The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-12-07
WHERE ARE WE DRIrT1Naa

The late outrage at Harper's Ferry has
justly excited the indignation of the con-
servative portion of the country. The
more we consider its attendant circum-
stances, the more clearly are we convin
ced that we are cast upon troublous times.
1t is not the audacity of the attempt,
nor the danger, immediate or remote,
that threatens, through snch means, the
existence of the southern States and their
institutions, that fills us with apprehen-
sion and alarm, but it is that hsresy of
I political sentiment, and that fanaticism
| of reigieas zeel, SO prevalentof late, and
ofauhich the spurderous outrage is a sig
nificant. consequent We read in the
signs of the times the evidences of ex-
istino danger to our free institutions. IF
these troubles were the offspring of heat
ed political passion, we would scarcely
regard them as worthy of serious atten-
tion. The strifes of partisanship are
known to be but ephemeral, and will die
with the transient purpose they are de-
signed to suhserve. But in the excite
ment and alarm that now agitates the
country, we recognize an evil of more gi-
gantic proportions, a purpose of darker
hue, and an aiming at results, the ulti-
mate consequences of which are but
family foreshadowed in that increasing
alien tion of national sympathy and fra
terDal regard, the maintenance of which
is indispensable to the perpetuity of the
Union.
Disguise it as we may, yet the fact
stares us in the face that misguided re-
ligious zeal is the soul cause of all the
excitement and alarm. In the whole
Northern section of the country, the
Protestant church has become the prop
agator of sentiments subversive alike of
social order and constitutional govern
ment. The favor with which religion
and its institutions have been regarded
i'm this country has been used for the pur-
pose, of furthering one wild scheme after
another, until now, in the Northern
States, church influence seeks to usurp
the prerogatives of power, and it has ere
ated q. senseless chimera. called the
''higher law, TO which it asks allegiance
in political action, in derogation of the
Constitution of the United States We
witness every day the desecration Of the
pulpit, and the proclamation of texts of
Scripture, by fanatical religious dema-
gogues, in apotheosizing traitors and MUIR
derers Those doctrines of "Peaee on
eaith, and good will to men," are pro-
claimed as the instruments of insurrec-
ton, murder, rapine and treason, while
the traitors, with hands crimsoned with
the blood of the unoffending brethren,
are celebrated as martyrs to the holiest OF
,cadses.
Where are we drifting? What will
be the end of all this cbliquity of moral
sentiment and heresy oil constitutional
fealty? Shall we see the nobl st structure
of human freedom ever designed by man
come out of all the danger that threatens
it. only strengthened by the ordeal? Or
shall we see its fair proportions levelled
with the dust; its foes exulting with
fiendish delight over severed and oonten-
ding States, and the last, best, brig htest
hopes of mankind quenohcd in bloc d !!
am no alarmist nor partisan; but. in
view of danger, cannot Withhold my fee
BILE efforts in tie erdeavor to recall my
untrymen to sober reflection. If ever
the ex;gency of the times required mutu
al folbelrance and enlarged patriotism.
it requires them now.-Pu6lic Ledger