New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-29
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
LETTER IN DEFENSE OF DIR. CHEEvER.

siA: Ihave read, with deep interest, a document
which has been recently put forth by the sgners OF
the famous letter TO DIR. Cheever The Church OF the
Purmaps, ard their friends generally throughout the
country, may breathe freely, and sleep without
narcotics. Tie mysterious reasons so earnestly de-
nanded, yet 60 persisten,ly withheld, till curiosity
began to blend with fear, aud strange misgiviDgs
seized US Of some direfu secret which might plange
tbe man Of God into and formidable diicu'ties
or ptrchance tarnh for season his glowing repa'a
top, have at length been generously impaired to the
world. Thank God No such secret appears; nor
indeed any charge whatever against his morality, his
piety or his orthodoxy. These men, moreover, fully
admit his right as their psstor, 70 discuss the
question of American Slavery 1t is obvious
However, that decided antagonism exists between
them respecting tue sinfulnes OF the system aud the
duty Of the Church end the ministry with regard to H.
Here's the rub 1t is true that the authors Of the let
ter most anxious TO evade this issue They say dis
ncty that they do not feel themselves bound to express
opinion upon it, nasmuch as they did not create it,
And they indulge in o most ludoIOus and elaborate
course Of circumOcufen, really artistic and LAWYER
hike array Of words and sentences In order possible,
10 conceal their true sentiments and commit them
selves to DO judgment whatever. But can any man
believe that these respectable gentlemen, some Of
whom have held high offices in the Church, after the
Questionable position which they have assumed on this
subject after selectiog the time for their very mod
est request to their Pastor that he ehould resign
his charge, the moment when, by his bold,
eloquent and incorporating advocacy OF human
rights he had arrested the after ton of the nat0n and
stood confessedly the most distinguished and efficient
champion of freedom in the land say, can any man
believe that it, under these circumstances, they sub
star tally agreed with him concerning the wckedaess
Of Slavery and the duty of the clergy to expose and
depOunce, and in every way to bring the light of Gods
word TO bear upon it, for its entire and perpetual over
throw, they would not have frankly and most EN-
difficult it is to understand how they could have re.
sisted the torrent of his mighty and almost inspired
eoquence-how they could have sat there Sabbath af
ter Sabbath and seen the lightning of Gods word fash
around them and heard its thunders rOar-hOw they
could have listened to his keen logic, his brilliant
illustrations, his whitening sarcasm his terrible denun-
Citations, and his pathetic appeals and that too re-
speeding crime vast and 80 self-evident as the
degradation of men to the condition OF beasts; the
robbery of innocent children from their mothers
breasts; the sacnegious invasion and overture v OF
all domestic and social relations, and not have felt
their understandings carried captive at his WILL and
their hearts infamed with holy Indignation at the
mighty wrODg-yet so, alas, II ~ds. Nay more: is
there not reason to fear from their deliberate
statement that, in the midst Of these stirring aud
citing scenes with the voice of e0quen0e thunder
ing In their ears which will tell upon the destiny of
this great country throughout all time, aud which will
be read with admiration and gratitude by remotest
generations, they, the officers and accredited members
Of the church, were calmly and dpassionatey weigh
ing the effect which it would have upon the immediate
popularity Of the preacher and upon the revenue OF
the pewsl
Was there ever such an illustration of human incon-
sistency What strange infatuation has possessed
them Can the poison of political partisansbip have
such potency to paralyze the spiritual vision, or
contLent of cotton bales vail so to intercept it
The attempt made by these worthy deacons aud
church members, to escape the charge OF opposing
their clergyman account of the noble course he has
pursued with reference to Slavery, by pretending that
The church never old prosper under his ministry ut
teily falls simply because, according to their own
sonably be expected. There steady increase
up to 1855, year ever memorable in the
annals Of the Church, for the first great
blow given to our American Goliah, on Thanks
giving Day. Then and not till then began the decade
which they loudly depore. But suppose they could
their statistics and show that had not greatly
prospered either numerically or financially. Would it,
therefore, follow that their pastor was In fault Need
] remind these querul0us brethren that Paul may
plant and Apollos water but God gveth the increase!
Ii seems from the history they have given US of the
origin OF Church, that it was started very much IN
the spirit of ordinary commercial enterprise. "The
81 site which was secured for the church edhce was
unsurpassed by any other in the city. Tue con-
"centration Of the great horoughfares at this point
"tbe rapidly with which new popu alton was then
"settipg IL the immediate vicinity; and the want OF
"eher places of public worship for their accommoda-
"tioD all gave warrant to the belief that the chursh
a. would speedily be filled In their pastor they
chad every ccDidence-nay, were proud q e."
"acknowledged abilities; they cid not doubt that
"multtudes would throng to enjoy the benefit OF
goOdly numbers. But suppose they had not; Sup,
pose that the site they thought 80 eligible had
proved too fashionable for the severe simplicity and
cody sincerity of Purtanism. Suppose that the IN.
babtants of the vicinity pulled up with the pride OF
wealth. and immersed in the spirit OF the world, had
wagged their heads in derson as they passed Dy the
spacious temple, exclaiming, What have we to do
with thee thou austere nOnconformst thou stern, uf
compromising advocate of capital punishment ana iu-
ture punishment and bitter denouncer OF al our ,"n9
cent anausemeatS and necessary pleasures would
they then have deemed it necessary to apply their
present test-have regarded separation as tue rule OF
pt ace and sought more popular preacher Or sup
pose that their Minister atered by their high appre-
citation and unanimous call, had caught, in some de-
gree the spirit of the enterpse-that he had natural
ambition to draw scrowded ston-tha he felt
the mighty influences by which ne was sur,
do, to adopt liberal construction OF the
example Of the Apostle in becoming all things
to all men, that he might win some-that thus the en-
terprise proepered-that the man OF God, however,
was honest and sincere, and chosen messenger to
accomplish great work; that he had been endowed
with transcendant abilities, a genius Of marvellous
power; that profound spiritual experience was need,
ful also, and that the Lord instructed him, aud
baptized him with the ancient spirit, and gave
him deep insight into the hideous deformity OF sin,
and into the beauty and glory of holiness and taught
him the old philosophy, the beautiful continuation OF
faith and rorks incucated by the Apostles aud which
the Church. in these latter times, has 80 sadly lost
seht Of that now under the ndence of this new ex.
perience, these profound and comprehensive and
sublime views Of truth accompanied with lofty aspra-
tions, and exalted enjoyment Of communion with
God, he should sometimes soar away beyond
the spiritual vision Of his people, and some-
times come with stalwart blow athwsr their
worldly prejudces and their cherished sins-that he
should begin steadily to hold up the standard OF pety
little too high for their convenience and their tastes
that presently he should talk of the law not only
Q scbOOlmaser 10 bring them 10 Christ but also when
in Christ, as lac Of lore which, id its spirtual-
~ and comprehensiveness should be written on their
hearts and Incorporated with their moral being, inspr
inc their impulses their motives their feelings their