The true Democrat., 1857-02-03
From the Richmond Enquirer. The Enrthavr praec

No one at all conversant with the state ofnorth- ern sentiment and with the mode of its creation can fail to have observed how potent is the n- huence of the so.caled religious press of that region. Chiefly conducted by men who have very little, if any acquaintance with the practi- cal working of the institutions of the country, (while they affect to know all about them.) these papers have for series of years induyed in the most unjust assaults upon southern in- stitutions and southern character. Trained up to regard hyperbole as eloquence, and extrava- gant abuse as satire, the men who conduct the religious journals of the north have heedlessly and wantonly heaped upon the south violent and bitter philppics, more resembling the 6elchings forth of the internal pit than the gentle and quiet utterances of the holy gos pei
 In no little degree, is the present agitation of the Union to be traced to the handiwo,k ofsuch journals. The political press has, it is true, caught up the song; but the tune was first set by these Pharisees, who, indulging in the true spirit of their exemplar have "thanked God that they were not as other men are.'
 To reason with such men is madness. They have neither the taste nor the capacity to un- derstand, what is rational and truc Of choice and by education and training pervets, the plainest dt lctlons of reasoning, the clearests demonstrations of fact would fail to make any impression upon their minds If a century were spent ill their enlightenment; if Paul or | Apollos preached 10 them; they would still hold on to their prcjudces, and swear by the | living and the dead, bv all that Is venerable l and pure, that It Is crime to hold men Tn bon- daye!-that tue inspired men sent them were false teachers and their testimony unworthy Of credit. Burngame, the Massachusetts apostle 1 to Canada, expressed the true sentiments of this class when he declared they wanted an anti slaoery God and an anti sltve'y Bible! It is a want they will never have supplied
 Turning from such journals, it is, indeed, a gratifying fact to witness that other counsels are given and soberer action advised by at least Il part of the political northern press. Such pa- pers as the Boston Post and the Courier and the N Y. News, Journal of Commerce, Day Book, Pennsy sylvanian, and others of the same stripe, who, throughout the recent canvass, maii- fully fought for the Union and for the whole L Cnion, in all its interests and rights, deserve to receive commendation from every southern man. Wealways read them with fresh delight, aud rise up from their perusa with the conh- dence that the south will always find in them true friends, when the issue shall come. We cannot believe that such consistent advocacy of southern rights as has characterized these jour- | full and sincere devotion to the country.
 It is also gratifying to state that these jour- nals represent the large and influential and more intelligent northern classes; and that, pos sibly, under favorlng auspices, the leaven ot the wholesome sentiments of these papers will be diffused through much larger and wider num- bers than now. We confess we say thus much with fears that the event may not verify the prediction. Up to this period unquestionably, the anti-slavery advocates have been rapidly augmenting in numbers. During the recent canvass, the abolition fever became almost an epidemic and seemed to have infected all clas- ses. But will it not stop? Has it not already reached it's height? And will not the future four years, of wise and thoughtful administra- | ton by the President elect-of calm and quiet recogn tion of the rights of all sectons-of in- vesigaton into what are the true interests of the whole--brl'lg about change a deep and thorough and lasting change, in northern sen timent? We should hope so, if the religious press were out of the way. But for the buzz beors which the fances and foles oi these will create, there would be reason to expect that return to sobriety, after the late violent excite ment, would be in the natural order of success sion, and tbat then the south might find among her bitcrest enemies and dcclaimers, men who would valiantly defend her.