Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-12-03
The N. Y. Pulpit on the Harper's Ferry In
From the N,r y0,.k Observer

From the Ner Iork Observer.
Goa Thursday last. the day ofpuhlic Thanks
giving. many of the clergy Of this city took
the opportunity Of expressing their senti-
ments freely on the subject of the recent dis
turbance OF the public peace by the invasion
of Il neighburIng State. Ii was lifting to EN-.
brace this occasion for such n purpose. :
Among the numerous causes for national
Thanksgiving, not the least and one of the
greastrst, Is that foul conspiracy designed
Ia plunge the country into the horrors ot "a
wi war, has been recently detected it, chief
participators arrested and all the immediate
actors put To death or held IN the firm grasp
, Of justice. For this every Christian patriot
gives God thanks out Of the depths of his
heart. Had the Conspiracy gained the
tciR expected by its infamous authors, IN
stead ola Thanksgiving. we should already
have had the country in arms, and many
portions Of it drenrhei in -eryle or traternal
blood 1t was this fact that moved the pas
tors "t tins, and other cities, t. make the day
an occasion Tor giving uttcranca Ia their sen
uments on this numentuus theme.
There Is II sense IN which the pulpit may
be truly sad 10 reflect the sentiments Of the
people. Oar city congregations, more than
those IN the country. are formed on the prin-
| ciples nf elective affinity: each church Is
more homogeneous than in places where
there Is but one Of each Christian denoml-
nation; and it is the happiness Of our
churches If II man does not find IN the pull
pit the doctrines he likes, he can suit HIM
! self elsewhere. Thus II Joines ~ pass that
our pul pits and pews are OF one mind on
. he, a. th,
the age.
OF the ire hund,rd pulpits of this city.
, we believe that not Hre uttered u word of aI-
probation of the John Brown invasion al
Virginia. We do not speak with positive
knowledge of any great number. But We
know that the radical pulpit is the noislest
and runs the most readily into the newspa-
pers: that the sympathizers with the con
spiracy are blatant III their denunciatiuns OF
the law that has the murdererS in it's righte.
GUS hands. And il is probable that the most
Of those who prostltutrd the pull PIT and the
sanctuary 10 the defence and encouras cement
Of crime, have been chrunicled among the
''meu of the times" the champions Of
equal rights, and the defenders OF liberty"
| OF the i've hundred preachers in this city
give the sanction OF their pulpits Ia the sup
| port of the highest crime perpetratcd in this
country since the treason ef Benedict Ar
mold. One Of these preachers, Of course.
was the man who curses from Union Square,
| and the other is still 50 obscure that we will
not give him the notnrety he would be lad
to get by Il notice i'll the newspapers. On
the other hand, we hear from 4 large mum.
Der OF the most commanding, influential,
popular and intelligent pulpits Of this city.
that they bore explicit, uniform. earnest and
unanimous testimony against the conspiracy
in all it's features, designs, plans and acts.
And with one voice they consented to the
sentence Of death pronounced upon the con
spirators as just and necessary. Whatever
may be the difference of opinion ~ t. the poll
cy or expediency of executing the sentence,
there IL but one opinion among Christian
patriots, that these convicted men deserve to
die, according to tie laws Of God and mun.
The Rev. DR.. Osgood (unitaran) said:
IF am asked more particular what /
think of the recent attempt to excite a ser
vile insurrection in Virginia, reply that
condemn it altogether, and that no sophism
can be feebler than that which justiies the
deed on account Of worthy personal traits in
the originator. The deed is lawlcSs and
murderous"
The Rev. DR.. Parker (Presbyterian,) in
connection with some remarks from which
We dissent, said of the invaders:
They have nevertheless so violated those
human laws which are Indispensable to pre-
serve the States from anarchy, rs to render
themselves justly liable to the penalty of
death"
Rev. Doctor Tying (Epscopalian,) with
strong denuncations of slavery protested
against the violence of fanuticism; he said
AS Christian it was not his duty Ia make
it subject Of acerbity or Remuneration or ri
bailrous reproach. As an American citi-
zen he had no right to encourage sectional
anmosty. III Q would not do evil that good
might come-hr would not violate the peace
Of God and man--would never give his
sanction to any violence or tumult would
take no sword but the sword of the Spirit -
And he could 10 more Justify in others than
in him sell violence and bluodshed from
which his soul shrank back in adherence
lie could not be II partaker III other men :
sins. even il the object was To give liberty
to his enslayed fellow man. The day will
come when the patient sufferer OF wrong
will be better than the wong.doer Mean
while, they that take the swOrd'must perish
by the sword"
Rev. DIR. Potts (Presbyteriun) whose view,
we have given at greater length in this pa
per, declared that he regarded the execution
of the consplrators IA Just and necessary
penalty"
We have been thus particular in summing
up tho opinions of the metropolitan pulpit,
that we may show tho country the Christian
sentiment Of this city. 1t is u fairer, fuller
and more satisfactory expression of feeling
than it would be possible to gather from
any promiscuuus assembagc that might be
gathered, however large and respectable
We now know there Is not a handful OF men
in the North, 50 base a. t" approve Of the
John Brown conspiracy and INVASION. We
have thought it might be well to hold public
meetings all over the land, TO give utterance
10 the Indignation with which the crime is
reprobated, but we find no pul pits aud NJ
presses entitled to respect, which Justify it,
and We may consider the Thanksgiving ser
mons Of New York as the united testimony
of the intelligent Christian people Of the
North in favor OF the Union, the law, and the
right
Instead Of fearing that the chief couspira
| tor Will b. deifed or even exalted to the rank
Of a martyr, the day is not distant. and even
l L..