The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-12-23
John Brown and the Signs of the Times.
Il Sermon preached By the Rcv. q. D.
Taylor, of Ciaridon. Sabbath Dec
ia, 1859.

AS true in tho moral rs IN the natural world.
AS u worthless object may show tho drcc.
ton of tho wind so an event which is in
itself of no great consequence, may indicate
tho state of morals in a community; and
transactions, which ordinarily would excite
little or no interest beyond tho circuit of Il
icw towns or counties, may become the cx
poncnts OF facts and principles. challenging
tho deepest concern of nation. The
Savior charged his cOuutrymon with folly.
because they were moro observing of the
ordinary indications of the weather, than
thoy were of those more decided and i'm.
porlant facts AMI appearances, which be-
tokoned their religious privileges and obli.
! cations, and forcshadowod their impending
ruin. And his language is applicable to
those who claiming to DO tho we'll .wjshurs OF
| their country and their racc, arc indlfirr.
ont to tho poinost indications of national
corruption and danger.
Tho execution of man for insurrcction
and homicide, though solemn and fearful
transaction,is not,in ordinary circumstances.
an event justifyinE an elaborate notice, in
pulpits and worshiping assemblies, far re
mote from the sceuu Of such lamcntablo
occurrences, and tho causes which led 10
/ thom. But when man, though he may bo
fanatic, or madmau. becomes prey to
| popular and national unrIghtcOusnoss, and
chcertully surrondors his life, in attempting
TO secure that which is ntrinsically right.
aud in resisting that which is essentially.
and universally wrong, there can DO no
! place on on earth too sacred tor candid
porusal OF tho lessons taught by the
conduct and tho fate o! such man.
John Brown Is now national index. God,
! in lis providence, has mado him ono of tho
| signs OF our times, and our country; and
his death, with its circumstances. should be
regarded us tho voice of tho Almighty to
every single person claiming 10 be American
AND FIRsr-Tho fate of John Brown,
| proclams to us most distinctly. tho GcnrCvl
degenerdcy Of Tie State Of YirgIaia. Less
than ono hundred years ago. NHginia was
loader among the American CoIOnics. in
resisting tho Cncrouchmcnts of tho British
Government Patrick Henry, one OF tho
first American Statesmen to Introduce q
bill in opposition to tho stamp Act" was n
| Frginian. His bill was presented to tho
| Virginia House OF Bureosscs. and BY that
House was passed. Richard Horny Loo.
the first man to offer to the American Con
gresS at Philadelphia. resolution declaring
tho Independence of tho American Colonies,
was u delegate from tho State of Virginia.
/ with the noble sentiment, "Wo hold these
truths to 30 self crideai, that all men arc
created equal: that they arc endowed by
their Creator with indiIenaJir rights: that
among those aro NGt, liberty nnd he pnrsui!
Of happiness: that to secure these rights gov
ornments arc instituted among mon, do
riving their just po,ccrs FROM the consent of
the gOrerhei: that Whenever any form of
government becomes Obstructive of these
ends, it is tho right of tho people to eltcr.
or abolish it, and to institute new GOV.
ornment, laying its foundation on such
principles, and organizing its powers in such
torp', as to them shall seem ryost likely to
effect their safety and happiness" Tho
author of that "Docaratiou," is Thomas
Jefferson, q VIrgin;an. You arc all familiar
with the following language. aud yon know
| on what occasion il was uttered. 1t is IN
many of our school books, and will be road
with admiration as long as tho namo OF the
American Republic shall DO preserved: ut
IS vain, Sir, to cxtODuato tho matter. Gen
tIemen may cry peace, peace, but there is
no peace. Tho war is actually begun
Tho next gale that sweeps from the North
vii! bring to our ears the clash of rcsound.
ing arms. Oar brethren arc already in tho
field. Why stand VIC here idlc? What is il
that gentIomon wish what would thcy
bave Is life so dear. or peace so sweet, as
to be purchased at tho price of chains and
slavery: Forbid i',Aimghty God. know
not what course othors may take, but as for
mo, gire me liberty, or give mo dcath"-
Moro eloquent language has seldom ialon
from human lips, yet its author was Vir.
ginan. Tho man who successfully con-
ductcd tho armies of the Colonies during
| their struggle for independence, who was the
first President of these United States. and
who is honorcd as The Father of his Country.
was VIrginian. Read tho life of Wash.
ington, and you will find that tho argument
no used most frequently, to inspirit his fal.
| tering troops, in the darkest days of our
countrys history, was this: "You must
make yourselves and your country FREQ bv
YOUR valor, or become slduss." Such was tho
spirit aud conduct OF Virginia in l776.-
But now she is ono of tho most dcspotic
governments upon the earth. Tho man
who now attempts to caryy out upon hor
soil, tho very principles which sho pro.
claimed TO tho world rightly throe years
| ago, or who conducts towards her for rob
bing her people of their humanity, MS sho
conducted towards Great Britain, for i'm
posing upon hor an unreasonable tax, ro-
ceiyes at her hand n Jail and gibbot. Sho
resisted unto blood, because her rights wore
somewhat curtailcd but she takes from
large number of her people, all their rights.
uses their labor without compensation, and
makes merchandise of their bodies and souls.
She imprisons those who would teach her
coorcd population to read, and hangs those
who would release them from her iron grasp.
wish it to be distinctly understood that
am not of those who believe thoro are no
philanthropists. and no Christians ameng
Shareholders There are anomalies in grace,
as woll as in nature. But kind and Chris
tian masters, and contented and pious slaves,
arc tho exception, and not tho rule, and
they do not relieve the institution of slavery
OF one of its wicked and dcspicablc features,
The fate of John Brown reminds us of tho
humiliating and shameful fact, that tho
noblo State, which was onco first among tho
States of this Republic, has lost her intellect
ual her material, and hor moral prestige,
and is sinking down into impotency and
barbarism. Read "IIelpor's Southern
Crisis.") And the reason is, that righteous.
moss is fallen in her stre OTIS and equity can
not enter" And God has said, "Wo unto
them that decree unrigbtoous DEGREES, and
that write griovousnoss which they have
prescribed to turn aside tho needy from
judgment, and to take away the right from |