrated. that however
much we may dislike the peculiar institutions oft
South it our duty Christians to give them the
gospel as the remedy for their eU as it is the only
remedy for the evils Of the North.
che did not know whether he must state all his
creed before he would be allowed to speak to BOs
ton audience but he would so far define his position
as to say that he was not man who could ever
speak word in apology for the institution Of slave
~ But for the stakeholder sinner like himself
he had the charity of pentent and humble spirit
God saw the world all full of sin, and did not hest
tate to send His Son TO this world Of sinners. He
| loved it Notwithstanding its sin
CDR. Betbune thought that those men who said the
South we're all sinners, should 60 South and preach
the gospel; and drew contrast between their con-
/ duct and that Of Paurs towards the Romans. 1t
was cheap and easy religion to sit hundreds ofmiles
off and pass denunciatory resolutions, but 1t would
/ not be a safe one in the day Of final reckoning.
che further asked for aid to this Society because
the Providence of God evidently UOrking to free
the saDs and the gospel would prepare himfOr free
dom better than anything else. If the negro were
/ made a Christian and a zlveholder too he had no
fear of the result"
We do not question the purity of the motive which
aotuated a large number of these people, but we do
question their judgment. The Southern States Ger;
ainly have their due proportion Of evils and vices
and furnish much labor for christian philanTopsts
but the idea that their peculiar institution of slavery
has so demoralsed her people as to make them des-
ttute' in comparison with the fostering and Phari
saical condition Of New England, and a proper
field for New England charity and missionary labors
argues degree of fanaticism and ignorance insult
ing to the South and highly calculated to create the
suspicion of other intentions than mere christian
reformation.
It not more in accordance with the every day
actions Of men than is tight and proper that charity
should begin at home, and these prOfessed philan
thropiss cannot be so ignorant as not to know thai
there are no States in the Union where there is more
venality, crime, nfdeIity, and depravity Of every
sort than in Massachusetts and New York. AND
contrary to general experience, instead Of being
confined to the lower strata in society, where wan
and ignorance naturally beget social disorders, its
worst features are among their educatedand 'stronG
minded women and men, and especially their clergy
1t is remarkable that these very northern papers
that are now publishing the proceedings Of Thu
meeting, congregated in Boston to supply by Mis-
sionary enterprise the moral restitution Of tn,
South, have been for weeks past flooding their col
umns with clerical denquences of the most beastl!
character, in the case Of the Rev. Mr.. Kalloch anC
others There are, no doubt, many good and purt
christian men in the Ministry of the north. Blu
such as these viii find enough to do at home, anC
those that can be well spared from Boston WOul,
add to- instead of lessening the 'moral dsstitutOl
Of the South"
1t is question worthy of serious consideration
by our christian people of the various denOmina
tions, how far they should countenance and sustain
movement Of this character from such a quarter
In this connection we clip the following item from
the New Bedford Mass Standard
APPLICATIONS FOR DrvoRCE.-The frequency o
applications the Supreme Court for dissolving thu
marital bond is beginning to attract great deal o
attention. In Worcester county, at a term Of the
Court recently there were forty divorce cases on tn
docket In this county at the last term Of the Cour
there were some twelve or fifteen divorces granted
and there are more cases to be heard at future
session The entire number of applications for di
vorce through the State, during the past year, in
hundred This is indeed sad state Of things fO
Massachusetts where every hamlet boasts its churcl
and every hill side is dotted with a school house
We claim to have erected higher standard ofmoral
ity in the Old Commonwealth than obtains else
where We pretend to be better than our neigh
bors. Are we so, or we not as a State oOnsid
erably Pnarisaeal and good deal given to pretens'
and profession!
The marriage relation is a holy one. 1t is in &C
co~dance with Gods imperative command and ordi
nance 1t is not to be trifed with Orlightly assumed
But its prostitution has become most shameful l
is in too many instances subject Of barter-a mat
ter of bargain and sale. 1t is a commercial trans
action. Newport and Saratoga the markets t.
which the marriage tratickers resort each summer
to make their purchases and effect their sales Low,
is not deemed an essential in the trade. Common
respect even is generally wanting There are Othel
things Of more importance, in modern, fashionable
marriages Money, as in trade, is the great lever
It buys the man and sells the woman.
ny The Brownsville Journal, noticing the dis
cussion between the candidates for Governor that
/ Dofu saws