The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-12-24

: and The faals 81 10 whole copntTy Festil
/ upon his head thl1 man closed biz cart
/, IN career, and entered the presence Of Il
eternal Judge ~ nv thoughts Of him
lhavc had strongly brought 70 mind q.
other insnrrectionist, Who had likewit
mistaken his duty, but who ws- Of mob
spirit, and who i unfortunately and q
ronsously known a. the penitent THE
He Vas simply An insurreotionist- . mao
dened zealot who had rashly taken u
arms for the freedom Of his countr
against the tyranny and oppression .
Rome. But he possessed lofty and cour
ageous soul. He had true magnanimit
of mind. He confessed his Savior in th
midst Of the SCOTS and jeers Of those VIII
| cruci6ed the Holy One. And it was per
mitted him to receive the assurance, ITO
day shalt thou be- with me in Paradise.
And if John Brown was Of similar spiri
and character, as appears from his word
and actions, his prayer for the mercy 0
God was no doubt accepted BY his Savior
and his soul has entered that world wher
the wicked cease frem troubling, and TIL
weary are at rest, where he hears no NOR
the voice Of the oppressor, and che seryan
is free from his master.
Such are the events that have crowded
upon us in thick succession during til,
last ten years. We have new laws, il
effect new Constitution and government
the revival of the slave trade, aud ma;
has risen up, and ventured his own life /,
give freedom to the slave. These ar.
startling and fearful events, and full O
emens. And every man is asking, Wha
nextf
Some Of the lessons Of these things are
l. That it is impossible to prevent o.
avoid the agitation Of the question 81
slavery. This has been tried, and those
who have made the attempt have utterly
failed. Those who have promised, both
in Church and State, not to discuss the
subject have been the first to revive the
the agitation. To repress this discussion
is plainly impossible. However much we
may prefer other themes, and our tastes
and inclinations may lie il other direc-
tons, we must accept the actual condition
of things. We should discuss the sub.
ject calmly, wisely, thoroughly, and in the
spirit of Christian love, and should seek
to learn our duty in the premises and to
discharge it, and to forestall rash and in
considerate agitation and action.
2. We ought to do our part in divorcing
the Christian Church from all support Of
slavery. ''1t is debt we owe to the
purity Of op religion" said Patrick
Henry, writing in 177a, ITO show that it
is at variance with the law which war
rants slavery" know not any sentence
in any writer which more clearly and
pointedly sets our duty before us. Hap
py will it be for the country and for the
honor Of our holy religion, when no min
lister and no chur,h shall share in the
guilt of slavery or in the guilt Of extend
ing it or apologizing for it. That this is
not now the case-that the contrary is SO
extensively the case--is one Of our chief
causes OF danger and alarm. The slnm-
bering conscience of Christians and Of
Christian ministers must be awakened on
this subject. The Church must be re-
deemed and purified. aye that love the
Lord, hate evil. Have no fellowship with
the unfruitful works Of darkness, but
rather reprove them" The reformation
OF the American Church in this matter is
as important and Indispensable work as
that of the glorious Reformation Of the six
teenth century. Some of our most care
full and sagacious observers have said that
slavery will fall as soon as the support Of
the Christian church is taken from it.
Christian ministers Of nearly every de-
are now found among the sup
porters of slavery, among its apologists,
and even among the shareholders. Until
this reproach is removed, the American
church cannot arise from her humiliation
and disgrace. Especially are We called |
on to give substantial aid aud encourage
ment to those ministers and churches in
the slave states who have taken the DO
sltion of truth and righteousness on this
subject Churches on this basis have
been organized in North Carolina and
kentucky, and now enjoy the fosteringl
'are OF the American Missionary Associ.
ltlon. Ministers ofthe Methodist Church
AVE undergone persecution in Missouri,
Arkansas, and Texas, simply for their
ldellty to the teachings of the illustrious
ounder of their church order, that slave
J is the sum of all villanies. Such
hurches and ministers ought to be made
trong in the sympathy and support Of all
riends OF God and man.
3. This subject ought to have a fire.
uent remembrance in our prayers. All
he attributes of the Supreme Being are
n the side of the poor and the oppressed
md one of the avowed objects Of the
fospel Is to undo the heavy burthens, and
reclaim liberty to the captive And for
nose things God will be inquired Of BY
Is people, as for them vain is the wit and
isdom of man. Without the divine
lsdom and grace in this cause, without
lie help Of Divine Providence, it requires
Q prophet to predict that the base and !
'lflsh passions of men in their madness ,
nd folly will bring inextricable confusion
I'd disaster upon US. Except the Lord a
eep the city, the Waterman watcheth but =
vain. And it ought to be our earnest
aver, that we may fall into the hands Of :,
e Lord, and not into the hands of men. !,
4. As citizens of the United States, we i
ght to give our whole influence against 8
very. Our obligations here are limited a
d definite, and for this reason we are Fl
thout excuse if we disregard them. "
icy me three,fold: LIST, With refer. .
ce to the slave trade, both foreign and i
nestle IDLY. With reference to slave
In the District of Columbia and the NJ
'ritories of the United States, and 3dly.
18th reference to what is inhumanlv re- al
lred OF US with respect to those who may
ape from the expressions Of slavery. g
1t may be that we have other duties. =
may be that the General Governments NJ
the power Of giving bounties to eman. Ii
'atlon. In that direction we should
wiling to go to any extent in the cause SO
benevolence, whether upon the plan m
,e advocated in this place by Elihu .
TrI Al " i