The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-02-01

basis, wide as Gods illimitable Empire
Nature. with benignant hand, has lavished
her gifts over this entire continent; although
she has so literally blessed it with all the fa-
clltIes for extensive commerce; although she
mas arranged its external organization to ac-
commodate one peaceful, united and happy
people, yet, these rich endowments will be 80
many bitter curses. if slavery, like putrid
sore, be allowed to send its iDfections streams
over our land Will not this be so? Has not
the era already commehced7 Are we not,
now, pIncking the bitter fruitf We arechar.
acterized as slave power, and we have con.
stantiy indubitable proof of it. This proves
that the avarieious being has usurped the ,su.
premacy of the moral sentiments, which is q
reVersion of nature, and viii, certainly, cleg
the wheel OF commerce; send an ocean of in
iquitg into cur moral hemisphere; darken and
degrade the light which the arts and sciences
develop. and pnt an end to progression in ev.
cry department of utility and virtue. Slavery,
then, stagnates progression, and gradually IN.
dermines the morality of a nation. e.. % q
| Our second head has its source iu this last
sentence which is. secondly: Itso immoral
effects on,our character And, now. to yoa,
Beacon lights of our land stars of our NOR.
al frmament doyou do all you can to resist
this sweeping tide of iniqnityi Is this great
SIN mentioned. deprecated, condemned in the
Pulpit fear not. Oar ministers denounce
evils of lesser magnitude, but the Leviathau'
of evils rarnaino nrtnnc6 od
find one brave enough, sympathetic enough;to
bear down upon this evil of evils; but often
be loses his popularity; becomes an isolated
being, and must have q dstinct individuality.
Is it not public esteem. and not conscience,
that has allowed the Church to become thus
dumbf Behold the,l how slavery has de-
moralized our land / BehOldl how this hide.
Gus monster has crept into our very churches,
struck at the very root of morals-poisoned
the body, and blackened every branch We
say now, let every church utter its thuaders
against this enormous sin. till its black mass
be removed from her polluted altars-before
the light of Jehovah be forever extinguishedI
Is not the sin great enough fer the church, to
engage in warm contest against itf Does it
not threaten, in bold terms, to destroy us asa
moral nation7 Has it not Threatened to alb.
sorb every noble enterprise, and every right.
aeoss causef Is it not now doiag iti Doesit
not impede the eyapgelikation of the country,
and % it not stumbling block to every God.
like efortf Is it not the highest infractionof
Justice for man to sell his feIlowf Is itsnot
the greatest sin . nation can be guilty Of
the bartering of immortal soulsl Is not here
sin enough to arouse every Christian Ghurchi
If not, where is therei Oil why is the church
SO deaf, 70 dumbi Let her arise, and soar
above the grieyous sin she is so justly accused
of Let her never cease todeuounce, till her
pristine purity returns. And now. II, conciu
ding, let me give my humble opinion: Let
US lift mp our voices for the emancipation of
the slave; let US clear our progressive nation
from sin that threatens to everwheIm and
consign it to eternal Oblivion And why2-
Because obedience to violated law is our only
safety y-disobe our certain ruin; because
BY doing this, We shall do right; because by
liberating the slave, the moral. man will be-
come supreme. Mature. again. will be in har.
nony with herself, and good will be the insv-
table result F.t,.s--, s.-sz. g. F. B.