The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-05-20

i
poraries in the South, and especially in South
Carolina, have been in the habit of quoting the
seditious sermons Of the Rev. DR.. Cheever e. an
index to public sentiment in New York. We
trust that the proceedings which commenced on
Monday for the expulAion of DR.. Cheever from
his pulpit will help to undeceive them.
We, who have never shared the delusion of our
Southern contemporaries, and who know very
we'll that DR.. Cheever's opinions are those Of an
in6niteseimally small and unimportant GLASS
here, are not in the least surprised at what Is
happening. Had the congregation Of the Church
of tho Puritans remained silent and passive
under the peculiar course pursued by the pastor,
they became Of necessity responsible for him
and for his eccentric doings. As it is, they have
resolved to vindicate themselves by taking open
steps if not to dislodge the reverend preacher Of
treason, at least to show to the world that they
at all events are not answersble for his deeds or
cooperstos in his sedition. At the informal
meeting held On Monday night, it appears that
Mr.. Cheever rather stole q march on his oppo-
nepts; this no doubt will be set right at en-
early day, and the strength Of parties honestly
tested 1t 10 possible indeed it il likely that the
personal affection which many Of the congregation
must feed for their old pastor may induce them to
treat this offence Of his with clemency, and while
disappearing his course to abstain from visiting
1t with Q punishment which would throw the
doctor into the street. Perhaps the moral effect
desired may be produced, and the erroneous i'm
pressions of the South corrected by demonstrs-
ton Of decided character, though stopping
short of an absolute dimissal of the pastor. But
the congregation Of the Church Of the Puitans
owe 1t 10 themselves to 60 this far.
The event Will he lesson to the extremes of
both North and South. The Southern men will,
We trust, learn from II that the voice OF stray
clergyman here and there is not the voice
ofNew York. This Is sort of cauldron into
which all sorts of Ingredients are thrown, and by
the latent heat of the mass, thrown to the sur
face, where, as they float, the newspapers hastily
photograph them, and hand down their picture
TO posterity as part Of the history of the timea
Among the most noisy aud effervescent of the
contents Of our cauldron are tho Northern and
Eastern clergy. They are constantly coming up
to the surface In bubble OF froth, and squlrm-
Ing round In eccentric curves; we catch them as
they rotate, laugh ct them, and let them burst
Into air. Take the anniversaries for instance.
Here are q number of very pious and simple
minded men, from North, West and East,
who meet once q year to talk about
Bonisboula Cha, and anti-slavcry, and other
nonsense; they meet here because the point
Is central, and alsO because the best part of the
s2,0o0,000 year on which they live comes out
Of the pockets Of our merchants; and when they
have talked themselves out, they go homo with
refreshed minds and replenished pocketa How
absurd il would be to make the city of New York
answerable for the childish nonsense which these
clergymen talk! The South should learn to
know US better. We are here, as a rule, strongly
conservative men; bound to the Union, to peace,
and to law and order generally by every tic of
interest, habit and temper; but being quiet and
tolerant by nature, If our clergy at times divert
themselves by talking treason or other trash, the
only notice we take Of 1t h, we stay at home In
stead Of going to church
The event will likewise, we hope, be a good
lesson to DR.. Cheever and tho clergymen who
like him have tried TO talk themselves into noto-
riety by Illuminating unchristlan speeches from
the pulpit We are disposed, everybody Is dis
posed to display forbearance to clergyman, on
account Of his peculiar nonresistant doctrines,
and his supposed piety, and sincerityI but after
all il Ia very we'll that the clergy should be
taughs now and then, that they are only a
modern convenience, and that II 10 comes to the
worst, they con be discharged, like housemaid
or walter. Possibly, when the country clergy
SEQ that instead of dissolvips the Union, DR..
Cheever has only succeeded In dlssolvlng his own
congregation, they may think twice ere they as
sumo the functions Of political government, and
let the bred Scott judgment alone for fear Of In
curing ajudgment Of q very different character
at the hands Of the Court which furnishes them
with bread
rSTRIouEns DISCOVERING NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
body-writing In the columns Of an obscure
black republican paper--denies that Mr. Daniel