The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1860-09-20

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influence Of cupidity aud ambition, and
! by the false policy Of silence aud sup
rression of Gods word in relation to it,
, on the part Of SO many in the ministry
aud in the churches, and through the
press, it has now came to be, by large
and Increasing number, regarded and de.
Tended, not only as politically and socially
right, but as a system of positive benevo
: lencs and Righteousness, sanctioned by
the Bible. and by the Founder Of christ
lanity and his Apostles. Even the
slave trade, with all its inetfable horrors
and abominations, which has received the
unanimous rIprohation Of the whole civ.
iiized world, and which is condemned az
piracy, by our laws, is being revived. and
prosecuted with new vicor, in bold def
anee of the authority of the government.
1t is ever defended, ny some, ns a be.
ncvolent operation ; bringing thousands
of bcni GIFTED Africans out of hcathenish
darkness, into the benign, cnlighteninc.
aud christianizing influence of our Amer
lean civilization and religion. This trc-
mendous reaction in favor Of slavery, is
ascribcd BY some, who claim more than
an ordinary share Of intelligence on the
subject, to the untim' ly and i'll tempered
agitation Of the question at the North.
(Sec Lectures on Slavery, in the North
Prcsb. Church; Chicago,by n l. Rice, d
D.. No doubt there has been some want
OF wisdom and charity here Blu, to
imputc such extensive and mischicvous
results, to what can only be called, at the
worst, the misguided zeal Of few, in a
noble cause, savors too much of cytrava.
Sance, aud conscious weakness of position
and argument, to call for deliberate
retutnt'on. | on y oppose to this un.
warrantablc assumption, the testimony Of
one, whose connection with another BODY
OF Christians, of less tonic power, pats
his vi gorous an vet decorous arguments
against slavery and in favor of free dis.
cussion. in striking contrast with the in.
discriminate and heated assertions of the
Presbyterian Doctor. Writing on the
slavery question, twenty one years ago.
(several years after the agitation com.
mcnced.) DIR. Claiming remarks:
The prevalent state of feeling in the free
states, III regard to slavery, j. Indifference IN
lndinerencc strengthened by the notion of crea,
dimcultles attending the subject The majority
OF the people, even yet care but little about the
matter. lhis discussion is safe. Still more il
ls duty, aud must go on. And under this and
other influences, the anti slavery spirit mrs,
spread and must prevail."-LETrEE TO JoxA-
THAN PniLllrs. ESQ.
only wish to say. further, tina. If. in
the discharge of your political duties,
you lind this giant iniquity assuming
more and more prominence, and becom.
ing more and more directly the issue Of
parties and platforms, the pressure of
moral and religions obligation upon you
becomes more and more manf, st and
urgent; and that you should be more
than ever determined to throw your in
flncncc with those who are seeking to
check and crcumscrihe, and, as soon os
possible, exterminate the great curse of
the land and the world. That this state
OF things is being more clearly and fully
developed, at the presen, day, and that
this Is fast becoming the one absorbing
question at issue between the pcople Of
the country. is beyond doubt That
no one Of the political organizations is
fully up to the gospel mark of neiyhborly
and christian regard among men, is OBJ
vious; but that all of them arc not
equally dstan, from that mark. ia onite
as obvious. And that any intelligent
and christian men should come delbcr
ate!y to the conclusion, that it is of no
consequence which prevails, and which
is defeated, is matter alike Of profound
grief and humiliation. For, whatever Of
wrong and corruption there may be, or
may have been, in political parties and
among public men, it is also true that
there Is, and has been, a great deal Of
sonnd principle and correct legislation
among them, and that vast majority of
all the good and wise men of the country
have exerted themselves conscicntiouslv
and earnestly through these channels, to
perpetuate and extend our liberties and
institutions. The counsel, therefore. that
good men should refrain from political
matters, because Of the strife and want of
principle that are exhibited by many. in
these things, seems to me little less than
suicidal. For, if with all the restraints
and good Influence which men of princi
pie have been able to cast into public
measures, they have been continually de.
generating, what must be the result, if
the good shall withhold their influence
altogether, and leave the control of our
national interests entirely in the hands
of unprincipled and ambitious men.
Our counsel is, therefore, that all good
men should earnestly strive to introduce
into the politics and Legislation of the
country, the great principles Of "ri.ht
cousncss,' which exaltcth a nation"
aud on which, as we believe, our country
was founded; t'at it may come to be |
thoroughly known and felt by all par
ties, that they cannot succeed without
the cooperation of good men; aud tha.
they can have that cooperation on one |
condition only, ri= that their platforms
and measures are made to conform 20 the
great principle Of equality and human
brotherhood which forms tho basis and
the excellence Of our National Consttu-
ton. | am happy in being able to quote
from the most widely circulated and in.
tiuential religious paper in the world in
support OF my assertion:
1t is time high time for the conscience of
this nat, II to he thoroughly aroused to the guilt
aud peril OF course of public oppression and
injustice. 1ie christian men Of the nation
shon d show their patriotism hv carrying their
reiSion int" their politics. The question to he
decided by the votes of the people in the Pres !
idential election, is. whether they will uph Id
and sanction the crime OF slavery. It is a great