The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-11-16
BALTIMORE.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER le, 1859


with deeper conviction of their sins, by the dis
course of the Rev. DR.. CHEEvER, that gentleman
ought to take out a patent for his method of re-
generating mankind. If those who listened TO
the Rev JOHN G.. FEE, in Plymouth Church,
Brooklyn, were awakened by his address to
lveler sense of their moral and religious duties,
then he, too, has discovered a new way to devel-
one the purer emotions of the human heart. To
denounce with bitterness and fury all those whom
they call sinners, to endeavor TO bring upon them
fearful trials and to exult in the probability of
their eternal punishment-such are the means
adopted by these preachers to bring their hearers
10 repentance and better life. DRYDEN SAYS, in
one of his immortal prefaces, that since the Bible
has been translated, certain fanatics ''have used it
$50, as if their business was not to be saved, but
"to be damned by its contents" and it really
seems as if this was the only purpose for which it
is consulted by the clergymen in question. With
this system, 50 far as it is merely theological it is
not our part 10 deal; but when they bring it to
bear upon political affairs in such manner as to in
fame men to mutual hatred, and incite them TO
murder and sedition, they are entitled to no more
liberation than they themselves accord to those
whom they delight to assail. The fact that ten
million people approve of the institution of Slave
ry acquiesce in its existence should, of ITSELF
make DR.. CHEEyER pause before he pronounces
them all utterly vile and sinful. If they are lv-
ing only their fathers did before Them and
despite their degraded condition, have covered the
land with schools, and colleges, and Christian
churches, even this immaculate philanthropist
might hesitate to consign them to perdition.
When the Rev Mr.. FEE next visits the Southern
country, and sees its cultivated fields and pleas
ant homesteads its crowded harbors and popu Gus
cities-it might be well, before he begins to con-
vert its inhabitants by elbows and knocks" to
consider whether its desolation would be
preferable to a continuance of the evil he
deprecates. If lie had sense enough to COM
prehend the almost insurmountable difficulties
the Southern States would have to contend
against, even if they were to-day willing to eman-
cipate their slaves; or could conceive of half the
rain that would ensue if that question were forced
to . sudden and violent issue, he might, perhaps,
bee aware Of the futlity and folly of his present
proceedings. But we confess we have little expec-
tation of any change in the sentiments of these
gentlemen. MIR. Fee is bent on becoming mar
tyr, and will not tcgainsaid; and Dr. CHEEvER is
welded to a logic that is not to be answered by
arguments of expediency, and is too absurd 10 be
reasoned with. lie says:
sit could not denied that the removal of this evil
was part of our legitimate work as a Missionary Asso
citation He knew that 1t had been alleged in excuse for
the silence of Missionary Boards subject that they
were not Anti Slavery Societies This l miserable
evasion OF great duty On the same ground Mission
airy Association would he justified in admitting drunk
ards to membership in its Missionary Churches and as
rule OF eXpedency avoiding the subject of the sin Of
drunkenness by the affirmation of not being Temper
anre Society On the ground the President of the
American Board would he justified in taking notice
any specific violation of morals and religion gambling
reveing and such like mOng the students of William
College He nigh Justly altege that the College was not
corporation for the education OF science and
literature But if he should put such princines Of n 81
lent and restrictive expedency into practice no careful
parent would ever send his boys be educated at such an
institution. There was business house in London or
New York that would justify the establishment of faro
not an antgambing firm, but Board OF Association
simply to do business, and 10 make money"
This is simply begging the question. Society
has unanimously declared drunkenness and gam
bling to be heiroIs offences, aud has passed laws
for their suppression and punishment; but the
whole world, until comparatively recent period
maintained that the institution of slavery was
lawful, and it is still upheld by millions of en-
lightened and conscientious men, who, whatever
may be the opinions of Dr. CHEEvER and his
friends, are not to be treated precisely as black
legs thieves and drunkards. 4 Cuisines house. "
Or the faculty Of college, may make what reeu-
aons they please to prevent ''vioations of morals
land religion" as they may insist on cleanliness
among tie clerks and potencss among the stu
dents; though the mind must be obtuse as well
as bigotted that can, from this admission, de-
duce the right of Missionary Churches to revolu-
tionize a country in order to subject it to their
creed or code of discipline. But suppose slave
holders were as wicked and debased as DR.. CHEEv-
Err calls them, docs he think his abuse likely to
benefit them, and does he imagine that he will
convert them after the manner of the preacher.
who, as Hoop said, would
rush at a bepighted man
And give him two black eyes for being blind?
We recommend him 10 practice this system first
at home Let him excite the victims of the gam
blers TO blow out the brains of those who leeced
them, and urge the Temperance societies to sack
and burn the bar-rooms on Broadway, and it will
be time enough then to extend his operations into
neighboring States. That this sort of violence is
directly Encouraged by these Anti-Slavery advo-
Gates we need not cite instances to prove. Mr.
FEE appears to contemplate with peculiar satisiac-
ton the slaughter of his enemies. He recounted
the dangers he had undergone in Kentucky, whose
laws he was breaking daily while he lived there
and informed his audience that some time after an
assault had been made on him
lone Of his assaiants was drowned in the Ohio river
ehoirr had us bowels ripped out in fight and third
was killed in quarrel; and thus the punishment of God
fell upon tlem;''
and OF another party that had subsequently threat
ened TO whip him, he tells us
"God out among these men, and three OF them
We're killed in fights with each othern
lie proposes TO go back TO that State to prose
cute his seditious Objects relying we presume, on
similar interposilions for his protection, unless, as
we suspect, lie has grossly exaggerated the risks
be has already run. If and we speak it with all
reverence, the Divine blessing is upon his work,
ana there have been so many special interferences
IN his behalf, why should he plume himself so
much on the perils he has encountered, or find it
necessary to hand round his hat in New York for
three thousand dollars TO enable him TO resume his
blessed labors?
1t isan unfortunate as well as absurd mistake
'at theSe rtlormers make In thus dealing with the
Slavery question 1t is well enough 10 HINT down
mghwayman or gang Of murderers by 'hue
land cry" but they cannot take and subdue the
population Of a sovereign State in a similar way.
1t is as singular it is ridiculous to find them nm
dertakng to convert great and civilized nation bv
threats, when they only strive to compass the same
ends among the Fijians and Chinese by persua-
slve and rational means. We never heard that
Mr.. BEEcHER furnished rifles for the suppression of
canuibadsm or infantcide among the heather. We
suggest to Them therefore, the proprety of taking
calmer views of the exceeding sinfnlness Of their
Southern brethren. If they will not lovingly
preach ''peace on earth and good will towards
linen" at least let them refrain from delivering
sermons which ucite the blacks TO instruction,
and compel the whites to impose upon them new
and severer restrictions, and SOW the seeds OF
discord and civil strife broadcast over prosperous
land.
zrsx~zS-~nzs<-g-szazEzsz-v<u.
We take pleasure in re-publishing the suboined
well-deserved tribute to one of the rather small
number of American statesmen whose place in the
Senate it would prove exceedingly difficult to fill,
in Maryland or out of it. We can scarcely con-
ceiye that the recent State Election can have anv
other result, so far as the choice of Senator is con-
earned, than of ensuring Mr.. PEARcEs return to